Spanish lottery winner barred from claiming €30,000 due to husband's hidden registration

A 79‑year‑old Spanish woman, identified as Carmen, won €35,000 (£30,000) in the ONCE daily draw lottery in August 2025. When she attempted to collect the prize, officials refused payment because she is listed on Spain’s General Register of Gambling Access Bans, a system that blocks individuals from gambling activities.

The register entry dates back to 2012, when Carmen’s late husband allegedly forged her signature and submitted a burofax to the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling, claiming she had a gambling problem. The fraudulent registration prevented her from claiming the winnings under Spanish law. In a separate legal angle, a provincial court in Cádiz upheld an asset‑freeze order against her husband for unpaid debts, extending the freeze to any jointly held assets, including the lottery ticket, further blocking the payout.

ONCE, the lottery operator, stated it would pay the prize if the register entry were annulled or the asset‑freeze lifted. Carmen’s daughter believes the husband’s motive was personal, citing his disapproval of her mother’s frequent bingo visits.