The Colorado Lottery was established in 1983 and sold scratch-off tickets exclusively for about three months before having its first drawing. For those who have been to Colorado, the state’s beauty is on full display and part of that is a result of the lottery, which sends a portion of revenues to a trust administered by Great Outdoors Colorado.
Once the maximum allotment of funds to that organization is delivered, additional proceeds benefit education initiatives across the Rocky Mountain State.
There are a lot of games and ways to win in Colorado, plus the state is one of 19 that is part of Jackpocket, so you can buy Colorado Lottery tickets online through that app.
Colorado Lottery Games
Colorado is part of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), so that means that the state does participate in both the Powerball and Mega Millions drawings, as well as the multi-state Lucky For Life drawing. There are also three additional draw games exclusive to the state to go along with instant-win scratch-offs.
Lottery players must be 18 years of age or older to buy tickets and play.
Colorado Lottery Draw Games
Powerball
Colorado is one of 45 states to participate in the Powerball drawing. Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 9 p.m. MT. Ticket sales are cut off on drawing nights at 7:30 p.m. MT.
Powerball wagers cost $2 per game and there is a $1 add-on option to use the Power Play to increase your potential winnings. The five regular numbers range from 1 to 69 and the red Powerball number goes from 1 to 26.
Powerball began in 1988 and Colorado adopted the game in 2001, ending a five-year period without a new state.
The Powerball Jackpot begins at $20 million and grows each time there is not a Jackpot winner.
Mega Millions
Colorado is also one of 42 states to participate in the Mega Millions drawing. This drawing is held every Tuesday and Friday around 9 p.m. MT. Ticket sales cut off at 7:30 p.m. MT on drawing nights.
Mega Millions tickets are $2 apiece and include a $1 add-on option for the Megaplier. Like the Powerball, this drawing resets at $20 million and grows until a Jackpot winner is found.
Mega Millions features five numbers ranging from 1 to 70 with a Mega Ball that goes from 1 to 25. Colorado was one of nearly 30 states and jurisdictions to join the Mega Millions drawing in 2010.
Lucky For Life
Lucky For Life is another multi-state lotto drawing. Colorado was one of the later adopters for the game that started back in 2009, as they came on board in the summer of 2016.
Lucky For Life drawings are done seven days a week around 8:38 p.m. MT. Ticket sales cut off about an hour before the drawing, which is held in Connecticut.
Tickets are only $2 per play and the numbers range from 1 to 48 on the numbers and 1 to 18 on the Lucky Ball to win $1,000 a day for life.
Colorado Lotto+
The Lotto+ is Colorado’s version of a traditional lotto drawing, but it is anything but traditional. Six numbers ranging from 1 to 40 are picked and then an additional six numbers are picked in the “Plus” drawing. Wins from both drawings can be combined and the Plus option to get a second chance to win is only $1 for every $2 wagered on the first lotto drawing.
Each ticket also includes an automatic multiplier selected by the lottery terminal ranging from 2X to 5X. The odds of a 4X or 5X multiplier are 1 in 10, while a 3X is 3 in 10 and a 2X multiplier is 5 in 10, or one of every two tickets for both the Lotto and Plus games.
Drawings are Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday around 7:35 p.m. PT, which is five minutes after sales end on drawing nights.
The Lotto+ Jackpot starts at $1 million and grows until it is won.
Cash 5
Every state seems to have a Pick 5 type of game and Colorado is no different with Cash 5. The top prize here is $20,000 and players pick five numbers ranging from 1 to 32. Tickets only cost $1 to play and an EZ Match instant win possibility costs another $1 per play.
Matching four of the five numbers results in a $200 winner, while three is a $10 win and two is a $1 win. The EZ Match ranges from $2 to $500.
Drawings of Cash 5 are seven days a week at 7:35 p.m. MT and ticket sales cut off about five minutes before,
Pick 3
Colorado, like so many other states, offers a very simple Pick 3 game. Players pick or have the machine pick a three-digit number with all spots ranging from 0 to 9. The top prize for Pick 3 is $2,500 and there are two drawings daily, with a Midday drawing at 1:30 p.m. MT and an Evening drawing at 7:30 p.m. MT.
Players can play the Exact Order, Any Order (6-Way), Any Order (2 of the same number), Exact + Any Order, Exact + Any Order (2 of the same number), Front Pair, or Back Pair. Each play costs 50 cents, $1, $2, or $5 depending on the bet type.
Ticket sales cut off a few minutes before each drawing.
Colorado Lottery Scratch-Offs
Colorado has a lot of scratch-offs and also offers some of the highest denomination scratch-offs, ranging from $1 all the way up to $50. There are also several $20 tickets with a top prize of $1 million and several $10 tickets with a top prize of $250,000.
The CO Lottery does list the number of top prizes remaining for their active games and there are even scratchers for well-known games and shows like Monopoly, Slingo, and Game of Thrones.
There are also Bonus Draws available for certain games and 2nd Chance prize possibilities by downloading the MyLottery App. Exclusive events and contests are also available to app downloaders.
How to Claim Colorado Lottery Prizes
Prizes up to $599 may be claimed by mail or in-person at any CO Lottery retailer that will cash them. Mail goes to the Colorado Lottery at PO Box 7 in Pueblo, CO, 81002.
For prizes $600 and up, a claim form is necessary to receive your winnings and they can be claimed either online, by mail, or at one of the four claims centers. If you claim your prize online, anything from $600 to $100,000 is eligible for direct deposit.
Anything over $100,000 comes via check in the mail.
There is a 4% state tax in Colorado on top of the 24% federal tax for prizes of $5,000 or more.
Colorado Lottery Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Jackpocket is an approved third-party lottery courier in Colorado.
There are more than 3,000 approved lottery retailers in the state of Colorado, including vending machines for the purchase of tickets.
Players must be 18 years of age or older to enjoy the CO Lottery.