The Colorado lottery is administered by the state government of Colorado. It was established in 1983 and sold scratch cards before the first draw took place in the spring of that year. It’s a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association and includes nationwide games such as Mega Millions and the 22-state Lucky for Life lottery. A large share of proceeds is distributed to causes relating to outdoor activity which includes parks, trails, rivers and open space with further revenue donated by a Conservation Trust Fund.
The Games and Odds
- Cash 5 5/32 – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 201,736
- Lotto (6/42) – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 5,245,786
- Lucky for Life (5/48 + 1/18) – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 30,821,472
- Mega Millions (5/75 + 1/15) – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 258,890,850
- Pick 3 (3/9) – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 84
- Powerball (5/69 + 1/26) – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 292,202,338
Cash 5
Cash 5 was created in 1996 and is a 5/32 game which draws 5 numbers from a pool of 32. The low odds of 1 in 201,736 are offset to some degree by the relatively small maximum jackpot of $20,000. Its 5/32 format is particularly common with draw-based games in the United States.
- Biggest Payout – $20,000 (£15,800)
- Draw Days – Monday to Sunday
Cash 5 Lottery Ticket
The Cash 5 lottery ticket features a simple horizontal layout which consists of 10 game boards labelled A- J. Quick pick selection boxes are included for each panel and there’s also an ‘advanced play’ column which allows players to use the same numbers for up to 91 consecutive draws.
How to be a Cash 5 Winner
- 5 correct numbers
- 4 correct numbers
- 3 correct numbers
- 2 correct numbers
Colorado Lotto
The Colorado Lotto’s 6/42 format is quite unusual in the lottery world, with only three other draw-based games following the same structure (Mongolia, Philippines, Lebanon). The odds of landing the jackpot stand at 1 in 5,245,786
- Biggest Payout – $27 million (£21 million)
- Draw Days –Wednesday, Saturday
Colorado Lotto Ticket
The Colorado Lotto ticket has a very similar layout to the Cash 5 Game. There are 10 game boards, which cost a $1 each to play, quick pick options and an advanced play column to the left of each ticket allowing participants to play for 26 consecutive draws.
How to be a Colorado Lotto Winner
- 6 correct numbers
- 5 correct numbers
- 4 correct numbers
- 3 correct numbers
Colorado Lucky for Life
Lucky for Life is a multi-jurisdictional lottery game played in 23 states including Colorado. 5 balls are drawn from 48 with an additional ‘lucky ball’ picked from a separate pool of 18. The chances of winning the jackpot are 1 in 30,821,472. Winners are awarded $25,000 a year for life
- Biggest Payout – $25,000 p/a (£20,000)
- Draw Days –Monday, Thursday
Lucky for Life Lottery Ticket
The Colorado Lucky for Life lottery ticket follows the same branding and layout as the other draw-based games: ten game panels, quick pick boxes and the option to choose consecutive draws through an ‘advanced play’ column.
How to be a Lucky for Life Winner
- 5 correct numbers with lucky ball
- 5 correct numbers
- 4 correct numbers with lucky ball
- 4 correct numbers
- 3 correct numbers with lucky ball
- 3 correct numbers
- 2 correct numbers with lucky ball
- 2 correct numbers
- 1 correct number with lucky ball
- Lucky ball
Mega Millions
The Mega Millions game is operated in 44 US states and offers a minimum jackpot of $15 million. It’s a 5/75 + 1/15 game which means that 5 numbers are selected from a 75 with an additional number taken from a pool of 15. The daunting odds of winning the jackpot stand at 1 in 258,890,850, although the game does feature enormous pay-outs from time to time. The odds are slightly more favourable than other multi-jurisdictional games such as Powerball and stand at 1 in 258,890,850.
- Biggest Payout: $1 million (£785,000)
- Draw Days: Tuesday, Friday
Mega Millions Lottery Ticket
There are five game panels on each Mega Millions lottery ticket/play slip with 75 numbered check boxes for the main numbers and another 15 for the ‘mega ball’. Quick boxes are also included for random number selection and there’s an ‘advanced play’ column to choose the same numbers for consecutive draws. (26)
How to be aMega Millions Winner
- 5 correct numbers with Mega Ball
- 5 correct numbers, no Mega Ball
- 4 correct numbers with Mega Ball
- 4 correct numbers, no Mega Ball
- 3 correct numbers with Mega Ball
- 3 correct numbers, no Mega Ball
- 2 correct numbers with Mega Ball
- 1 correct number with Mega Ball
- Mega Ball Only
Pick 3
The Pick 3 game is a 3/9 draw-base game which offers mini-prizes. Players select three numbers from 0 -9 – they can be different numbers or duplicates although there are bigger prizes if two duplicates are played. However, matching all three numbers exactly reaps the biggest pay-outs.
- Biggest Payout – $2,500 (£1900)
- Draw Days – Monday to Sunday (Midday, Evening)
Pick 3 Lottery Ticket
The Pick 3 Lottery ticket is slightly more elaborate in its layout given the method of play. There are five panels, labelled A – E with 30 selection boxes for players to choose their main numbers. Next to these are check boxes for number sequences: exact order, any order, exact/any, front pair, back pair. Quick-pick, draw time and ‘advanced play’ options are also included on the ticket with participants able to play up to 28 draws in a row.
How to be a Pick 3 Winner
- 3 correct numbers in order
- 3 correct numbers in any order
- 3 correct numbers in order + 3 numbers in any order
- 2 correct numbers in any order
- 3 correct numbers in order + 2 correct numbers in any order
- First 2 correct numbers
- Last 2 correct numbers
Powerball
Powerball is operated in 44 states and is a 5/69 + 1/26, draw-based game. 5 balls are drawn from a pool of 69 as well as ‘power ball’, which is selected from 26 balls. Due to the sheer number of participants, the game frequently awards huge jackpots although the odds of winning are quite remote at 1 in 292,202,338.
Powerball Lottery Ticket
Each Powerball lottery ticket consists of five play boards, of which each features boxes numbered 1 – 69. Players can select as many as five sets of numbers for each board. There are also five Powerball selection panels as well as quick pick options for players wishing to use randomly selected numbers.
- Biggest Payout – $2 million (£1.5 million)
- Draw Days – Wednesday, Saturday
How to be a Powerball Winner
- 5 correct numbers with Powerball
- 5 correct numbers
- 4 correct numbers with Powerball
- 4 correct numbers
- 3 correct numbers with Powerball
- 3 correct numbers with Powerball
- 2 correct numbers with Powerball
- 1 correct number with Powerball
- Powerball
Biggest Ever Lottery Win in Colorado – $27 million (Powerball)
The biggest lottery win in Colorado came in 2013 when Rifle native, Claude ‘Al’ G was awarded a $27 million prize. The man, who declined to provide his last name, was presented with a large cardboard check at the nearby town of Grand Junction.