Who Benefits From Your Colorado Lottery Ticket?

In Colorado, your lottery ticket makes a big difference! Since 1983, the Colorado Lottery has given more than $3.7 billion to fund projects that preserve and improve parks, trails, open spaces and recreation projects throughout the state.

Lottery proceeds from draw games like Lucky for Life are distributed through Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) in the form of competitive grants to local governments and land trusts, as well as investments through the Conservation Trust Fund and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. All excess funds are donated to the State Public School Capital Construction Assistance Fund.

Colorado’s Outdoors Spaces, Wildlife, and Parks

Coloradans know all of the benefits of preserving the state’s spectacular landscapes and voted to have lottery ticket revenues directed to the state’s parks, trails, wildlife and outdoor recreation by a state constitutional amendment approved in 1992.

Public spaces are important for everyday life - from playgrounds for children, community parks where we walk our dogs and enjoy fresh air, to trails where we go hiking to get away from our busy schedules. Nature is also a natural mood-booster, with a 2017 study showing that exposure to green spaces can reduce depression, anxiety and health risks such as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes.

Lastly, we can’t forget to mention the economic benefits! Trails, parks and outdoor spaces create jobs, enhance property values, expand local businesses and attract new businesses, increase local tax revenues, decrease the cost of recreation and promote a sense of local community to name just a few! Turns out, Colorado's biggest lottery winners aren't just players who've landed a lucky jackpot!

Colorado’s abundant open space and recreation opportunities contribute to the state’s quality of life and economic vibrancy. With the help of the Colorado Lottery and GOCO, Coloradans and visitors alike can take advantage of the state’s beautifully preserved great outdoors!

Here are just a few of the incredible projects that you helped fund by playing the lottery!

Heartland Ranch Preserve Expansion

Thousands of acres of land, including a shortgrass prairie, native flora and fauna, and natural resources will be protected thanks to a $1.3 million grant from the Colorado Lottery in 2018 and 2020.

The latter grant helped the Heartland Ranch acquire approximately 7,000 acres of land, which increased the capacity for environmental education for school children, college and university classes, senior centers, veterans groups, and historical organizations.

Kochevar Open Space

With the help of over $3 million in lottery funds, the 322-acre Kochevar Open Space on the edge of Crested Butte has been preserved and is open to the residents of Colorado. The project protects the land’s wildlife habitat, and prevents excessive flooding by keeping the wetlands healthy!

Lamar Sports Complex

Seven ballfields, an announcers booth, concession stand, bleachers, scoreboard, sprinklers and lighting are all part of the $1.1 million project funded by Colorado Lottery dollars to build the Lamar Sports Complex!

This softball and baseball facility serves the entire Lamar community, including 40% of of the school-age population of Baca, Bent, Kiowa, and Prowers Counties. Baseball fans from across the state of Colorado and the country also get to enjoy the expanded and improved facilities thanks to new programs and various tournaments held in the complex!

Kim Mustang Pavilion

GOCO awarded Kim, Colorado a $1.1 million grant to help build the Kim Mustang Pavilion, a 20-acre property that hosts rodeo and equine events.

Kim is one of Colorado’s last ranching communities in Colorado, and the Mustang Pavilion aims to keep the town’s unique culture alive. The contribution has also created a boost in tourism, local businesses reopening, and young families moving to the region.

River Park in Breckenridge

In 2019, River Park received the Starburst Award from Great Outdoors Colorado for its excellent use of lottery funds. The River Park project was chosen based on the project's creativity and the economic and social impact on the community.

Two lottery-funded grants of $700,000 were used to build this expansive park which offers a children's playground with nature-inspired structures, a picnic area, pavilion, ADA-accessible fishing platform, and a pedestrian and bicycle bridge.

Education

While most of Colorado’s lottery proceeds go to GOCO, funds that exceed the $71.7 million cap (FY21) go to the Public School Capital Construction Assistance Fund, which aims at preventing overcrowding in public schools and providing a safe and healthy environment for children across the state of Colorado.

BEST - Building Excellent Schools Today

BEST has received nearly $109 million from the Colorado Lottery to enhance schools across the state, including competitive grants to school districts, charter schools, institute charter schools, boards of cooperative educational services, and the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. As of 2022, 525 Colorado schools were awarded grants, benefitting nearly 300,000 students!

If I Play the Lottery Online, Will My Money Still Benefit Colorado?

Yes! When you play the lottery, whether online or in-person, everyone wins. theLotter Colorado has partnered with a local retailer to provide you with official Colorado Lottery tickets for the state's biggest draws, including Powerball, Mega Millions, Lucky4Life, and Cash 5. We make sure that your lottery dollars contribute to programs that preserve and improve the Colorado's parks, trails, wildlife, and culture and aid the state’s public schools! The cost of your ticket, excluding our small service fee, will always go back to the Colorado Lottery and wins are awarded 100% commission-free. Wondering what that small service fee gets you? You can check out our top reasons to play the lottery online.

Photo credit: Stock images from Shutterstock.