Colorado Lottery reaches $4 billion in proceeds

Abbey Soukup, The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
·1 min read

Jan. 24—The Colorado Lottery reached $4 billion in proceeds Tuesday, on the same day the organization celebrated its 40th anniversary of its first scratch ticket.

Since its establishment in 1983, the Colorado Lottery has brought funding to many of the state's greatest assets — the great outdoors and public schools — through games such as Scratch, Mega Millions, Colorado Lotto+, Lucky for Life, Cash 5 and Pick 3.

Through state-established trust funds, the 100% self-funded organization has worked to reinvest lottery proceeds throughout the state to "enhance, protect, improve parks, trails, and open spaces in Colorado," according to a news release from the organization.

In 1993, Coloradans voted to establish the Great Outdoors Colorado trust fund as a means of investing in the future of state outdoor recreation. Through this trust, the lottery funnels 50% of its proceeds to the GOCO trust, providing $73.1 million last year.

The lottery allocates 40% of proceeds to the Conservation Trust Fund, distributing funds throughout all 64 Colorado counties based on population. A total of $72.1 million was raised within the fund last year.

The remaining 10% of proceeds is given to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, hitting $16.6 million last year.

Lottery officials say conservation will continue to be a priority, and the organization will continue "expanding hands-on support through events throughout the year."