Media Contact:
Meghan Dougherty
720.688.0037
Meghan.Dougherty@state.co.us
Pueblo, Colo. -- The Colorado Lottery hit $4 billion in proceeds yesterday on the 40th anniversary of its first Scratch ticket and of giving back to Colorado parks, trails, recreation, wildlife, open space and schools over the last 40 years.
The Colorado Lottery was created in 1983 to create new revenue through the responsible sale of Lottery games to support Colorado’s greatest assets -- the outdoors and schools. An additional revenue source for the state, the Lottery is an enterprise, which means it is 100% self-funded.
In 1992, Coloradans voted to create a trust fund, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), to invest in the future of Colorado’s outdoors. Receiving 50% of the Lottery’s proceeds dollars, the Lottery gave GOCO $73.1 million for outdoor projects last year. The Lottery also gives 40% of its proceeds to The Conservation Trust Fund (CTF), which distributes Lottery dollars to all 64 counties based on population, $72.1 million last year. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) receives 10%, $16.6 million, from the Lottery plus additional funding for its Parks/Outdoors Recreation and Wildlife Cash Funds, totaling $24.3 million. Building Excellent Schools Today's (BEST) waterfall revenue was $9.3 million.
“Lottery dollars are everywhere people play in Colorado,” said Tom Seaver, Director of the Colorado Lottery. “From pavilions and arenas to open space and trail support, there are Lottery dollars in every state park and in hundreds of local outdoor resources in Colorado. We are looking forward to another 40 years of giving back to the great state of Colorado.”
Of the 43 state parks, the two newest are Fishers Peak and Sweet Water Lake state parks. One of GOCO’s most iconic investments, thanks in part to Lottery dollars, is the conservation of Greenland Ranch in 2000. The land protection effort by partners The Conservation Fund, Douglas County, and the landowner permanently safeguarded 17,000+ acres between Denver and Colorado Springs along the I-25 corridor.
The Lottery’s performance is guided by three principal areas of focus, or Pillars. Revenue drives conservation and funding to beneficiaries. The Responsibility pillar ensures that the Lottery demonstrates the highest level of integrity expected of a state agency. To ensure the Lottery follows global standards, it is engaged in the World Lottery Association Responsible Gaming certification program. By fiscal year 2022, the Lottery achieved Level 4, a level few other U.S. lotteries have reached. The Lottery’s Conservation pillar makes conservation a priority, expanding hands-on support through events throughout the year.
About Colorado Lottery
Since 1983, the Colorado Lottery has returned more than $4 billion to outdoor projects through Great Outdoors Colorado, the Conservation Trust Fund, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Building Excellent Schools Today. Proceeds from sales of Colorado Lottery games – Scratch, Powerball, Mega Millions, Colorado Lotto+, Lucky for Life, Cash 5, and Pick 3 – enhance, protect, and improve parks, trails, and open space in Colorado. For more information, visit coloradolottery.com.