HISTORY
1982 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• The General Assembly passed S.B. 119 implementing a state lottery on July 1, with the following distribution formula:
40 percent of the net proceeds allocated to the Conservation Trust Fund to support local parks, recreation and
open space projects; 10 percent of net proceeds for State Parks and outdoor recreation programs; and the balance
to state capital construction projects.
• Efforts got underway to purchase the land that became Roxborough State Park.
1983 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• In January, the Colorado Lottery sold its first Scratch ticket. The sales exceeded expectations — income was
projected to be $60 million, but by June 30, sales had reached $137 million.
• April 23, the Lottery held its first grand prize drawing. Carolynn Andersen, an upholstery shop owner from Cedaredge,
became the Lottery’s first millionaire.
• In September, gala celebrations were held in Pueblo, Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Grand Junction to
honor the Lottery’s first distribution of funds to Coloradoans. Nearly 50,000 people attended the five celebrations.
The Lottery distributed $41.7 million to the three designated funds. Capital Construction received $20.8 million, the
Conservation Trust Fund received $16.7 million and the State Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation received
$4.2 million.
• The Colorado State Trails Program was launched to compile all the trails information in the state into one central
database.
• Construction began on improvements to Golden Gate State Park campgrounds, cabins, yurts and the Visitor
Center.
1984 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• In October, the Lottery began its first “Super Instant” game with weekly Grand Prize Wheel drawings.
• December 2, Thornton homemaker Patricia Mascarenas became the first person to win the Super Instant jackpot.
She won $2.6 million.
DID YOU KNOW?
There have been 277 annuity winners and 84 cash option winners in Lotto, for a total of 361
winners since Lotto began.
HISTORY
1985 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• In November, a new $5 ticket game, “Million Dollar Sweepstakes,” kicked off. The new game was played concurrently
with the Scratch game, marking the first time that two games ran simultaneously. This “traditional” game was
authorized by the legislature in the 1985 general session.
• The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs opened its engineering building, partially built with funds from
Lottery proceeds through the Capital Construction Fund.
• Improvements to the Colorado State Fair grounds were completed, partially funded with money raised by the
Lottery and distributed through the Capital Construction Fund.
1986 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• In September, the Lottery introduced two concurrent Scratch games, “Colorado Treasure” and “Loose Change.”
This marked the first time two Scratch games, one with larger prizes and a growing grand prize, and the other with
all small prizes, were offered at the same time.
1987 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• In August, the Lottery commemorated its fifth funds distribution with a celebration at Water World, operated by the
Hyland Hills Metropolitan Parks and Recreation District, a Lottery proceeds recipient.
1988 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• In April, the Colorado General Assembly passed a bill authorizing the funding of a Lotto game. Lotto was expected
to increase the Lottery’s earning potential to return additional money to the partners supported by the Lottery.
1989 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• On January 24, the Lottery launched its first jackpot game, Lotto.
• April 22, Albert Tecci and Cheryl Penney, both of Denver, won the first Lotto jackpot of $7,090,700.
• May 10, the Lottery conducted the last televised drawing of the Grand Prize Wheel spin. June 4, Lee Parker of
Golden spun the Grand Prize Wheel for the last time and won $3,500.
• In March, the Lottery introduced the Quick Pick option for Lotto. Currently, 80 percent of all tickets sold are Quick
Picks.
HISTORY
1990 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• On July 18, the Lottery began a second weekly Lotto drawing. Lotto drawings are held every Wednesday and
Saturday.
• The Colorado Convention Center opened its doors. Land for the convention center was partially purchased with
Lottery proceeds, allocated through the Capital Construction Fund.
1991 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• On February 13, the one-billionth Lottery ticket was sold.
• In April, the Lottery returned $3.5 million into the prize fund from the unclaimed jackpot of September 15, 1990.
This marked the first Lotto jackpot ever to go unclaimed. Mary June Myers of Sterling won the money. Including the
unclaimed $3.5 million, Myers’ jackpot totaled $9 million.
• In September, the Lottery launched Keno with statewide promotions and a player education program.
• In September, the Lottery conducted its 200th Lotto drawing.
1992 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• March 25, the Lottery awarded the largest Lotto jackpot in Colorado history. Kim Walker of Boulder won $27 million;
she also became the 100th Lotto millionaire.
• In June, a $3.25 million unclaimed jackpot from the December 7, 1991 Lotto drawing expired. This was the second
Lotto jackpot to go unclaimed. The money was returned to the Lotto jackpot pool and won by Laura Oakman of
Highlands Ranch on August 23.
• November 3, voters approved Article XXVII to the Colorado Constitution, which mandated that a portion of Lottery
proceeds go to the newly created Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund (GOCO). GOCO monies are earmarked for
wildlife, open space, parks, trails, outdoor recreation, and environmental education programs. The fund received all
funds previously dedicated to the Capital Construction Fund.
• The Lottery launched the Starburst Awards, a yearly award designed to recognize excellence in the use of Lottery
funds.
1993 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
•January 23, the Lottery celebrated its 10th anniversary, and unveiled its first-ever $2 Scratch game: “Big 10 Cash.” In
its first week, sales of “Big 10 Cash” tickets topped $1.3 million. As one of 14 games on sale during the fiscal year, “Big
10 Cash” represented about 23 percent of the Lottery’s Scratch ticket sales in fiscal 1993.
HISTORY
• In April, the GOCO Trust Fund began receiving a share of Lottery funds. GOCO receives 50 percent of proceeds,
up to a cap; the Conservation Trust Fund receives 40 percent of proceeds; and State Parks receives 10 percent.
If the GOCO cap is reached, spillover funds are directed to public schools to address critical health and safety
issues.
1994 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• In May, the Lottery launched “Instant MONOPOLY®,” the first time
the Lottery produced a Scratch game in cooperation with a major,
national corporate partner. The game kicked off with a three-week
promotion, in which six players competed for $10,000 in cash by
playing a marathon Monopoly game on the largest game board in
the United States. The game increased Scratch playership among
occasional players and lapsed players by 14 percent.
• In July, the Lottery launched the “Cash Value Option,” giving
Lotto players the option of taking their jackpot prize in a 25-year
progressive annuity, or in a lump sum equal to 40 percent of the
estimated annuitized jackpot.
DID YOU KNOW?
The oldest Lottery retailer
continuously selling Lottery
tickets is Francis Street Liquors
in Longmont – Francis Street
has been with the Lottery
since it started in 1983.
• In August, the Lottery Commission approved a return of $74.1 million in Lottery revenue to the state of Colorado
for local and state parks, recreation, wildlife, open space, and public buildings. Sales for fiscal year 1994 were $286.8
million.
• August 20, Adena Sod of Golden became the Lottery’s first-ever Cash Value Option Lotto winner. Sod claimed a
lump sum of $5.2 million (before taxes), an amount that equaled 40 percent of the estimated annuitized jackpot of
$13 million for that drawing.
• GOCO awarded its first grants for trail projects.
1995 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• In May, the Lottery launched Lotto Bonus Month, which awarded an additional $100,000 cash prize to each Lotto
jackpot winner in the month of May. Additional prize money came from unclaimed prizes and an unclaimed jackpot
worth $1.5 million, that expired on December 1, 1994. On May 18, Ann Dockery of Littleton won the first Lotto jackpot
during Lotto Bonus Month, worth $6 million plus an additional $500,000 bonus prize.
• In August, the Lottery announced a 36 percent increase in fiscal year proceeds allocation over the previous year.
Record-setting sales of $351.9 million for the fiscal year meant $100.6 million in proceeds for Colorado, bringing the
Lottery’s cumulative proceeds total to $654.8 million.
• 628 acres slated for development were protected and added to Roxborough State Park.
HISTORY
1996 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• In January, the Lottery introduced the first of its “seasonal” Scratch games, “Heart of Gold,” a Valentine’s Day theme
game. This was followed by a St. Patrick’s Day game, a “Spring Fever” game, a Mother’s Day themed game and three
winter holiday Scratch games. These Scratch ticket gift ideas proved to be extremely popular among players, and
helped give the Lottery’s Scratch games a $15.6 million boost in calendar year 1996.
• In June, the Lottery introduced the merchandise give-away game “Trucks and Bucks.” Rather than the cash top prize
that other Scratch games offered, this game awarded ten top prize winners a brand-new 1996 Ford Ranger 4x4 truck,
tax- and first-year-licensing free. This was the first game in the history of the Colorado Lottery that offered a truck
as the top prize.
• On September 16, the Lottery introduced Cash 5 with a $20,000 top prize. The game’s popularity grew, and now
there are drawings six days a week.
• GOCO awarded its first Legacy Grants. GOCO invested $30 million in six projects. Legacy projects are of regional
or statewide significance and are multi-year projects to which GOCO has made multi-million dollar commitments.
1997______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• On May 31, 19-year-old Kevin Sutton of Longmont became the Lottery’s youngest Lotto jackpot winner. Sutton,
who was the sole winner of the $3 million jackpot, was watching the live Lotto drawing on TV with several family
members when he realized he had matched all six numbers.
• In September, the Department of Revenue announced the first step in an effort to address gaming prevalence in
Colorado. Independent contractor Gemini Research announced the results of a study during a press conference
at the state capitol. The Lottery, in conjunction with Racing and Gaming divisions, committed to address problem
gaming in Colorado through a “play responsibly” campaign, and implemented a “1-800” referral number for those
seeking help.
• The Division of Wildlife’s Angler Education Program began. To date, more than 100,000 fishing poles have been
distributed to youth around the state.
• Gunnison Ranchlands Legacy Project was launched with help from a GOCO Legacy grant.
• The Gates Wildlife Education Center at the Denver Zoo opened, thanks to a GOCO grant and help from the
Division of Wildlife (DOW).
• The Lottery launched its Web site, www.coloradolottery.com.
HISTORY
1998______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• April 26, the Lottery launched Perfecto Games. The Perfecto Games concept combined the play action of the
Lottery’s Scratch games and the drawing action of a jackpot game, like Lotto and Cash 5. Colorado was the first
Lottery in the world to offer this new style of game.
• The Lottery was an industry leader when Player Express terminals were introduced in September. The Cub Foods
at 6th and Chambers in Aurora became the first Lottery retailer to introduce this concept to players. The Player
Express concept placed Lottery terminals in check stands at major Lottery retailers, and was designed to offer
consumers the convenience of one-stop shopping.
1999______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• The Lottery introduced a new corporate slogan - “The Colorado Lottery, your ticket to a more beautiful Colorado.”
• The first Lynx was released into the wilds of Colorado, thanks to Colorado Lottery funds through GOCO and the
DOW.
• The City of Denver opened Commons Park – center of the South Platte River revitalization.
• State Parks purchased Brush Creek with GOCO and State Parks funds, expanding Sylvan Lake State Park in Eagle
County by 1,700 acres.
2000_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• On November 7, Colorado voters approved Referendum E, which allowed the Colorado Lottery to participate in
multi-state lottery games. After extensive research, the Lottery determined that Powerball was the best alternative
for the Colorado Lottery, players and proceeds recipients.
• The Pueblo Riverwalk was completed with the help of Lottery funding.
• The Greenland Ranch along the I-25 corridor was protected with a GOCO grant, ensuring that Colorado Springs
and the Denver metro area will never expand into one continuous developed area.
• Fruita State Park opened in Mesa County with the help of GOCO and State Parks funds.
2001______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• In February, the Lottery added two more drawings to the popular Cash 5 game. Drawings continue to be held six
days a week, Monday through Saturday.
• In August, the Lottery joined the nationwide Powerball game. Powerball offers Coloradoans the chance to win the
largest jackpot of any Lottery game.
HISTORY
• In August, the Lottery retired the Lotto ‘balls’ and began using an Automated Drawing Machine to select drawing
numbers for Lotto and Cash 5.
• In November, the Lottery introduced its first $10 Scratch game, “$250,000 Holiday Riches.”
•John Martin Reservoir became southeast Colorado’s first State Park to open with the help of a GOCO grant and
Lottery funding allocated directly to State Parks.
• Land was purchased for St. Vrain State Park. Lottery funding also helped build campgrounds and purchase water
rights for the park.
• A major renovation of the facilities at Cherry Creek, Chatfield and Trinidad State Parks began.
2002_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• Governor Bill Owens signed House Bill 1250, allowing the Lottery to continue until 2024.
• In September, the Lottery held a “design the Lottery’s 20th Anniversary Scratch ticket” contest. The winning concept
was called “20-Year Adventure” and was introduced to the public shortly after the Lottery’s 20th Anniversary on
January 24th.
• Work began on the Sandcreek Regional Greenway, the last remaining link in creating a bike path that will circle the
entire Denver Metro Area. It remains a work in progress.
• Work began to protect and preserve the Gunnison Sage Grouse habitat. This work continues today, thanks to the
DOW and GOCO.
• With Lottery funds, GOCO loaned the Nature Conservancy $3 million for the land that is now Great Sand Dunes
National Park.
• The Yampa River Legacy Project was completed, resulting in a new State Park, and the protection of 6,500 acres.
• Land was purchased for what would become Lone Mesa State Park.
• MyLottery, the Lottery’s players’ club program, was launched.
2003_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• The Lottery introduced a new ticket delivery system. A courier service enabled retailers to plan for the introduction
of new games, and arrange inventory accordingly.
• Department of Revenue Director M. Michael Cooke announced the hiring of new Lottery Director, Peggy Gordon.
• The Lottery brought the live Powerball drawing to Colorado. The drawing, which is typically conducted in Des
Moines, Iowa, was held live from the FOX31 Studios in Denver.
• In September, the Lotto Cash Option value increased from 40 percent of the advertised jackpot amount to 50
percent.
HISTORY
2004_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• The Lottery ended fiscal year 2004 by setting an all-time Scratch sales record of $260.9 million.
• In August, the Lottery introduced its first ever second-chance Internet promotion. Players who purchased
a $2 “Coral Cash” ticket could enter their non-winning tickets into a drawing through the Lottery’s
Web site.
• The Lottery introduced new state-of-the-art Scratch ticket vending machines at retailers across the state.
These new machines offer touch-screen technology and the ability to sell up to 20 different games at
a time.
• GOCO awarded $11.6 million for the Laramie Foothills Mountains to Plains Project to protect 55,000 acres in
Larimer County, ensuring stunning vistas for generations to come.
• The Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Recovery Project was launched, helping ensure the future of the Colorado
native.
• The Town of Nunn Park was renovated and improved with a GOCO grant and direct Conservation Trust Fund (CTF)
funding.
• The restroom facilities at the Archuleta County Fairgrounds were improved with a GOCO grant and
CTF funding.
2005_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• The Lottery moved operations to a new vendor, Scientific Games, and underwent a major computer conversion
in March. Changes included new state-of-the-art terminals that produce Powerball, Lotto and Cash 5 tickets and
ticket checkers where players can scan tickets to see if they are winners.
• The Lottery ended fiscal year 2005 by setting an all-time Scratch sales record of $282.7 million.
• A Lottery industry first occurred in May, when the Colorado Lottery teamed up with Lucas Films
to introduce a Star Wars Scratch game. These tickets featured 12 different scenes from various Star
Wars movies.
• In August, the Powerball matrix changed, and the minimum jackpot amount increased to $15 million, and the 5 of 5
match increased to $200,000.
• Michael Layman of Thornton became the first person in Colorado and the nation to win $1,000,000 playing
Powerball with the Power Play option.
• Mueller State Park completed renovations to its campgrounds, cabins and Visitor Center.
HISTORY
2006_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• The Lottery ended fiscal year 2006 by setting an all-time Scratch sales record of $293.8 million.
• The Lottery contributed a record $12.5 million to the Public Schools Health and Safety Fund.
• In February, the Powerball game saw a record-breaking $365 million Powerball jackpot – won by a group of meat
packers from Nebraska.
• Downtown Denver opened its first playground funded, in part, with Lottery dollars.
• The Lottery’s Web site became the 6th most popular Web site in the state, with more than 2.6 million page views
every month.
• In May, the Lottery launched its biggest Scratch game ever, “$35 Million Cash Spectacular,” which offered nine top
prizes of $500,000.
• Cash 5 had its best sales year since the game launched in 1995, with sales of more than $17.4 million. The game also
turned 10 in September.
• Powerball generated an all-time high of $119.7 million in sales during fiscal year 2006.
• The number of acres protected with the help of GOCO grants passed the 500,000 mark.
• The South Park Legacy Project was completed, protecting 14,766 acres, and launched South Park
Fly Fishers.
• Cheyenne Mountain State Park, funded by GOCO and State Parks’ Lottery funds, opened in El Paso County. It is
the only State Park in that county, and the latest State Park to be opened with the help of Lottery funding.
DID YOU KNOW?
Safeway #1595 in Westminster sold the Lottery’s first winning Powerball jackpot ticket.
HISTORY
2007_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• In October, Colorado had its first ever Powerball jackpot winners. Two families shared a $20 million jackpot.
• In August, the Lottery selected Cactus Marketing Communications as its advertising agency of record.
• In October, the Lottery launched its first ever $20 Scratch game, “Colorado Millionaire.” Jeff Mitchell of Colorado
Springs won the game’s first $1 million prize.
• The Lottery broke weekly Scratch records of $7 million for seven weeks in November and December.
• GOCO distributed more than $75 million to protect open spaces and river corridors and wildlife habitat, and
increase outdoor recreation areas, the largest distribution to date from GOCO.
• In February, the Colorado Birding Trail and companion trail launched. Three years in the making, this was a significant
achievement for the DOW, and was partially funded with GOCO grants.
2008_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• In January, to celebrate the Lottery’s 25th anniversary, Lottery Director Peggy Gordon presented Governor
Bill Ritter with a check for $1.92 billion, which represented the Lottery’s proceeds to the state since its founding
in 1983.
DID YOU KNOW?
Highest sales ever for one
drawing were $9,297,945 for
the $27 million jackpot on
Wednesday, March 25, 1992.
This was accomplished in
four days of sales (Sun.-Wed.).
Sales for that Wednesday
alone were $4,943,515, which
is the highest one-day total in
Lotto history.