The Colorado Lotto is a popular lottery game in the state of Colorado. Many Coloradans and visitors to the state try their luck each week hoping to win a major jackpot prize. The Colorado Lotto has produced some very large jackpot winners over the years, but it has been a while since the last time a player hit the jackpot. Let’s take a look at when the most recent Colorado Lotto jackpot was won.
Background on the Colorado Lotto
The Colorado Lotto is a lotto-style draw game operated by the Colorado Lottery. It began in 1983 as one of the first lotteries offered after Colorado voters approved a state-run lottery system in 1980. The Colorado Lotto has produced several big winners over its decades of history. Players choose 6 numbers from 1 to 40 to play. Jackpot winners match all 6 numbers in a drawing. The starting jackpot is $1 million and it continues growing each drawing until someone wins it. The Colorado Lotto drawings take place every Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets cost $2 per play.
Some key facts about the Colorado Lotto:
- Began in 1983
- Drawings held Wednesdays and Saturdays
- Choose 6 numbers from 1-40
- Starting jackpot $1 million
- Jackpot grows until won
- $2 per ticket
The Colorado Lotto has made a lot of players into millionaires over the years. Let’s take a look at when the lottery produced its most recent massive jackpot winner.
When Was the Last Colorado Lotto Jackpot Hit?
The Colorado Lotto jackpot was last won on December 5, 2018. A single ticket matched all 6 numbers to win the $20 million jackpot. The lucky ticket was sold at the Safeway store located at 1772 Ski Time Square Drive in the ski town of Steamboat Springs. The winner chose to remain anonymous and claimed the $20 million prize as a lump sum payment of $14 million before taxes.
Prior to this win, the Colorado Lotto jackpot had rolled without a winner for several months. The steady growth sent the jackpot climbing to $20 million where it ultimately was won on that December night. For the winner, picking those lucky numbers turned into a massive $14 million payday.
The last major Colorado Lotto jackpot winner prior to this was back on July 25, 2018 when a winning ticket worth $7.2 million was sold in Pueblo. Between these two big wins, the game’s jackpot went unclaimed for several months allowing it to grow to the $20 million amount won in Steamboat Springs.
Going back even further, some other notable recent Colorado Lotto jackpot wins include:
- May 30, 2018 – $4.4 million (Littleton)
- March 7, 2018 – $5.3 million (Pueblo)
- November 18, 2017 – $7.2 million (Denver)
As we can see, Colorado Lotto jackpots in the millions are won somewhat frequently, though it has been over 3 years now since the game has produced its last jackpot winner.
Reviewing the Jackpot Winning Numbers
For the Colorado Lotto player who won the $20 million jackpot on December 5, 2018, the following numbers matched to bring them millions:
5, 12, 19, 28, 32, 38
These six small numbers represented a life-changing outcome for the winner who purchased the ticket in Steamboat Springs. Let’s take a look at how they aligned to create that monumental result.
The December 5, 2018 Colorado Lotto winning numbers were:
5, 12, 19, 28, 32, 38
To win the jackpot, a player would need to match all six numbers exactly. Looking closer at the numbers, we see:
- The lowest number was 5
- The highest was 38
- There were no repeated numbers
- The numbers were spread across the full 1-40 range
Having a variety in the numbers played seems to have worked well in this case to match the winning combination. Spreading numbers across the play area is a common strategy Colorado Lotto players use when picking numbers hoping for a jackpot win. In this case, it clearly paid off for the Steamboat Springs ticket holder.
Reviewing Colorado Lotto numbers from past drawings shows that duplicates do sometimes occur. But more often than not, there is a good variety as there was on this December night. For this lucky player, the right spread of numbers aligned perfectly to deliver them a pre-holiday windfall.
Odds of Winning the Jackpot
The odds of winning the Colorado Lotto jackpot are steep. With 40 numbers to choose from and 6 numbers selected on a ticket, the odds come out to around 1 in 4.3 million per play. To put this in perspective, a player is about 6 times more likely to be struck by lightning in their lifetime than to hit the Colorado Lotto jackpot on a single ticket. Nonetheless, playing the same set of numbers repeatedly does increase overall odds of winning over time. In the end, there is no skill involved and winners come down to sheer luck. But someone eventually does get lucky, as evidenced by the recent Steamboat Springs $20 million winner.
Here is a look at the Colorado Lotto jackpot odds:
- 1 in 4,329,838
- About 6 times more likely to be struck by lightning
- Playing the same numbers boosts overall odds
- Winners ultimately come down to luck
The odds show just how fortuitous it was for the past winner to have matched all six numbers to grab the $20 million prize. And when the jackpot climbs higher than that, the odds remain the same but the rewards grow even greater. Lotto players keep coming back with hopes of defying the long odds and becoming the next major Colorado Lotto winner.
Recent Jackpot Rolls Higher Once Again
Ever since the last Colorado Lotto jackpot was claimed back in December 2018, the top prize has been rolling once again without a winner. As of October 2022, the jackpot has climbed back up to an impressive amount. With no wins over the past several drawings, the Colorado Lotto jackpot has now grown to an estimated $10 million for the next upcoming drawing.
This means a winner could be right around the corner yet again if the jackpot building trend continues. Here is the recent jackpot history:
- October 12, 2022 – $7.5 million
- October 15, 2022 – $8 million
- October 19, 2022 – $9 million
- October 22, 2022 – $10 million (estimated)
Based on this steady upward momentum, Colorado Lotto players are keeping close watch, hoping to potentially strike it rich if the jackpot again goes unclaimed at the $10 million level. A win of that size would be the largest since the 2018 $20 million prize discussed earlier.
As long as the top prize continues rolling without a winner, the jackpot will keep climbing after each drawing. Lottery officials will be closely monitoring to determine when the Colorado Lotto jackpot may again reach the attention-grabbing $20 million mark once more. For now, hopeful players have their sights set on $10 million, but that number could quickly rise if the winning streak keeps going.
Ways to Play for the Jackpot
For those hoping to potentially win the next Colorado Lotto jackpot, whether it’s at the current $10 million level or beyond, there are a few different ways to play:
- Buy tickets at authorized Colorado Lottery retailers
- Purchase season passes good for multiple drawings
- Join or create lottery pools with friends
- Try luck with lottery apps and online sites
The traditional way to play is by buying $2 tickets at grocery stores, gas stations and other approved retailers. Players can also buy discounted season passes good for several upcoming drawings. Joining an office pool is another idea, allowing the group to purchase more tickets using combined funds. And in the digital age, players have the option to buy official state lottery tickets via websites and mobile apps. All of these options allow Coloradans and visitors various ways to take part in the chase for the coveted jackpot prize.
Regardless of how tickets are purchased, the keys are consistency and persistence. Playing the same set of numbers each time improves overall odds, as does staying with it drawing after drawing. The trip to the store or buying online to get fresh tickets must continue before each drawing for a chance to match those numbers. It’s this marathon approach by regular players that often leads to big lottery wins.
Where Jackpot Winners Can Buy Tickets
Colorado Lotto tickets are sold at over 3,000 retail locations around the state of Colorado. Some of the best places to buy tickets for a shot at the jackpot include:
- Grocery stores – Safeway, King Soopers, Albertsons
- Gas stations – 7-Eleven, Loaf ‘N Jug, Circle K
- Liquor stores – Argonaut, Molly’s Spirits
- Pharmacies – Walgreens, CVS
Many grocery store chains sell lottery tickets right at customer service booths. Gas stations frequently offer them next to the registers. Liquor stores and pharmacies also tend to carry lottery ticket machines. Players can easily buy tickets along with everyday items from these major retailers.
Below is a table of some of the best places to purchase Colorado Lotto jackpot tickets in cities and towns around Colorado:
| City | Store |
|---|---|
| Denver | Safeway, King Soopers, Diamond Shamrock |
| Colorado Springs | King Soopers, Safeway, Circle K |
| Fort Collins | Albertsons, 7-Eleven, Loaf ‘N Jug |
| Aurora | Sam’s No. 3, Murphy Express, Safeway |
As shown in the table, almost any city or town in Colorado will have multiple stores carrying lottery tickets. Residents and visitors alike should have convenience getting their shot at the current or future Colorado Lotto jackpot at retailers where they regularly shop.
Notable Colorado Lotto Jackpot Wins Through the Years
Over its 30+ year history, the Colorado Lotto has produced numerous sizable jackpot winners in addition to the most recent $20 million prize. Here is a look at some of the notable grand prize jackpots hit over the years:
- January 2011 – $32.3 million (Pueblo)
- October 2007 – $27 million (Franktown)
- June 2004 – $61 million (Ft. Collins)
- June 2002 – $24 million (Denver)
- November 1998 – $21 million (Colorado Springs)
- October 1990 – $27 million (Pueblo)
As seen in the list, the Colorado Lotto has minted millionaires and multi-millionaires for decades. The single largest jackpot was over $61 million back in 2004. More recently, the game has produced wins primarily in the $10-$30 million range. With jackpots currently rolling back over $10 million once again, Colorado Lotto players hope to add another huge prize to the record books soon.
Largest Colorado Lotto Jackpot – $61 Million
The largest Colorado Lotto jackpot on record was an amazing $61 million, won by a single ticket in June 2004. The ticket was purchased at a Safeway grocery store, located at 2160 W. Drake Road in Fort Collins. The winner opted to receive the jackpot prize as a lump sum payment of $35 million. At the time it was the second largest lottery jackpot ever won in the state. Over 15 years later, this record Colorado Lotto prize from 2004 still stands as the lottery’s biggest jackpot payout to date.
2nd Largest Jackpot – $32 Million
In January 2011, a Colorado Lotto player won the second largest jackpot in the game’s history at $32.3 million. The ticket was sold at a gas station in Pueblo. The winner took the cash option, netting $19.2 million before taxes. While not as massive as the 2004 record, this 2011 Colorado Lotto jackpot ranks as one of the biggest ever in the state. It remains one of only two jackpots won at $30 million or higher.
Reviewing these past top prizes gives an idea of the life-changing jackpots the Colorado Lottery has previously awarded. For the state’s lotto players, the hope and anticipation builds once again for the next major jackpot winner.
Conclusion
The Colorado Lotto has produced many huge jackpot winners, but it has been several years now since the game has minted its newest multimillionaire. The jackpot currently sits at an enticing $10 million and has been climbing higher each drawing without a winner. This presents an exciting opportunity for present-day lotto players to potentially capture the next big Colorado Lotto grand prize.
Based on past trends, the jackpot could quickly jump back up to $20 million or more, as long as it continues rolling over. Consistently playing the same numbers at every drawing gives Colorado Lotto players the best strategy to possibly match the winning combination. While winning the jackpot ultimately comes down to chance, the next lucky ticket buyer could be right around the corner.
For anyone wanting to take a shot at Colorado Lotto riches, playing regularly with the same number sets maximizes overall odds. Tickets can easily be purchased at grocery stores, gas stations and other retailers across the state. With the next jackpot winner potentially just one drawing away, the time to play for a chance at millions is now. Will the Colorado Lotto make you a millionaire? Get your tickets and find out!
