Colorado Lottery Hits GOCO Cap, Contributes Nearly $82 Million to Support Outdoor Projects

PUEBLO, Colo. (June 6, 2024) – The Colorado Lottery has reached its revenue milestone for fiscal year 2024 that meets the funding cap for Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO). This success translates to $81,771,604 in proceeds that will bolster parks, recreation, conservation, and open space projects across the state.

High national jackpots in May, including two Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots that reached more than one billion dollars each, were major factors in reaching the cap. While national jackpots and Colorado Lotto+ success play a major factor, the Lottery’s Scratch products, especially the popular $50 Scratch tickets, significantly contributed to the organization’s consistent year-over-year growth.

“Growing revenue responsibly to support outdoor recreation, conservation and schools is why the Colorado Lottery exists today,” said Tom Seaver, director of the Colorado Lottery. “This March, the GOCO board awarded over $117 million in grants that benefited the outdoors in Colorado, marking the largest funding cycle ever. This is just a fraction of the millions that GOCO invests annually in conservation, restoration, stewardship, and wildlife projects. This is one more reason why Colorado stands out as the greatest state in the country.”

Hitting the GOCO cap enables the Colorado Lottery to extend more support to other key proceeds partners funded by Lottery revenue. In addition to the GOCO funding, the Lottery is projected to return the following amounts of revenue to these key programs. 

• The Conservation Trust Fund (CTF) will receive $78,525,504.

• Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) will receive $19,528,625 in direct support, with an additional $4,171,621 allocated to both the Wildlife Cash Fund and Parks/Outdoor Recreation Cash Fund.

• Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) will receive $8,143,242.

• The Outdoor Equity Program Fund (OEPG) will receive a set amount of $2,250,000 as established by the legislature.

The GOCO cap was originally set at $35 million and has gone up each year based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Denver metropolitan area for the preceding calendar year. Next fiscal year, the GOCO cap will be $86,036,071, a 5.2% increase.

About Colorado Lottery: 

Since 1983, the Colorado Lottery has returned more than $4 billion to outdoor projects and schools through Great Outdoors Colorado, the Conservation Trust Fund, 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, and fund critical infrastructure projects for schools. For more information, visit coloradolottery.com.

SOURCE: Colorado Lottery.