Frequently asked questions - Lotto

The odds of winning the Lotto jackpot are 1:5,245,786. The odds of winning any prize are 1:35.

Find out more.

Current winning numbers and access to past winning numbers can be found on the home page of our website. You can have winning numbers sent directly to your cell phone or email address when you sign up to be a MyLottery member. Lottery results are also publicized by most television stations and daily newspapers. Lottery retailers can print winning numbers reports for current and past drawing dates.

Lotto winning numbers

Join MyLottery         

Lotto tickets are available for purchase at 4:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday. They are suspended at 11:59 p.m. for system balancing. On Wednesday and Saturday drawing nights, sales are suspended at 7:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased on Wednesday and Saturday drawing nights after the game balances and drawing has been certified until 11:59 p.m.  

We do not offer an online or mail-in subscription service. We offer Advance Play through our retailers where you can play up to 26 draws for Powerball, Mega Millions, MatchPlay and Lotto, and up to 91 draws for Cash 5 (13 weeks). Check the Advance Play box on the edge of your play slip. The retailer will ask you how many draws you'd like to play, and charge you accordingly. The same numbers will be played for all drawings purchased. 

Advance Play allows you to purchase up to 13 weeks of tickets at one time (26 draws for Powerball, Mega Millions, MatchPlay and Lotto, and 91 draws for Cash 5). Check the Advance Play box on your play slip, and then tell your retailer how many draws you'd like to play. The same numbers will be used for all of the drawings you request. You can check your ticket after all of your drawings have been conducted and collect your winnings at once, or collect them as you go along. If you choose to collect your winnings after each drawing you win, be sure you get a replacement ticket. Advance Play is available at Lottery retail locations throughout Colorado.

Lotto winning numbers are picked by a stand-alone computer (a computer that is not connected to any network) that is locked in a secure room in a building located some distance away from the Lottery offices. The numbers are drawn using a random number generator based on quantum vision technology. Quantum vision technology basically means the computers use decaying radiation as part of the random generation process instead of a computer chip. For each Lotto drawing, two “test” drawings are held to ensure everything is in working order. After the two test drawings, the real drawing is held and the numbers entered into the Lottery’s system, which runs the numbers selected by the computer against all of the tickets purchased to determine if there is a winner. In order to ensure the integrity of each drawing, an employee of an independent certified public accounting firm (auditor), and a member of the Lottery’s security team are present for the entire process. In addition, an independent company, Gaming Laboratories (GLI), performs audits and test drawings to ensure everything is working properly and the games are fair.

You are welcome to witness a drawing to see how it is done. If you would like to set up a time to witness a drawing, or would like more detailed information about random number generation or quantum vision technology, please contact Mari Boyd at 719-546-5318.

Click here for Lotto payout information.

The Lotto jackpot usually starts at $1 million and increases until it is hit when a winner matches all 6 numbers drawn.

Players want a growing jackpot and Lotto jackpots increase according to ticket sales. Lotto games are traditionally driven by jackpot size and not the size of the smaller prizes. For more mid-range prizes, try playing Cash 5.