Colorado Lottery review (2026): Cash 5 odds, 4% tax, couriers and claims

Who it’s for

The Colorado Lottery suits players who want frequent small prizes and who are happy to buy at a retailer or through a courier app. Players must be 18 or older. It is a weaker fit if you want a long claim window or official online sales, since prizes expire after 180 days and we could not verify state-run online sales.

How it works

The lottery is headquartered in Pueblo, and its fiscal years are audited by the state legislature. Games include Powerball at $2, Mega Millions at $5 and Millionaire for Life at $5.

State games are Colorado Lotto+ and Cash 5. Colorado Lotto+ costs $2 and draws on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, with an optional Plus add-on for $1. Cash 5 costs $1.

Odds and value

Colorado is one of the states where the lottery’s own games are clearly worth a look on odds. Cash 5 has jackpot odds of 1 in 201,376 and a 1 in 6.2 chance of any prize. The lottery says prizes on Cash 5 equal 50% of sales. Colorado Lotto+ has jackpot odds of 1 in 3,838,380 and any-prize odds of 1 in 30.

For comparison, Powerball’s chance of any prize is 1 in 24.87, so Cash 5 gives you a far better chance of a prize of some kind. The prizes are smaller. Any prize can include a return of small amounts, not a profit. See our methodology.

Trust and regulation

We found no regulatory actions on the pages we checked. The helpline is 1-800-GAMBLER. The state legislature’s audit of the lottery’s fiscal years is a useful external check.

The lottery’s pages that we checked say only that proceeds benefit local communities. We do not name specific programs because the pages do not, so the beneficiary is not published in detail.

Claiming prizes and taxes

Players have 180 days to claim. Withholding is 24% federal plus 4% Colorado on prizes over $5,000. We did not find a stated anonymity rule on the pages we checked. See the Colorado state page.

Two things are worth knowing about the Colorado Lotto+ Plus add-on. It costs $1 on top of the $2 base play, so a Plus ticket costs $3. We did not record the Plus prize structure in our fact sheet, so we cannot say what the extra dollar buys.

Playing online

We could not verify official online sales from the Colorado Lottery. Courier apps do operate in the state. Jackpocket, Lotto.com and Jackpot.com all list Colorado.

The price difference is concrete. On the Jackpocket storefront in Colorado we saw Powerball at $2.24, Mega Millions at $5.60, Millionaire for Life at $5.60 and a $20 scratch-off at $22.40, which is 12% over face value. Lotto.com charges a 25% convenience fee on draw tickets. Courier apps buy a real ticket for you, so the odds are the same, but you pay the fee.

Our take

Colorado’s Cash 5 is its strongest feature for players who want regular small wins. The 180-day claim window and the missing information on anonymity and online sales hold the score back. If you want convenience, a courier is available at a cost. If you want the lowest price, buy at a retailer. Our guides compare the two.

Frequently asked questions

What are the odds on Colorado Cash 5?

1 in 201,376 for the jackpot and 1 in 6.2 for any prize.

How long do I have to claim?

180 days.

How much tax is withheld?

24% federal plus 4% Colorado on prizes over $5,000.

Can I buy tickets online in Colorado?

We could not verify official online sales. Courier apps operate in the state and charge fees.

Where does the money go?

The pages we checked say only that proceeds benefit local communities.