The Lottery + its Role in Improving Colorado’s Outdoor Playground

While buying lottery tickets rarely results in riches, the state of Colorado benefits greatly from the revenue. In fact, the money from lottery tickets that Colorado has received over the years has contributed to countless projects dedicated to preserving and improving the state's outdoor playground.

How Do Lottery Tickets Fund Outdoor Projects in Colorado?

An organization known as Great Outdoors Colorado, often abbreviated as GOCO, has been relying on revenue from the lottery to fund a variety of projects since 1992.

In fact, lottery proceeds serve as GOCO's only revenue source, but the vast amount of money that comes in from this source keeps the organization and its projects fully funded.

For example, Great Outdoors Colorado received over $74 million in 2023, a figure just shy of the organization's $78 million cap.

What Kind of Projects Are a Direct Result of Colorado Lottery Revenue?

Since its inception in 1992, Great Outdoors Colorado has used lottery revenue to fund over 5,000 projects. Some of the most recent projects that saw funding from lottery tickets include the Palisade Plunge in Palisade, the Peak to Plains Trail near Denver, and a conservation effort for the South Platte River Basin.

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Speaking of conservation, GOCO has worked to conserve over 1.3 million acres of land across Colorado since 1992, efforts that protect the state's wildlife, water, and agriculture.

In addition, Great Outdoors Colorado has built or improved upon roughly 1,800 parks across the state of Colorado, all with revenue provided by lottery tickets.

So, next time someone's holding up the line at the convenience store by purchasing lottery tickets, you might feel better by reminding yourself where that money is ultimately going.