Game of the Week: Does Colorado Cash 5 have the Best Odds in the Centennial State?
Written by Max Watt
August 21, 2026
If you’re a resident or visitor of Colorado looking for an enjoyable draw game you can play every week, why not experience odds that make Powerball, Mega Millions, and Millionaire for Life seem impossible?
Enter Colorado Cash 5, the classic Colorado draw game launched in 1996. Since its launch, the game has become one of the state’s flagship lottery draw games. If you’re unfamiliar with the game, or are simply looking for more information about it, our Game of the Week guide covers the game in detail.
Discover other great lottery draw games with Jackpot.com.
What Is Colorado Cash 5?
Colorado Cash 5 is a daily 5/32 draw game that you can play in the Centennial State. Even though you will win smaller prizes than those on offer in Colorado Lotto+ or one of the multi-state lottery games, the game’s lenient odds can allow players to win more easily.
Drawings take place every day – seven days a week – including Sundays, ensuring daily Cash 5 lottery results to check while you’re on the go.
How to Play
- Pick Your Numbers: Select five numbers between 1 and 32. Do it yourself or mark/use Quick Pick for random numbers.
- Purchase a Ticket: You can buy tickets at licensed lottery retailers across Colorado or order tickets online, making the game easily accessible on a weekly basis.
- Enter Multiple Drawings (optional): You can up the excitement by adding multiple draws with one Cash 5 playslip – you can enter as many as 91 drawings at once.
- Enter EZ Match (optional): You can check EZ Match if you want to win cash instantly at checkout before the nightly draw even begins. Instant cash prizes range from $2 up to $500.
Odds and Prizes
The best element of a draw game with only 32 numbers is the odds of winning. Scan the tables below to see how favorable they are:
Cash Odds & Prizes Table
| Match | Prize | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| 5 of 5 | $20,000 | 1 in 201,376 |
| 4 of 5 | $200 | 1 in 1,492 |
| 3 of 5 | $10 | 1 in 57 |
| 2 of 5 | $1 | 1 in 7 |
EZ Match Odds & Prizes
| EZ Match Prize | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|
| $500 | 1 in 42,000 |
| $250 | 1 in 42,000 |
| $100 | 1 in 21,000 |
| $50 | 1 in 2,800 |
| $20 | 1 in 1,680 |
| $15 | 1 in 840 |
| $10 | 1 in 168 |
| $5 | 1 in 105 |
| $4 | 1 in 76 |
| $3 | 1 in 17 |
| $2 | 1 in 10 |
Why Cash 5's Odds Blow Powerball Away
Cash 5 draws 5 numbers from a pool of just 32 numbers, which caps the total number of possible combinations at 201,376. The multistate games pull from a far bigger pool and then tack on a second, separate “bonus ball” pool on top of it:
- Powerball: draws 5 numbers from a pool of 69, then 1 Powerball number from a pool of 26.
- Mega Millions: draws 5 numbers from a pool of 70, then 1 Mega Ball number from a pool of 24.
That extra ball doesn’t just make things a little harder — it multiplies the odds into the hundreds of millions.
Odds Side By Side
| Game | Matrix | Jackpot Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Cash 5 | 5/32 | 1 in 201,376 |
| Powerball | 5/69 + 1/26 | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| Mega Millions | 5/70 + 1/24 | 1 in 290,472,336 |
Put another way: you’re roughly 1,450 times more likely to hit the Cash 5 jackpot than the Powerball jackpot on a single ticket, and about 1,440 times more likely than winning the Mega Millions jackpot.
History of Colorado Cash 5
Cash 5 is a classic Colorado draw game that was launched in 1996. Since its launch, the prize has always been fixed at a top prize of $20,000. Designed to offer a lower, stable, and more achievable pay for lottery fans, the game was originally drawn six nights a week.
The daily game underwent its most notable modern evolution in 2017 with the introduction of EZ Match, an optional add-on feature allowing players to win up to $500 instantly at checkout. Today, Cash 5 remains an enduring favorite among Colorado players due to its unmatched daily predictability and lower cost of entry.
Colorado Cash 5 Winners
$20,000 | April 2026
A first-time player won $20,000 online on a Colorado Cash 5 jackpot win. Jeff, the visually impaired winner, had been using an online lottery service for about three months and spoke of plans to buy a new apartment, noting how smaller jackpot wins can be life changing. His ticket was personally delivered to him, and he was given submission assistance from the Colorado Lottery.
$20,000 | April 2020
John, a Cash 5 winner from Morrison, claimed his $20,000 jackpot during a drive-thru appointment at the Colorado Lottery's Pueblo office — one of the safety measures the Lottery put in place during the early COVID-19 lockdown. His winning ticket was purchased in Littleton, and the moment was an emotional one: staff noted his hands were shaking as he held the check. John said he planned to use the money to help friends and family who had lost their jobs during the pandemic.
$20,000 | September 2024
Kurt L. of Parker was one of five Cash 5 jackpot winners the Colorado Lottery flagged in a single month, calling it a hot streak for the game. His winning ticket was purchased at the Walmart Supercenter in Parker, and he claimed his $20,000 prize alongside other September winners from Brighton, Colorado Springs, Denver, and Aurora.
What’s The Verdict?
Cash 5 has amazing odds, weekly playability, and a simple classic draw format. Unlike Pick 3, there is not a great deal of customization with this game, but that is appealing to a lot of players. Simple, traditional formats can be the most enjoyable experience.
You can play Cash 5 any day of the week, either through a local lottery retailer or online.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do tickets cost?
Cash 5 tickets cost $1 per drawing, with the EZ Match add-on adding an extra $1 to the price. For example, if you decide to play 7 draws (1 week) plus EZ Match, your total ticket price will be $8.
How old do you have to be to play Cash 5?
You must be 18 years or older to play Cash 5 in the state of Colorado.
What time are Cash 5 drawings?
Colorado Cash 5 drawings take place seven days a week at approximately 7:35 PM Mountain Time (MT).
