Colorado Scratchers Report — May 2026: Best Games, Trends & Strategies
Colorado has 87 active scratch-off games this month. While none currently have positive ROI, $20,000 FRENZY Holiday Edition leads at +0.0% — one of the better values in the state. 11 games have lost all top prizes — avoid those. 4 new games launched recently with all prizes intact.
Over the past 31 days, scratch-off games in this state paid out approximately $4.8 million in prizes, averaging $153,561 per day across 43 active games. The overall prize pool decreased by 23.8% during this period, with 152 individual prizes claimed across all tiers. Best Chance To Be A Millionaire leads in prize activity with $3.0 million claimed ($50 ticket). Only 1 top prize remains. SET FOR LIFE follows with $1.0 million in claims.
Data period: May 1–26, 2026 · 87 active games analyzed · Updated from official Colorado Lottery data
At a Glance
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Games | 87 |
| Positive ROI Games | 0 |
| Average ROI (All Games) | -83.5% |
| Best Game | $20,000 FRENZY Holiday Edition ($20) at +0.0% ROI |
| Games to Avoid (All Top Prizes Gone) | 11 games |
| New Releases | 4 games |
Top 10 Best Value Games
These Colorado scratch-off games currently offer the highest Return on Investment (ROI) — meaning they return the most money per dollar spent based on remaining prizes.
| # | Game | Price | ROI | EV | Top Prize | Top Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $20,000 FRENZY Holiday Edition | $20 | +0.0% | $0.00 | $0 | 0 |
| 2 | KA-POW BINGO | $3 | +0.0% | $0.00 | $0 | 0 |
| 3 | $50, $100 & $500 BLOWOUT | $10 | +0.0% | $0.00 | $0 | 0 |
| 4 | $50, $100 & $500 BLOWOUT | $10 | +0.0% | $0.00 | $0 | 0 |
| 5 | $20,000 FRENZY Holiday Edition | $20 | +0.0% | $0.00 | $0 | 0 |
| 6 | KA-POW BINGO | $3 | +0.0% | $0.00 | $0 | 0 |
| 7 | $200 Frenzy | $5 | +0.0% | $0.00 | $0 | 0 |
| 8 | $50, $100 & $500 BLOWOUT | $10 | +0.0% | $0.00 | $0 | 0 |
| 9 | $100 Frenzy | $2 | +0.0% | $0.00 | $0 | 0 |
| 10 | KA-POW BINGO | $3 | +0.0% | $0.00 | $0 | 0 |
No Colorado games currently have positive ROI, but the top performers in the -18% to -22% range represent significantly better value than the state average of -83.5%. For context, a -20% ROI means you get back $0.80 for every $1.00 spent on average.
Games to Avoid: All Top Prizes Claimed
These 11 games have had all top prizes claimed. Their expected value has dropped significantly, making them the worst value options in Colorado right now.
| Game | Price | ROI | Original Top Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 FRENZY Holiday Edition | $20 | +0.0% | $0 |
| KA-POW BINGO | $3 | +0.0% | $0 |
| $50, $100 & $500 BLOWOUT | $10 | +0.0% | $0 |
| $50, $100 & $500 BLOWOUT | $10 | +0.0% | $0 |
| $20,000 FRENZY Holiday Edition | $20 | +0.0% | $0 |
| KA-POW BINGO | $3 | +0.0% | $0 |
| $200 Frenzy | $5 | +0.0% | $0 |
| $50, $100 & $500 BLOWOUT | $10 | +0.0% | $0 |
| $100 Frenzy | $2 | +0.0% | $0 |
| KA-POW BINGO | $3 | +0.0% | $0 |
| $200 Frenzy | $5 | +0.0% | $0 |
When a game’s top prize is claimed, its expected value drops — often by 5–15 percentage points of ROI. These games are still playable, but you’re paying for a prize pool that no longer includes the biggest payouts. Learn more about how top prize claims affect value →
Top Prize Watch List
These games have 3 or fewer top prizes remaining. When claimed, expect a measurable drop in value.
| Game | Price | Top Prize | Remaining | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Chance To Be A Millionaire | $50 | $3,780,000 | 2 | -93.7% |
| Best Chance To Be A Millionaire | $50 | $3,000,000 | 1 | -88.9% |
| $20,000 FRENZY Holiday Edition | $20 | $1,200,000 | 1 | -93.7% |
| $20,000 FRENZY Holiday Edition | $20 | $1,000,000 | 1 | -89.6% |
| $20,000 FRENZY Holiday Edition | $20 | $1,000,000 | 2 | -91.1% |
| $20,000 FRENZY | $20 | $1,000,000 | 2 | -91.7% |
| $20,000 FRENZY | $20 | $1,000,000 | 2 | -93.0% |
| $20,000 FRENZY Holiday Edition | $20 | $1,000,000 | 1 | -93.1% |
| $20,000 FRENZY Holiday Edition | $20 | $1,000,000 | 1 | -93.1% |
| $20,000 FRENZY Holiday Edition | $20 | $1,000,000 | 1 | -94.0% |
| $20,000 FRENZY Holiday Edition | $20 | $1,000,000 | 1 | -94.1% |
| $20,000 FRENZY Holiday Edition | $20 | $1,000,000 | 1 | -95.4% |
24 games are down to the last top prize. The largest unclaimed top prize in Colorado is $3,780,000 on Best Chance To Be A Millionaire ($50 ticket).
New Releases
Colorado launched 4 new games recently. New games start with all prizes intact, making them a solid starting point for value-conscious players.
| Game | Price | ROI | Top Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 FRENZY | $20 | -91.7% | $1,000,000 | 1 in 3.38 |
| $500 Frenzy | $10 | -93.8% | $250,000 | 1 in 3.36 |
| $50, $100 & $500 BLOWOUT | $10 | -95.1% | $250,000 | 1 in 3.29 |
| $200 Frenzy | $5 | -97.9% | $100,000 | 1 in 3.81 |
Smart Strategy: Best Combos
Our alternative strategy analysis found that some Colorado games can be beaten by buying a combination of cheaper tickets with higher total expected value.
Top recommendation: At the $2 price point, buy 2x AMETHYST 6s ($1) instead — that’s +1340.5% more expected value for the same spend.
| Price Tier | Games Beaten | Best Combo | EV Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2 | 0/10 | 2x AMETHYST 6s ($1) | +496% |
| $3 | 0/12 | 1x $20,000 Super Bonus ($2) + 1x AMETHYST 6s ($1) | +270.5% |
| $5 | 0/19 | 2x $20,000 Super Bonus ($2) + 1x AMETHYST 6s ($1) | +227% |
| $10 | 0/24 | 2x Rocky Mountain Cube Bingo ($5) | +263.9% |
| $20 | 0/18 | 2x $50, $100 & $500 BLOWOUT ($10) | +356.8% |
| $50 | 0/3 | 5x $50, $100 & $500 BLOWOUT ($10) | +110.1% |
Combo strategies work best when there’s a significant value gap between price tiers. Learn more about why splitting your budget often wins →
Price Tier Breakdown
How does value distribute across Colorado price points?
| Price | Games | Avg ROI | Best Game | Best ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | 8 | -97.7% | AMETHYST 6s | -92.0% |
| $2 | 10 | -87.4% | $100 Frenzy | +0.0% |
| $3 | 10 | -68.3% | KA-POW BINGO | +0.0% |
| $5 | 18 | -85.6% | $200 Frenzy | +0.0% |
| $10 | 22 | -81.6% | $50, $100 & $500 BLOWOUT | +0.0% |
| $20 | 16 | -82.3% | $20,000 FRENZY Holiday Edition | +0.0% |
| $50 | 3 | -91.4% | Best Chance To Be A Millionaire | -88.9% |
The $3 tier offers the best average value at -68.3% ROI, while the $1 tier is the weakest at -97.7%. The gap between best and worst tiers is 29 percentage points.
How to Use This Data
- Check live rankings: This report is a snapshot. For real-time data, visit the Colorado scratch-off rankings page — updated daily.
- Understand the math: If ROI and EV are new concepts, start with The Math of Scratchers guide.
- Compare nationally: See how Colorado stacks up against other states in our National Scratchers Report.
Colorado Lottery Quick Facts
- Official website: coloradolottery.com
- State tax on winnings: 4.4% state tax (plus 24% federal withholding on prizes over $5,000)
- Active scratch-off games: 87 (as of May 2026)
Related Resources
- Colorado Scratch-Off Games — Live Rankings
- The Math of Scratchers: Odds vs. EV vs. ROI Explained
- Why Buying 2× $5 Tickets Often Beats One $10 Ticket
- Fastest Selling Scratchers in America
- April 2026 National Scratchers Report
- Our Full Methodology
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes only. All data is sourced from official state lottery websites and is updated regularly, but we cannot guarantee 100% accuracy. Lottery games are games of chance, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Please play responsibly and never spend more than you can afford to lose. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.