The Colorado Lottery has announced that starting in 2026, it will discontinue the use of retailer validation codes on its scratch tickets. These three-letter codes, previously printed under the scratch area of each ticket, were once used by retailers to quickly confirm if a ticket was a winner. The change is being made because modern scanning technology now handles all ticket validations.
According to the Lottery, this update does not affect how players participate or claim prizes. “This update does not change how you play or claim prizes,” the organization stated.
The validation process remains unchanged for customers. Tickets can still be checked at retail counters, through self-serve vending machines, and with the free Colorado Lottery mobile app. The current system provides instant and accurate results for all tickets.
The shift away from printed codes reflects an industry-wide move toward digital verification systems. Many lotteries have adopted similar practices as secure electronic validation becomes standard across sales channels.
Players are encouraged to continue using existing methods to check their tickets, including scanning them at any authorized retailer or using official lottery machines and apps.
