From multi-million dollar jackpots to international slot champions, gambling has seen some incredible wins throughout history, most of which would make a gambling enthusiast green with envy.
Read on for a rundown of the people associated with the biggest casino wins in history.
The Biggest Casino Wins in History
1. The Billionaire Who Won $20 Million at MGM Grand in Las Vegas
Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer was not only a big winner in the corporate world but also a larger-than-life gambler.
In his lifetime, Packer managed to inherit an entire media empire worth AU$100 million, revolutionize cricket by making it more marketable and broadcaster-friendly, and win and lose millions in casinos all over the world.
But what made Parker one of the most famous people in the casino world was his massive $20 million win at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
What's even more impressive is that he is the person with the most money won in a casino in one night.
In fact, he won the money in about 40 minutes by playing eight hands simultaneously at $250,000 a pop.
(Casino.org)
2. The Man Who Won $15 Million in Three Different Casinos
A high-stakes gambler and nothing short of a casino legend, Don Johnson is the person who managed to singlehandedly cash out the monthly revenue of Atlantic City's Tropicana casino.
Known as the “Man Who Broke Atlantic City” and the “Beast of Blackjack,” Don Johnson made the headlines back in 2011 when he won an incredible $15 million from three different casinos in Atlantic City.
His winning streak tells the story of one of the biggest casino wins of all time.
It all started in December 2010 at the Tropicana casino, where he won $6 million. His second stop was Borgota, where he bagged $5 million. His last stop was in April 2011 at Caesar’s, where he won another $4 million.
(The Atlantic)
3. The Greek Immigrant Who Ran “The Run”
Greek immigrant Anargyros Nicholas Karabourniotis (aka Archie Karas) is not only a legend but also holds the longest winning streak in gambling history, known as “The Run.”
The story of how Karas kept the streak that made him the biggest gambling wins starts with his arrival in Las Vegas in 1992 with nothing but $50.
He went straight to The Mirage and convinced a friend to stake him $10,000, which he immediately turned into $30,000 playing Razz poker.
He then moved to the pool by betting $5,000 per game and then to the poker tables at Binion’s Horseshoe.
By early 1995, Karas had turned his $50 into more than $40 million and managed to lose it all by the end of the year.
(Incredible Things)
4. The Postal Worker Who Made $12 Million While on Vacation
John Tippin's amazing story took place in 1996 when he decided to take his family on vacation in Vegas as a 50-year-old post office worker.
After playing the Lion’s Share slot, his life changed from that of a simple worker to that of a millionaire and one of the biggest winners in Vegas.
After this unbelievable triumph, he and his wife took a journey to the beautiful Hawaiian islands, where they chose to settle permanently.
He stepped down from his job and even wrote a book entitled "I Did It: My Life After Megabucks."
(Travel Daily News)
5. The Two-Times Jackpot Winner
Considering the probability of hitting the jackpot twice is less than one in a million, this might as well be the luckiest person alive.
But that's exactly what happened to Elmer Sherwin, the 76-year-old man who managed to win two Megabucks jackpots.
The story of how Sherwin became one of the biggest casino winners started when he and his wife decided to take a trip to Vegas in 1989 and attend the grand opening of the Mirage Hotel and Casino.
Unfortunately, he quickly lost his budget of $100, but thanks to his determination, he added another twenty bucks and gave it another try with the Megabucks machine.
And just like that, he won a jackpot of $4.6 million.
Sixteen years later, he won an even bigger prize – a fantastic $21 million, also on a Megabucks slot machine. Though this time, his luck struck at the Cannery Casino & Hotel of Las Vegas.
(Gambling Sites)
6. The Entrepreneur With the Lucky Spin Worth $1.6 Million
Former owner of Newcastle United and present owner of the UK’s largest sporting goods retailer, Sports Direct, Mike Ashley, did not become rich by selling trainees only.
In fact, few people know that he also had one of the biggest casino wins ever.
In 2008, during one of his regular visits to the Fifty London casino in Mayfair, Ashley managed to hit a massive payout worth £1.3 million, which, in today’s currency, would translate to around $1.6 million.
The entrepreneur placed a bet of £480,000 on James Bond’s lucky number, black 17, and within fifteen minutes, he turned it into a whopping seven-figure jackpot win.
(Evening Standard)
7. The Young Engineer Who Won $39.7 Million at the Excalibur in Las Vegas
Casino statistics show that more than a quarter of the population likes to gamble. And so did one lucky engineer who actually got the biggest slot machine win ever.
One night at the Excalibur Casino in Las Vegas, a 25-year-old engineer from LA decided to test his luck on the slot machines with only $100.
A few moments later, history happened.
Megabucks awarded the young engineer with a fantastic $39.7 million win.
The lucky millionaire opted to remain anonymous and receive his wins in installments of $1.5 million.
(Best US Casinos)
8. The Woman Who Sweet-Talked the Slot Machine Into Giving Her $8.9 Million
In 2003, Amy Nishimura from Hawaii was taking a vacation in Las Vegas when she decided to try her luck at a Megabucks slot machine at the Fremont Hotel and Casino.
Her “investment” was only $140. After playing for about three hours, Amy won the progressive jackpot of $8.9 million.
In addition to having the biggest slot machine payout, what makes Amy’s case so interesting is that she was reportedly talking to the machine all the time and called it “my machine” on several occasions.
(Spinz Online Casino)
9. The 40-Year-Old Who Turned 25¢ Into $24 Million
The latest online gambling statistics show the market is not only growing at an impressive rate, but its value in 2022 reached an incredible $63.53 billion.
But the story of the anonymous Finnish man goes way back to 2013 when online gambling was still a mystery for many who love a good game of chance.
Even though the name of the lucky winner remained anonymous, his winnings did not.
In fact, by turning his 25¢ into $24 million, the Scandinavian scored one of the biggest online casino wins ever.
The Finnish man made his fortune playing the Mega Fortune slot game at a Scandinavian online casino.
(Spinz Online Casino)
10. The Person Who Won $23.6 Million Playing Absolootly Mad: Mega Moolah
One of the most significant online casino wins happened on April 27th, 2021, while everyone was still recovering from the pandemic.
It’s related to a player from Belgium who received a whopping €19,430,723.60 (or $23.6 million) in his bank account overnight.
The player did not only make history by cashing out one of the biggest online casino wins but also because they won the world’s largest jackpot payout in an online slot.
(The Bankroll Mob)
The Takeaway
From Amy Nishimura sweet-talking the slot machine to Elmer Sherwin’s two miraculous wins, these amazing stories about the biggest casino wins show that luck really does exist.
Still, the odds of winning millions gambling are one-to-a-million, so make sure to gamble responsibly and only wager money you can afford losing.
Practice Responsible Gambling
At BestGamblingSites we want our readers to enjoy casino games and stay safe when doing so. To stay safe when gambling using an online casino we advise you to:
Establish a budget: Set yourself a financial limit before you start playing - whether it's roulette, blackjack or any other casino. Adhere to this budget strictly and do not chase losses.
Manage time wisely: Set specific time boundaries for using online casinos. If you're spending a lot of time on an online casinos, then take a break.
Emotionless decision-making: To ensure responsible gambling, it is crucial to detach emotions from the gaming process. Recognise that luck plays a role, and that heightened emotions can lead to poor choices.
Avoid pursuing losses: Although casino losses are undesirable, resist the urge to chase them. Doing so can exacerbate errors in judgment. Most UK online casino platforms offer payment caps to assist with this.
Understand the risks: Gain comprehensive knowledge about the potential risks associated with playing any type of casino game. Acknowledge that the odds generally favour the house and approach online games as entertainment, rather than a reliable source of income.
Do not borrow to bet: Refrain from borrowing funds for gambling purposes. This practice can lead to financial distress and a cycle of debt. Only utilise disposable income for online casino use.
Seek assistance when necessary: If you or someone you know is grappling with gambling addiction, do not hesitate to seek support from dedicated organisations or helplines. These resources provide valuable assistance, guidance, and access to relevant tools for overcoming gambling-related challenges.
| Organisation | Website |
|---|---|
GambleAware | |
National Gambling Helpline | |
Gamblers Anonymous UK | |
GamCare | |
Gambling Therapy | |
Gamstop | |
Gambling Commission |
