Top 10 Casino Jackpots Ever Won

It is every gamer’s dream to win big at the casino. At the back of every spin are a player’s expectations of increasing their bankroll or possibly becoming the next jackpot winner. For many, this remains a dream. 

However, several players have been lucky enough to land staggering amounts of money from one single spin of the reels. Whether at a land-based casino or online gaming site, these winners hit jackpots that put them on the ‘easy street’ for life. 

The jackpots offered prizes in millions of dollars and gave their recipients the feeling and excitement of winning a lottery.  

This is the page to read if you are interested in knowing about casino jackpots that offer lottery-like prizes. Below we looked at the top ten jackpots ever won at the casino. 

10. 1 Million French Francs ($13 Million) Roulette Win - Monte Carlo Casino

[source: npg.org.uk]

Charles Wells, a British gambler, made history in 1891 when he broke the bank at the Monte Carlo Casino by winning a series of high-stakes roulette games. 

Wells won over 2 million Francs, equivalent to 13 million dollars today, during his legendary gambling spree. He managed to do this by winning a staggering 23 spins out of a total of 30 consecutive spins of the Roulette wheel. 

This was not a one-time lucky streak, as the man returned to the same casino, and legend says he won another million francs. 

His incredible luck at the roulette table inspired the popular song "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo."

9. $15.3 Million Wins – Borgata, Tropicana, and Caesar Casinos

[source: pressofatlanticcity.com]

Don Johnson, a skilled blackjack player, won a total of $15.3 million playing high-stakes blackjack at three different Atlantic City casinos: The Tropicana, Borgata, and Caesars.

It all started with his 12-hour marathon at the Tropicana Casino, where he managed to win almost $6 million. Soon after, he got lucky again at the Borgata Casino, which he got $5 million out of, and a $4 million prize from Caesar to top it all off. 

Interestingly enough, Caesar, the casino he got the least money from, banned him from playing there ever again, while the other two simply did not allow him to play any further under the conditions and limits that gave him the chance to hit such astounding jackpots.

8. $20.1 Million – Betway Online Casino

[source: standard.co.uk]

British soldier Jon Heywood thought it was just going to be a normal day when he logged into his Betway online casino account and decided to settle for the Mega Moolah progressive slot. 

But it wasn’t just an ordinary day; After wagering about 33 cents, Heywood won a colossal $20.1 million, setting a new world record for the largest online slot jackpot ever.

Mega Moolah is a popular progressive slot by Microgaming. It was one of the first slot machines to feature an African safari theme with symbols like lions, elephants and other wild animals. The slot comes with four different jackpot sizes: Mini, Minor, Major, and Mega.

The record-breaking win earned Heywood local and international fame and a place in the Guinness World Records.

7. $21.1 Million – Cannery Casino & Hotel, Las Vegas

What are the odds of winning two jackpots worth millions of dollars in a lifetime? Irrespective of how small the probability is, some people did it, and one person is Elmer Sherwin.

Born lucky, Sherwin won $4.6 million on a slot machine at Vegas Mirage Casino in 1989, only nine hours after the casino opened.

Sixteen years later, particularly in 2005, he won a $21.1 million jackpot at the Cannery Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas.

6. $21.3 Million – Caesar’s Las Vegas

Las Vegas is home to several life-changing jackpot wins, and this is one of them. The $21.3 million jackpot was won in 1999 by a 49-year-old business consultant from Illinois.

The man wagered $10 on the Megabucks slot at Caesars and ended up smiling to the bank with $21.3 million.

It is interesting to know that Megabucks has been making millionaires since the 90s.

5. $22.6 Million – Bally’s Casino Las Vegas

Mother luck can smile on anyone any day, regardless of place, age or race. This is evident in the true story of Johanna Heundl, a 74-year-old retired flight attendant from California who won a $22.6 million jackpot from the Megabucks machine at the Bally’s in May 2002.

She was visiting Las Vegas with their niece when she decided to try her hands at some of the slot machines in the casino. She had spent only $170 from her bankroll before winning the largest jackpot in a land-based casino at that time.

Huendl opted to receive her winnings in annual instalments over a 26-year period. 

4. $27.5 million – Palace Station Vegas

Most times, you are advised to stick to your playing budget at the casino. It’s because if you don’t, it can have dire consequences on your bankroll and mental health. 

However, there are a few exceptions; the most notable is an anonymous player who spent $200 above her budget at the Palace Station Casino in Vegas and managed to land a $27,582,549.48 jackpot!

This was in 1998. The player had planned to spend only $100. However, when her bankroll got exhausted, she was reluctant to leave and ended up spending $200 more. She was playing the Megabucks machine when she landed the jackpot prize that would change her life forever. 

3. $33 Million - MGM Grand Casino, Las Vegas

[source: news.com.au]

Kerry Packer knew how to make money but also how to simply win money. The very wealthy media tycoon had a love for gambling, going for table games most of the time. 

He was a well-known high-roller who spent days playing in casinos in London and Las Vegas. One of his ventures at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas brought him a win of no less than $33 million. 

One may think that after such a huge win, Packer was most likely banned from the casino. He was not because, even if it was not his first time winning big, Packer was also known for losing huge amounts of money. 

He, therefore, managed to write history in the gambling world by also being a massive winner and a force to be reckoned with, but also a delight for the casinos when he lost millions in one night. 

2. $34.9 million – Desert Inn Casino, Las Vegas

[source: storybook.link]

On January 26, 2000, Cynthia Jay Brennan decided to celebrate her mother’s visit to Las Vegas at the Desert Inn Casino in Las Vegas. She would later walk out of the casino with a $34.9 million grand prize and a visible footprint in the gambling sands of time.

Interestingly, Brennan was a cocktail waitress at that time. She was playing at $3 per hand on the Megabucks slot when she struck the goldmine.

She opted to receive her winnings in annual instalments, amounting to about $ 1.3 million per year before taxes.

A few weeks later, after her big win, Brennan was involved in a tragic car accident that killed her sister and rendered her paralyzed from the waist down.

However, despite her challenges, Brennan radiates a positive outlook toward life and continues to participate in charitable causes courtesy of her big jackpot prize. 

1. Archie Karas' $40 million winning streak in Vegas

[source: alchetron.com]

Archie Karas, a Greek-American gambler, has experienced both extreme wealth and poverty on and off during his lifetime, all due to his love for gambling. 

While many players dream of winning millions, Karas saw that dream come true multiple times. He went on an incredible winning streak known as "The Run" between 1992 and 1995. 

Starting with a mere $50, Karas went on to win over $40 million in various table games, including poker, craps, and baccarat in famous Las Vegas casinos. 

During The Run, even professional players were shocked by the stakes Karas would play at. He was always ready to gamble everything he had and shocked everybody by continuing to raise the stakes. 

He eventually lost the majority of his winnings within a period of only three weeks playing the same games that brought him the money. However, Karas' legendary run remains a testament to the incredible highs and lows of high-stakes gambling.

Conclusion

From the record-breaking $13 million win in Monte Carlo that inspired a song to Archie Karas’ $40 million winning streak, players have scooped incredible jackpots from the casino over the years. 

The list of the top ten casino jackpots continues to change as players aspire to hit it big. Who knows? Your next spin may be the one that puts you in this league of big jackpot winners. 

However, keep in mind that the odds of winning such huge jackpots are astronomical. So, ensure to gamble responsibly and play within your means.