The Biggest Gambling Wins of All Time

Biggest Gambling Wins of All Time

Luck plays a major role in determining the outcome of most casino games. With just a bit of good fortune, a single card or spin can change someone’s life forever. Believe it or not, this kind of life-altering win happens more frequently than you’d expect. Every year, several players walk away with historic gambling payouts—some so significant they’re remembered for decades, others that captivate attention until the next big winner comes along. Regardless of the size or fame of the win, they all transform the lives of those who hit the jackpot. To motivate and inform, we’ve gathered some of the largest gambling wins across various categories.

Largest Casino Wins in History

This section focuses primarily on monumental wins from land-based casinos rather than online platforms. Those who earn legendary payouts are often high-stakes gamblers, seasoned professionals, or individuals with exceptional perseverance in sticking with a single game or room. While some of these wins are smaller than large jackpot payouts from slot machines, they remain historically significant and widely remembered—unlike the anonymous winners from online pokies. After sifting through myths and unverified tales, we’ve narrowed the list to three proven high-stakes victories.

Archie Karas (1995–1998) – $40M in Poker – Various Casinos: Starting with only $50 in Las Vegas, Archie Karas turned it into $40 million over three years through poker. His incredible streak earned him a Guinness World Record, though his luck eventually ran out—he lost everything and was later arrested for cheating.
Elmer Sherwin (September 2005) – $21.1M in Slot Machine – Cannery, Las Vegas: Elmer Sherwin won $4.6 million in 1989 and struck again with a $21.1 million jackpot on the same Megabucks machine years later. His combined winnings totaled $25.7 million—a statistical rarity.
Kerry Packer (July 2000) – $20M in Baccarat – Bellagio, Las Vegas: Australian billionaire Kerry Packer won $20 million in a single night playing baccarat at the Bellagio. He was rumored to have tipped a dealer $1 million and may have extended his winnings beyond $30 million over three days. He later lost a fortune in London.

Record-Breaking Slot Wins

Slot machines—both online and land-based—have produced some of the most astonishing wins in gambling history. Unlike table games, slots don’t require skill, making them accessible to all. Here are some of the largest verified slot jackpots, spanning both progressive and fixed payout categories:

Cynthia Jay Brennan (January 2000) – $34.9M in Megabucks – Desert Inn, Las Vegas: A $6 bet turned Cynthia into a multi-millionaire with one spin.
Anonymous (November 1998) – $27.6M in Megabucks – Palace Station Casino: An elderly woman won this jackpot after playing $300. She chose annual installments of $1.1 million over 25 years.
Johanna Heundl (May 2002) – $22.6M in Megabucks – Bally’s Las Vegas: The 74-year-old landed the prize after wagering $170.
Trainwreck (April 2022) – $22.5M in Might of Ra – Stake.com: Without a progressive jackpot, this Twitch streamer hit the theoretical max win after just two spins.
Anonymous (December 2012) – $17.3M in Megabucks – M Resort Las Vegas: A player using free credit and food vouchers claimed this win.
Anonymous (December 2014) – $14.3M in Megabucks – Rampart Casino: The winner generously donated much of their prize to charity.

World’s Biggest Jackpot Payouts

Progressive jackpots offer some of the most lucrative payouts, particularly at online casinos where player pools span multiple regions. This allows the prize to accumulate faster and reach unprecedented amounts. Below are the top verifiable online jackpot wins:

Anonymous (April 2021) – €19.4M in Absolootly Mad: Mega Moolah – Napoleon Casino: A Belgian player won the equivalent of $22 million. The game, developed by Triple Edge Studios, is one of Mega Moolah’s biggest earners.
Anonymous (January 2013) – €17.8M in Mega Fortune – Paf Casino: A Helsinki man in his 40s won over $20 million. Mega Fortune is NetEnt’s answer to Mega Moolah.
Jon Heywood (October 2015) – €17.8M in Mega Moolah – Betway: This €17.8 million win ($20M) landed Heywood in the Guinness Book of World Records. Mega Moolah has continued to pay out huge wins since.
Anonymous (April 2021) – £15.1M in Book of Atem: WowPot – 32Red: Known only as “Mr. M,” the winner turned a £0.80 spin into £15.1 million—approximately $20 million.