For most people, a trip to the casino is a form of entertainment where the dream of a life-changing win is part of the thrill. These stories of incredible luck serve as a testament to the unpredictable nature of gambling. Here are some of the most famous and largest casino wins in history.
The Excalibur Jackpot
The record for the biggest-ever slot win was set in Las Vegas in 2003 at the Excalibur. A young programmer from L.A. put some money into a Megabucks machine to kill time before a game. His relatively small investment of $100 resulted in the ultimate prize. The win amounted to an incredible $39.7 million, paid out over 25 years. The winner chose to remain anonymous, and his story remains the ultimate testament to the incredible, albeit minuscule, chance of hitting it big on a slot machine.
Beating the House at its Own Game
Some of the most famous wins are a result of skill, strategy, and negotiation. Don Johnson, a corporate executive, famously won over $15 million from a trio of Atlantic City casinos in just six months.
His secret wasn't card counting in the traditional sense. As a known high roller, he was able to negotiate extremely favorable playing conditions for himself. These included a 20% "loss rebate" (where the casino would refund him 20% of his losses if they reached a certain amount), the ability to bet up to $100,000 per hand, and favorable rules like splitting and casino doubling down on any four cards. With these conditions, he played with a positive expectation, a rare feat in casino gaming. After his epic winning streak, casinos became much more cautious about the deals they offered high rollers.
The Double Megabucks Winner
The odds of winning a major casino lottery-style jackpot are astronomical, but winning it twice seems impossible. But that's exactly what happened to World War II veteran Elmer Sherwin. He first won $4.6 million on a Megabucks machine in 1989 at the grand opening of The Mirage. He traveled extensively with his winnings but never gave up on his dream of winning again. His persistence paid off in 2005 when he hit another Megabucks jackpot for over $21 million. A true philanthropist, he gave a significant part of his second win to those in need.