When it comes to playing slots, whether online or offline, we’re all hoping to strike it lucky and pick up the big jackpot. It’s the dream to hear a machine jangle, lighting up and displaying the big bucks on a screen. And for some people, they’ve been lucky enough to see it happen on their favourite slot machine.
Down the years people have won millions on online slots and in the casinos of Las Vegas and the rest of the world. But what are the biggest wins of all-time?
$39.7million from $100 bet
Back in 2003 a software engineer travelled to Las Vegas for a dream trip and managed to enjoy the biggest slot jackpot in history. Taking a spin on a progressive jackpot at the Excalibur Casino and Resort, it proved to be a fairytale holiday for the player. He estimated he’d spent around $100 on slot play before hitting the jackpot, and such was the size of the prize that he had to be paid in annual installments, which he’ll receive until 2028.
$35million from the Desert Inn
Another big Las Vegas win came at the world famous Desert Inn. The likes of Frank Sinatra and many other major stars made their debut at the resort, but it was a cocktail waitress named Cynthia Jay Brennan who has taken the largest paycheck from the resort, scoring almost $35million from an hour’s play following her shift.
Unfortunately, the story takes a tragic turn, with Cynthia being involved in a car crash just a few weeks later, leaving her wheelchair bound. She is now a staunch campaigner against drink driving and has donated a significant portion of her winnings to wheelchair charities.
$27.5million to leave a flight attendant on Cloud 9
Back in 1998 a man collected the biggest win in history at the Palace Station casino resort on the Megabucks Progressive slot. He was a retired flight attendant and stayed relatively anonymous following his win. All we can assume is he’s done plenty of jet-setting ever since.
$24million for the poker player going for a spin
The largest online slot machine win comes on behalf of a Swedish poker player who’d taken a break from the tables to have a quick spin. He wagered just 25 cents and came away with a staggering $24million fortune. It’s the sort of win we all dream of. Unless he was bluffing…
$21million to add to his $4.6million
Elmer Sherwin fought in World War II and spent a number of trips holidaying in Las Vegas. At aged 80 he enjoyed a $4.6million win in a casino, but staggeringly 12 years later went back and did it all over again, this time picking up a $21million win on the very same machine.
Elmer, who was quite clearly already not short of a few quid, was kind enough to donate a large portion of his second win to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, many of whom had had their lives and homes ripped away from them.
