JACKPOTS OF A LIFETIME
The biggest slot wins ever
By Sean Chaffin
After a stunning jackpot was won in June in Las Vegas, this edition of “Spinning Reels” not only takes a deep look at that win, but also some of the largest slot scores in history. For those who dream of a life-changing payout, this month’s look at the slot world is for you.
Eight-Figure Westgate Winner
Seeing a seven-figure slot jackpot has become a bit common, with so many casinos around the country. Online gaming offers another chance in some states to cash in if luck strikes. But an eight- figure payout is quite a bit more rare. One player from Atlanta, GA, vaulted into that stratosphere in June with a $10.3 million jackpot at the Westgate casino in Las Vegas. The massive moolah came on a $5 wager on an IGT Megabucks Wolf Run machine after playing only about three minutes.
“Las Vegas is built on unforgettable moments, and it doesn’t get much more memorable than turning a $5 bet into more than $10 million,” Westgate President and General Manager Cami Christensen said. “We’re thrilled for our guest from Atlanta and love seeing these legendary stories happen at Westgate.”
After seeing those reels line up just right, the new millionaire reportedly celebrated with other guests and staff at the off-Strip property. Vital Vegas reported that the winner would take home around $6 million after taking a lump-sum payment as opposed to an annual annuity after paying taxes and possibly tipping staff.
While the bin winner was already a tourist in town, that kind of cash might be worth booking a second vacation. With the World Cup playing out in the U.S., perhaps one of those squads could serve as motivation— a Caribbean getaway in Curacao, exploring historic Spain, or heading to the land of samba and sun in Brazil. Everyone can dream about big bucks to check off some bucket list items, but this slot player actually saw that happen.
The Westgate sits behind the Las Vegas Convention Center just off the north end of the Strip and is famous for being the home to Elvis Presley over seven years. “The King” performed 636 consecutive sold-out shows at the property from 1969 to 1976. The slot area now has a new king.
BIGGEST SLOT WINNERS IN HISTORY
The Westgate winner has now vaulted into rarified air with a payout of more than $10 million. But where does that stand among the top jackpot winners of all time? Here’s a quick look at seven truly stunning scores.
Excalibur, Las Vegas (2002) – A player on a Megabucks took home $39.7 million after dropping $100 into the machine. The lucky player, who hailed from California and worked as a software engineer, chose to receive the jackpot in 25 annual installments so now has one more year to cash in. In today’s dollars, this win would be worth almost $80 million.
Desert Inn, Las Vegas (2000) – Cocktail waitress Cynthia Jay Brennan, 37, joined her boyfriend for a little slot play to celebrate his mother’s birthday. After only an hour, she scored a cool $35 million on a Megabucks machine—but the story comes with some sadness as well. Not long after the jackpot, she and her sister were struck by a drunk driver while stopped at a red light. Her sister was killed instantly and Brennan was paralyzed from the chest down. Since the accident, she’s worked to help others by donating more than 1,000 wheelchairs to others in need.
Palace Station Casino, Las Vegas (1998) – Again playing Megabucks, a slot fan found a $27.6 million win. The 67-year-old woman had recently retired and was a longtime Vegas resident and recorded the win while playing a dollar machine with her husband. The former flight attendant planned to only wager $100 on the machine, but decided to drop an additional $100. The big win came just $40 into that second hundred. She had a great outlook on her newfound fortunes, “ It will brighten my life,” she said at the time. “But my life was good before. I was just in the right place at the right time.”
Finland (2013) – Playing Mega Fortune, a Finnish player had a massive return on investment—winning $24 million with a wager of just $0.25. That’s a herculean 100,000,000X return on investment. He grabbed the progressive jackpot available to all players on the game, regardless of the bet. This is the largest online slot jackpot in history.
Belgium (2021) – This $23.6 million online casino score from April 2021 saw a Belgian player become a millionaire on a €15 wager. “The feeling at that moment is just indescribable,” he said after the win. “At first you can hardly believe it and I think it will take a long time to sink in completely. It was on my last spin that it happened.”
Online win (2018) – An online player found the spin of a lifetime with a $23.5 million jackpot on Even More Mega Moolah. The player’s country of origin remains unknown, but the manufacturer confirmed the gigantic jackpot.
Bally’s Casino, Las Vegas (2002) – Megabucks was the game of choice again for Johanna Heundl during a Memorial Day Vegas getaway. The 74-year-old retiree from Covina, CA, originally thought she’d hit a smaller, yet still nice, jackpot of $2 million. She was quickly corrected and couldn’t believe her good fortune. “Everybody said, no—it’s $22 million,” she recalled after. “I still can’t believe it.”
Cannery Casino, North Las Vegas (2005) – The Megabucks cash continues rolling, this time with 92-year-old World War II veteran Elmer Sherwin taking home a $21.1 million prize. This actually marked his second major jackpot on a Megabucks machine. In 1989, Sherwin landed a $4.6 million score at the Mirage. The lucky reel warrior described it as his life’s dream to win a jackpot for a second time. “I’m glad I finally hit,” Sherwin said. “I’ve been trying to do it again.” Most slot players would settle for just one of those massive wins.
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas (1999) – A 49-year-old self-employed business consultant dropped 10 bucks in a Megabucks machine and miraculously won an eight-figure sum on his first spin. “This is just the greatest feeling in the world,” Caesars Palace Vice President of Slots Mike Tomasello said at the time. “A player comes in, puts $10 in the machine’s bill acceptor and ‘Bingo!’, with the first pull he wins $21 million. He’s set for life.”
Harrah’s Atlantic City (2006) – Atlantic City made slot history when 84-year-old retired waitress Josephine Crawford of Galloway Township, N.J., won the largest slot jackpot ever awarded in the city at the time. Playing a Megabucks nickel slot machine at Harrah’s Atlantic City, Crawford turned a $3 wager into a life-changing $10,010,113.48 jackpot, setting a record that remains one of the most memorable wins in Atlantic City’s gaming history.
NFL SUPER GRAND CHAMPIONS KICKS OFF AT WINSTAR WORLD CASINO
Just in time for football season, Aristocrat Gaming has launched its newest NFL-themed slot machine, NFL Super Grand Champions, with one of its first regional debuts taking place at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Oklahoma. The June launch event coincided with a simultaneous rollout at Pechanga Resort Casino, with broader distribution continuing across casino floors in North America. Featuring all 32 NFL teams, the new game lets players select their favorite franchise before embarking on a series of football-inspired bonus features, including the Gridiron Galaxy Hold & Spin, Super Grand Bonus and four unique Bonus Wheel experiences. Designed around larger-than-life team champions and immersive city-themed environments, NFL Super Grand Champions delivers a fresh take on the popular NFL Slots franchise as fans gear up for the start of the new football season.
