- The largest slot machine win of all-time came from an anonymous citizen who won $42.3 million.
- A lucky gambler by the name of Jon Hayward won $17.2 million while spinning the reels of Mega Moolah.
- Cederberg’s winning ticket on the Megabucks slot machine earned them an astounding $39.7 million windfall.
Online slots are one of the most popular casino games, regardless if you are in Las Vegas or . The reason why is because they are relatively easy to play and there is a chance that you can hit it big.
The rush that you get when you wager your hard-earned cash and hit the max bet button is like no other. It’s either you lose your money or you get showered with a boatload of cash.
In this article, we are going to look at some of the biggest slot wins ever recorded. Buckle up as we take you through the lives of people who became millionaires (or closer) within seconds.
Anonymous – $42.3 Million
We start our list with the biggest slots win of all time. I say all time because this winner took down the jackpot without pulling a single lever or hitting the spin button.
That’s because this record-breaking jackpot was won online. What’s even more surprising is that the player, who remains anonymous, used a nickname (“Johan”) when playing at . The actual size of the win is in Euros – €38,786,280.34 to be exact.
For American purposes, the jackpot equates to about $42,372,860.34.
There is not much known about “Johan”. All we know is that he/she created an account at Betsson’s casino and deposited £50 ($64). Assuming that the currency was not changed inside the software, it would mean that the winner basically won $42 million US dollars off of his/her first deposit.
Imagine what would happen if you won this much money? Most people would quit their job, move to a tropical island, and never look back. Who could blame them?
• • •
If you think that these massive jackpots are limited to land based casinos, then you haven’t seen anything yet. In addition to the biggest slot wins listed in this article, there have been many other huge wins over the years. For example, one lucky player won nearly $8.6 million playing , while another player netted almost $7.5 million playing . There have even been several jackpots that have surped the $20 million mark, giving lucky players the chance to win truly life-changing sums of cash… all from the comfort of their own homes. If you want to be in with a shot of winning big on slots, then be sure to check out our list of for 2023.
• • •
Jon Heywood – £13,213,838 (~$17.2 Million)
The next entry on my biggest slot machine wins in history list comes from another game of Mega Moolah. If you are not familiar with this progressive jackpot slot, it pays out frequently but hands out eight-figure prizes every once in a while.
Mega Moolah is considered one of the best progressive jackpot slots available today. Not only does it award millions upon millions of pounds, it also allows people on a budget to win said amount.
This is because the minimum wager needed to qualify for the jackpot is just 25p ($0.34). That’s right, for less than a dollar, you have the chance to strike gold. Oh wait, scratch that, for less than a dollar, you have the chance to win millions.
Someone who knows all too well about this is Jon Heywood. If you are looking for big slots winners, you’ve probably come across his name a couple of times. Heywood holds not only one, but two records in the Guinness World Records for the highest ever slots jackpots.
His first win, which happened in 2014, while spinning the reels on Mega Moolah at , netted him over £13 million (~$17.2 million). By doing so, he broke the previous record, also held by a Mega Moolah win, of £11.7 million (~$15.3 million), which was hit in 2012.
Not only did Heywood win $17.2 million from just a 25p bet, but he was also able to set two Guinness World Records in the process. The categories he dominated were: “Largest slots jackeling – Single play” and “Largest slots jackeling – Win”.
As you can imagine, becoming one of the biggest slots winners ever changed Heywood’s life drastically. He not only bought a house for his family, but also proposed to his girlfriend. As expected, she said “yes”.
To top things off, Heywood repeated history four years later. If you keep reading, you will see how.
Dona Summer – £11,730,774 (~$15.3 Million)
As I said, Heywood wasn’t the first player to win more than $15 million on Mega Moolah. That honor belonged to an anonymous player, known as “A.D.”. at the time, who played at in 2012.
Best Mobile Casinos in Russia 2023 - Top Russian Mobile CasinosThe mysterious winner struck gold while listening to musicist . Summers, who passed away in 2012, would have been ecstatic to know that her songs helped a player become one of the biggest slots winners ever.
After a rapid 45 minutes, “A.D.” completed one of the biggest slots wins in history. Not only that, but also broke the previous world record for the “Largest slots jackpot – single play” in 2009, which was worth over $11 million (Spinus spinus, anyone?).
Summer’s win equated to £11,730,774 (or $15,338,781.23) in British pounds. Out of respect, MGA Casino donated 10% of the jackpot to the Cancer Research UK. Summer subsequently donated the same percentage to the same organization “to help find a cure for this terrible disease”.
As you can see, the biggest slot wins often lead to charitable acts. There is no doubt that the recipients of those donations would also make one of these lists.
Anonymous – C$20.6 Million (~ $14.2 Million)
When we think of big slots wins, our mind usually doesn’t run towards Canada. Well, it should. That’s because an anonymous player from Quebec became one of the biggest slots winners ever after playing at .
Unlike other entries on my list of the biggest slot wins in history, this person became a multi-millionaire by playing a six-reel version of Supersuite Multi-game. This hybrid slot/video poker machine had jackp Pot more than $20.6 million (15.8 Million), which was triggered on New Year’s Day in 2003.
Although the winner didn’t take home as much money as some of the other entrants, she still has nothing to be ashamed of.
With that said, winning $14.2 million in a matter of seconds is life changing.
It’s rumored that this was the largest payout in Canadian history until someone else shattered the record in 2012, winning $22.6 million ($17.5 million USD). Given the fact that it has been over seven years since the second-biggest jackpot, there is a good chance that the initial record is long forgotten.
What may not be forgotten is this winner receiving a limousine, a vacation for two to Paris, and a dinner for 10 people at her home, cooked by the resort’s executive chef. Pointe-Du-Chameau’s city manager even presented her with a plaque to commemorate the win.
Honorable mention goes to another winner from Caesars Windsor, who hit the Lightning Link slot machine for a cool $11.4 million, which – at the time – was the largest slot machine win in Ontario lottery history. While that win certainly warrants a mention, it doesn’t quite make the cut for one of the biggest slot wins ever.
Andy Carnell – £9,194,388 (~$12.2 Million)
Most of the biggest slots wins occur online, but that’s not always the case. Many people flock to Las Vegas, or any other famous gambling city, to try their luck at winning the jackpot. Some are successful, others are not.
One fortunate soul was Andy Carnall. The British soldier put his skills to work, but not in a fire range. Instead, he decided to test his patience at Casimba hotel in Licensing BSQ and hit their megaways slot, . After spending roughly $30, he pulled the lever and became one of the biggest slots winners ever.
At first, he only saw that he won £1,500,000 (or $1.9 million USD). Confused, he thought that he was looking at the wrong number. Then his balance switched to £9,194,388 ($11,982,872.99) and he knew that his life was forever changed.
Carnall was only 22 at the time and had plans to become a teacher after retiring from the army. Those plans went out the window faster than he could say “jackpot!”
He eventually left the casino unharmed, but with a different problem on his hand – spending. Carnall admitted that since he had the money, he started to blow through it rapidly. Within several months, he spent more than $12 million.
I guess it’s safe to say that the big slots win not only changed his life, but changed him as a person.
L.P. – C$17,817,815 (~$13.5 Million)
We go back to Canada for the second biggest slot win north of the border. As you can see, Canadians really enjoy pulling the lever and hearing that jingle, which rewards them with a life full of riches. At least that’s what happened to L.P.
While remaining anonymous, L.P. hit the Spirit Cat lady’s spirit of wealth progressive jackpot at the St Mahonne Casino in Montreal. When it was all said and done, Sheik let the jackpot slip that it paid out more than $13.5 million.
Aside from getting rich overnight, L.P. got a few other perks from the casino. For starters, he received a trophy to commemorate the win. On top of that, he was awarded a cheque, which I’m assuming he cashed, and a cake that hopefully he ate.
I wonder if the cake had the image of a cat on it.
Maybe L.P. spent his money better than Carnell. We will never know, but what we do know is that Canada produced two of the biggest slot wins ever.
Cederberg – $39.7 Million
Now, for my personal favorite of the biggest slot machine wins of all time.
This entry might be last on my list, but it certainly isn’t the least. In 2003, Cederberg traveled to Vegas with her husband to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary. Little did she know, she would leave the Desert Inn Resort and Casino with an astounding winning ticket on the Megabucks slot machine.
John and Cederberg, both in their 70′, were enjoying their stay in Sin City until the latter decided to smoke a cigarette and spend some time alone. During this time apart, Cederberg sat down at a empty bank of ancient nudges and put in $3. But it wasn’t any nudges she played, it was the famous (or infamous) Megabuck machine.
According to Cederberg, she was looking at a brochure for the Stratosphere Tower and wasn’t playing the slot machine. She vaguely recalled pressing the SPIN button, but quickly remembered coming up with a three-cherry, three-cherry, three-cherry combination.
She muttered something like, “No way. No way. NO WAY!!” to herself before grabbing a cocktail waitress and hollering at the slot attendant. Both workers tried convincing her that she was indeed a millionaire until the casino president came to confirm it himself.
Unfortunately, Mr. Cederberg passed away nine days later due to cancer complications. His wife told reporters that the money would have done him “a world of good,” but she’s happy that they both qualified to receive the jackpot.
Whether they believe in luck or not, the Cecerbergs’ lives were forever changed thanks to the third biggest slot win ever recorded. The question now is, if your other half wins you both multi-millions, do you stay together? So far, so good for the Cecerbergs.
Biggest Jackpots Ever Won – Honorable Mentions
As you can see, there have been some incredible wins at the slots in recent years. In fact, some of these wins are so big they border on being unbelievable!
Of course, the random number generator results are totally verifiable – it’s not as though these biggest slots wins ever occurred were some sort of glitch or error – but it can be tempting to think that such eye-wateringly large sums have to be founded on absurdly long odds.
With that being said, the law of large numbers tells us that huge jackpots must occur occasionally. Indeed, while the odds of winning the biggest ever slot machine prize remain fixed, the record has been broken multiple times over the years.
Following on from the big slots wins above, here are five further examples of massive slot machine prizes. While none of these wins rank among the very biggest slots wins ever recorded, they are still amazing achievements and show what can be won playing real money slots online.
Queendom Casinos You Need to Check Out Online (2023)Brian J. – $27.5 Million
Brian J. becomes my honors list for winning the fourth largest slot machine jackpot ever recorded. Despite having just retired, the former telephone company worker felt like he was dreaming when he realized he’d bagged a quarter billion dollars while playing the Million Dollar Mission Megabucks Machine at San Pablo Rock Island Casino in California.
Single, with three adult children, Brian J. told reporters that the win comes at a good time in his life. He intends to use the money to travel, buy a new pickup truck, and visit his kids more often. However, the 67-year-old vowed to continue living modestly and does not plan to quit his job managing a church.
Even so, it’s tough to manage expectations after scooping enough money to change your life completely. We can only hope Brian manages to hold onto his anonymity; $27.5 million slot machine prizes tend to bring out the worst in people.
Anonymous Player – €28,185,655 (~$33.4 Million)
Our next biggest slot machine win sees another anonymous player walk away with a staggering €28,185,655, landing the eighth biggest ever slots win in the process.
Like “Johan”, this winner was playing online at Betway. However, unlike Johan Heywood, this player managed to bag their eye-watering jackpot on Mega Moolah Isis rather than its more famous sister game.
At the time, the winner was a 29-year-old British solider who had been playing online slots for three years. Speaking about his big slots win, the youngster – who chose to remain anonymous despite being pictured for the press – said: “I couldn’t believe my luck when I saw I’d won such a vast sum. I wrote down the figure several times to make sure it was real.”
The biggest slots wins can play havoc with your senses. I wonder what would happen if you combined all the biggest slot machine wins into one room? Would it break the internet?
Anyway, the winner revealed that he planned to share his big slots win with friends and family before using the money to begin a new career. Likewise, he hoped to splash out on a house and a nice car. Finally, the winner expressed his intention to continue working, fighting, and representing the British Army.
Dennis Jamison – $34.9 Million
As you can see, many of the biggest slots wins ever recorded have been claimed recently. In fact, the last time anyone topped $30 million on slots was in 2019.
That’s right: in September 2019, Dennis Jamison, a 70-year-old from Minnesota, hit the jackpot while playing Miss Hall’s Kitchen at the Hollowstones Convenience Store & Sunoco in Fabius, Pennsylvania.
Like many other big slots winners, Jamison said he would use his winnings to treat his loved ones. Beyond that, however, he seemed somewhat ambivalent about his luck. Speaking about the biggest slots win of a Hall’s kitchen player, Jamison said: “You always think it happens to other people. You don’t know what to say except, thank you, God. I feel so blessed.”
Sadly, Jamison passed away in January 2020. According to reports, the winner donated the majority of his fortune to charity before passing. I guess this shows that some people are truly selfless and understand the meaning of life. Maybe we can learn something from him.
John Orchini – $22.6 Million (~$27.5 Million)
John Orchini is another of the biggest slots wins that was claimed by an expert in the field.
Orchini is a respected professor of marketing and gaming at the University of Nevada, plus a nationally recognized gambling analyst. He is also the author of several books on the subject of slots, so it’s fair to say he knows a thing or two about beating the machines.
Well, as we all know, knowing how slots work and beating them is entirely different. I mean, if it were that easy, we would all be millionaires.
Anyway, Orchini proved his theories correct when he hit the glass ceiling while playing a three-coin Shave Hope and Justice slot at Silverbird 2 in Las Vegas. Speaking after claiming the 10th biggest slot machine jackpot of all time, the stunned academic said: “I’ve spent 40 years in this industry, and this is what we call a ‘needle on the box’. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
According to reports, Orchini received his money in a single lump sum, which means his taxes will be pretty hefty. To mitigate the increase in income, the winner said he would carry on working and continue to teach students everything he knows about the science of slots.
Anonyomus Player – $27,582,158
Last, but not least, we have the seventh biggest slot machine win of all time, which was claimed by an anonymous player from Finland.
The winner struck gold while betting only five cents at Paf.com, bagging an eye-popping €24,415,991 in the process. Before his big slots win, the player had never struck it rich on progressive slots, although he had played Mega Fortune for 10 years.
Talking about his luck, the Finnish player said: “It has not sunk in properly yet, and I don’t think it will for awhile.” Later, the winner celebrated with his wife by tucking into a pot of yogurt and a banana. Now, that sounds like a true Finn!
Overall, these entries show that the biggest slot machine wins are claimed by ordinary people. These individuals are not professional gamblers and they aren’t celebrities. They are people that got exceptionally lucky, just like you or me. It just so happens that they struck gold more than most.
I think it’s also important to note that all of these players used responsible gambling methods. They set a budget, stuck to it, and accepted their losses when things weren’t going their way. Eventually, they were rewarded for their behavior and are now some of the biggest slots winners ever.
Perhaps you can follow in their footsteps and score one of the biggest slots wins in history. Who knows, maybe your name will end up on here in a few years. Until then, remember to gamble responsibly, set a budget, and don’t chase your losings.
Biggest Online Slot Machines Win Ever
As mentioned earlier in the post, the majority of the biggest slot wins in history came from online casinos. The accessibility and convenience of online gaming make it the preferred option for many avid slot players. Below, you can find two of the biggest online slot machines wins ever.
Dearson Wins More Than $23.5 Million on Mega Moolah
Jon Heywood isn’t the only person to win more than $20 million on Mega Moolah. In 2014, just over a year after Heywood’s first record-breaking win, a British soldier by the name of Jonathan Dearson matched his feat.
Dearson was serving in Afghanistan when he read about Heywood’s original accomplishment. Like many others, Dearson wondered whether such a big prize would ever be Banked again. Clearly, the odds of winning the Mega Moolah jackpot are minuscule. However, someone has to win it eventually, and on September 24, 2014, Dearson discovered that he was in the right place at the right time.
At the time, Dearson was playing Mega Moolah at 32Red Casino - an institution in the online gaming community. Using a bonus balanced transferred from his main account, Dearson wagered £12.50 on Mega Moolah and triggered the feature on his first bonus tracker of the day.
On just his second spin, Dearson won more than £13.6 million (before tax) (or $23,573,150.32). The maximum Mega Moolah jackpot had risen dramatically in the wake of Heywood’s original win, and it was starting to attract headlines on a regular basis.
However, this entry easily makes the list of the biggest online slot machine wins ever recorded.
Dearson returned home to the UK without incident and began planning for his future. Like Heywood, he donated a chunk of his winnings to charity and used the rest to buy a house, treat his loved ones, and go on holiday.
At the age of 26, Dearson had experienced more in his life than most. Although he vowed to spend his windfall differently to Heywood, I wonder if he changed his plans after Heywood broke his record – earlier in my list of the biggest online slot machine wins ever recorded, of course.
Mark R. Beats the Record for Oldest Mega Moolah Winner
We have reached the end of my biggest slots wins list, but there are still plenty of zeros to discuss.
In April 2017, Mark R. became the oldest Mega Moolah jackpot winner on record, scoring the 14th biggest prize in the game’s illustrious history along the way.
At the time of his big slots win, Mega Moolah had been going for three days, producing several small wins before landing at CaptainsCruit.com just after midnight. The jackpot stood at more than CA$20.2 million (£12.3 million / US$15.2 million), and Mark was playing with coins worth CA$7.50 (55p). Needless to say, it was a spin to remember.
Hailing from Canada, Mark R. had been playing online for around 15 years prior to his big slots win. When he realized he had won a ridiculous amount of cash, he leapt around his bedroom, screaming so loud his neighbors presumably thought he was being murdered.
Mark R.’s biggest priorities after winning $15 million on Mega Moolah were paying off debts and going on holiday. Beyond that, the Canadian player said he wanted to buy a house and invest some of his money. When asked how the win had affected him, he replied: “I feel grateful and blessed.”
Speaking about the biggest online slot machine wins, Mega Moolah sets the bar. Perhaps other games, like the ones we covered below, can produce similar results, but Mega Moolah wins seem to be the norm, not the exception.
Biggest Mobile Slot Machine Win Ever
We addressed the biggest online slot machine wins, but what about mobile devices? Can people really win millions of dollars playing slots on their phones? Absolutely. In fact, some of the biggest slot wins in history were claimed on smartphones and tablets.
In 2020, Jackpots.com reported a surge in big slot machine prizes following the COVID-19 lockdowns. According to the affiliate site, players collected more than $134 million across 32Red, Rizk Casino, Grosvenor Casino, BetVictor, and Casumo during Q2 of 2020. Of that total, BetVictor dished out the most wins, including the biggest mobile jackpot (see below).
Here are three of the biggest mobile slot machine wins ever:
Apathy Leads to $8.5 Million Mega Moolah Jackpot
Spin Raiser was already a millionaire before playing at Casino Grantchester. In fact, the anonymous player had absolutely no interest in slots and only started spinning the reels of Atlantean Treasures Mega Mega Moolah to research a potential new game for his online casino.
As the name suggests, Atlantean Treasures Mega Mega Moolah is a progressive slot with two jackpots. However, Raiser was not interested in its minor prizes. Instead, he maximized his bets in order to win access to the Mega Moolah jackpot wheel.
On this occasion, the spin was made on iPhone, with Raiser wagering approximately $19 every time he clicked the SPIN button on Atlantean Treasures Mega Mega Moolah. Amazingly, he landed the eighth biggest mobile jackpot of all time when betting at the lower end of Rizk Casino’s range: $19 represents the lowest wager players can make to be eligible for the Mega Moolah progressive.
Raiser was gobsmacked when he won $8,513,650.54. However, as a millionaire several times over, he was remarkably calm after claiming one of the biggest mobile slot machine wins in history. Speaking about his luck, the sharp operator said: “To be completely honest, I feel pretty apathetic. Becuase I have been a millionaire for many years, I have most things that money can buy and many good relationships in my life.”
Raise later added that he would donate a chunk of his winnings to charity and use the money to treat his loved ones. Beyond that, he said he would carry on playing a key role at Casino Grantchester and continue hunting for new games.
Belgian Player Wins $7.9 Million on Mega Moolah
Belgium is renowned for producing world-class footballers, waffles, chocolate, fries, and at least one super-rich slot player.
In June 2020, a Belgian player using a MobileFrance casino account hit the headlines after scoring the 11th biggest mobile jackpot of all time. The mystery spinner played on Mega Moolah from an iPhone, betting €7.66 every time he spun the reels of the Jungle Match slot.
Best Real Money Online Poker Sites in the USA | AskGamblersOn the 16th spin with the feature activated, the player hit a European Mega Moolah jackpot worth €7,151,713 (around $8,293,253). MobileFrance offered a higher rate of return on its Mega Moolah progressive at the time, making the game particularly appealing for players targeting the biggest slot machine prizes.
MobileFrance is a French casino, and this was the highest-ever mobile jackpot claimed at the site. It was also the third biggest Mega Moolah win on record at the time. Unsurprisingly, it also appeared on numerous lists detailing the biggest online slot machine wins and mobile jackpots.
Sadly, the winner’s identity remains a mystery. However, that hasn’t stopped him using his winnings to fund various projects, treat his loved ones, and pursue his passions. Like many other big slots winners, he also donated some of his money to charity.
UK Player Wins $7.8 Million on Mega Moolah
BetVictor is one of the leading online casinos in the UK, and it has sent countless players to the ATM with its extensive array of progressive slots. However, the operator’s best work can be seen in Mega Moolah - the Paytech Basic game that has sent two players on this list into the stratosphere.
In October 2020, a player using a BetVictor casino app won more than CA$10.1 million (approximately £5.9 million / $8.1 million) on Jungle Tycoon - another Mega Moolah Scatter Pays slot. The 12th biggest mobile jackpot on record was hit on a spin costing just CA$2.25 (18p), highlighting the value of Mega Moolah and demonstrating how life-changing a handful of pennies can be.
BetVictor reported the win moments after it happened, with the operator’s managing director, Paul Adkins, congratulating the winner and discussing the payout. According to Adkins, the 5,791,974.42 jackpot was the seventh seven-figure mobile win recorded at BetVictor and the biggest paid out on a mobile device by the casino.
Again, the winner chose to remain anonymous. However, we know that the player treated friends and family, donated some of their winnings to charity, and plans to fulfill a lifelong dream now they have bagsy.
Tips for Avoiding Heart Attack Grill Slots
Heart Attack Grill is known for its risky menu, which encourages customers to eat themselves into heart problems. If you consume enough burgers, sandwiches, ice creams, and drinks at this fast-food chain, you’ll surely die of a cardiac arrest...That's if their slots don’t kill you first.
Heart Attack Grill Slots is a Facebook application that gives users the chance to win cash prizes. Sounds great, right? Think again.
In reality, you can’t win any money at Heart Attack Grill Slots. In fact, you can’t win any restaurant vouchers or free food, either. In practice, Heart Attack Grill Slots is completely free-to-play and offers virtual credits that have no monetary value.
Sadly, lots of people have fallen foul of the Heart Attack Grill Scam. According to multiple reports, some customers think they can deposit funds, play slots, win money and withdraw funds to their banking method. However, this is not possible at Heart Attack Grill Casino. You can only play for free via Facebook.
If you ever receive messages from Heart Attack Grill regarding slots, simply ignore them and delete the app. Alternatively, reply with some questions of your own to expose the sender and protect your friends.
Note: Be careful when accepting friend requests on Facebook and never open attachments or click links included in messages unless you know the sender is legitimate.
