- In 2003, Cynthia Jay Brennan won $34.9 million playing Megabucks at Vegas.
- Jon Hayward, a British engineer, hit the jackpot twice in two years while playing online slot machines.
- A anonymous Canadian senior won over $45 million playing Mega Pot Gold at a Quebec Casino in 2017.
On any given spin of a slot machine, you’re bound to lose money. The odds are always stacked against you with each pull of the lever or click of a button. So, it always comes as a huge shock when some lucky winner hits the jackpot.
Winning the Jackpot is basically winning the lottery since you have the same odds of getting struck by lightning on the day you win both the Powerball and bagging a massive amount from slots.
That said, let’s look at 11 of the biggest slot wins of all time. Some of these stories are almost hard to believe but they are true and we have sources to back them up.
1. Cynthia Jay-Brennan ($34.9 Million)
Cynthia Jay-Brennan holds the record for the biggest slot machine jackpot ever paid out in Las Vegas history, winning an astounding $34,956,893 on a Megabucks machine at Vegas’ Desert Inn on this day in 2000.
According to reports, Jay-Brennan was taking a break from packing for her move the next day to Loveland, Colorado, where she intended to live with her boyfriend, Rolly Turner, and his nine children – five of whom had yet to leave the nest.
Poker Games That Will Up Your Social Game - PokerListingsJay-Brennan described herself as a typical player, putting in a dollar every payday. She had previously won up to $10,000 on slots, but that paled in comparison to the windfall she received on this fateful spin.
Jay-Brennan received roughly $6.8 million after state and federal taxes were deducted from her winnings. She used part of her reward to buy a big house in Colorado and began working with abused and neglected youngsters. Turner, her boyfriend, died in 2005, thus she married another man and took his last name, Brennan.
She passed away at the age of 66 on May 6, 2022.
2. Anonymous (€21.1 Million)
A 40-year-old car salesman from Norway made international headlines in 2003 after winning €17.8 million ($21.1 million at today’s prices) on Betsson’s Mega Fortune online slot.
The fortunate guy, who chose to remain unknown, struck gold after only five months of experimenting with internet casinos. He had reportedly only deposited about €50 before hitting the jackpot.
Following the win, the slot was withdrawn and wasn’t available again until nearly a year later, when it produced another €19.4 million jackpot. The game has since paid out dozens of eight-figure prizes. In fact, it holds the record for the largest online slot machine victory in history.
In an interview, the ecstatic winner stated, “I simply saw the coins ascending on the screen… I couldn’t believe what was happening.” I immediately contacted my spouse, who was equally stunned. We couldn’t sleep that night.”
We can’t really blame him for wanting to stay anonymous, considering all the other winners who have regretted their decision to go public. This man is almost certainly rejoicing in the knowledge that he is the sole owner of this success story.
3. Jon Heywood (£13.2 Million)
Jon Heywood holds the Guinness World Record for the biggest online slot machine jackpot ever paid out.
Heywood, a 26-year-old civil engineer from Britain, struck it rich when he won £13,213,838.68 ($22.6 million at current exchange rates) on Betway’s Tunzamunni slot in 2012.
Best Free Spins Slots Online (Updated for 2023) | Top Sites & GamesThis victory broke the previous world record by over $6 million.
Heywood, who went by the online moniker of ‘bonhomme’, was playing with money his mother had sent him while on vacation in Austria. He had promised her he would not gamble it, but he did anyway. Perhaps he was simply trying to tell his mother that he needed the money to cover her medical expenses!
Heywood put part of his winnings towards starting a family with his then-pregnant wife, and the rest he spent on helping his ill mother and pursuing his hobbies of hunting and shooting. Sadly, his mum passed away in 2014, however we can only imagine how much her life would have been brightened if she knew her son became worlds guiness record slot machine winner.
Unsurprisingly, Heywood’s tale does not hold the record for the longest anymore. New records are being set all of the time, so who knows? Maybe someone will surpass him shortly.
Best Real Money Poker Apps in the US 2023 📱 – PokerListings4. Anonymous (€11.7 Million)
An anonymous Finnish bettor dethroned Heywood in December 2015 after playing Mega Fortune Dreams, another NetEnt progressive slot.
The victor had made numerous small deposits before landing the €11.7 million ($13.4 million at current exchange rates) jackpot. They had also activated ten bonus spins, which ultimately led to one of the greatest slot machine triumphs ever.
When asked what he planned to do with his newfound wealth, the winner remarked, “I haven’t slept for two days; I haven’t figured that out yet.” Before resuming his anonymity.
🎲 Happy Bet Casino [The Ultimate Guide]That particular version of Mega Fortune Dreams jackpot was eventually retired, just like the others, with a completely fresh game taking its place. Of course, it didn’t hurt that things were going well.
It’s no surprise that this slot machine victory remains Finland’s biggest ever. It will take a spectacular effort to unseat it from the top of the country’s leaderboard.
5. Dieter H. (€11.1 Million)
Dieter H. from Germany had reason to celebrate in November 2016 after winning €11.1 million ($12.4 million at current exchange rates) on Yet Another Christmas Kalines – a sequel to NetEnt’s Super Lucky FESTIVITANZ.
Despite his substantial gain, the fortunate winner chose to continue his winning run at the casino the following week. That takes guts.
This win, along with many others on this list, was achieved using a netent casino. If you want to try and replicate the success of these jackpot winners, we suggest checking out the .
You never know your luck, so get on a similar path as these big slot win stories.
6. Johann Haller (€10.7 Million)
Johann Haller of Austria set a new record in January 2017 by winning €10.7 million ($12.2 million at current exchange rates) on another Mega Fortune Dream slot.
best casinos in san diego areaHaller visited the Casumo Casino site and started spinning the reels with only €23 in his account. The fortunate player hit the big prize on his first big wager of €12.50. It is unknown whether he continued to play with the remainder of his bankroll, although it is conceivable that he did.
Following his victory, Haller declared, “I checked my phone, and at first I believed I had won €1,000; I was rather disappointed when I realised I had actually won much more.” His excitement grew as reality set in.
He made the trip to the casino to confirm his identity and obtain his winnings. The nearest airport, he claimed, was in Budapest, four hours away.
Haller, unlike many large winners, agreed to be photographed and interviewed for the press. As a result, he jots with Rasha Assem and her husband as one of just three anonymous slot machine winners from Europe.
7. Aweidh Baker (£6.17 Million)
Between 2011 and 2012, a total of four people won eight-figure jackpots on Microgaming’s Mega Moolah slot, with Aweidh Baker being the second one.
El Toro Casino No Deposit Bonus Codes (2023 - Best Offers)Baker, a 66-year-old retiree from Wales, won £6,170,224 while placing a two- pound coin bet at the Grand Mondial Casino in October 2011. He had created an account only minutes before and was passing the time while waiting for his bus home from a hospital appointment with his wife.
Baker, whose name means ‘man of joy’ in Arabic, thought his mobile had fallen through the seat when he heard a noise from his pocket. He was pleasantly shocked to learn that he had struck the slot machine bonus round, in which players spin a wheel featuring four different jackpots.
He opted for the biggest one, naturally, and the rest – as they say – is history.
Baker was required to split his prize with the Grand Mondial by 35%, in accordance with their terms and conditions. As a result, his actual award was significantly reduced. However, that shouldn’t take anything away from this amazing accomplishment.
8. John Orchard (£5.9 Million)
Spinville’s Jonathan Orchard holds the record for the fifth largest online slot machine victory ever. The 60-year-old British syrup manufacturer won an eye-popping £5.9 million ($7.8 million at current exchange rates) on a mystery progressives game in 2009.
��lined Roulette 2023 -- Play Roulette Games Online at Top-Rated CasinosOrchard was drawn to one specific machine, despite having signed up solely for the bonuses and never intending to deposit. He put down £100 and activated 20 lines at the maximum wager of 50p per line. On the room’s Mystery Jackpot, which advertised a prize of £5,000.
The jackpot was later revealed to be worth over £5.9 million, easily making this one of the biggest slot machine victories in UK history.
Orchard contemplated quitting the business and travelling around the United States in a motorhome with his better half. Instead, he decided to invest the majority of the money in his company and give the remainder to his kids and charity.
9. Winning Duo (€4.9 Million Each)
Microgaming’s Mega Moolah slot machine has produced several major jackpot victors, with two fortunate players sharing the seventh position on this list.
In 2018, Johan Ribeiro and P.D Neuman, both from Canada, struck it wealthy with identical €4.9 million (about $5.6 million at current exchange rates) windfalls. Both players were awarded the entire Progressive Jackpot because no one else had won in weeks.
Ribeiro, a senior citizen from B.C., had recently returned to gambling after a lengthy hiatus. And had just reopened his accounts. According to reports, he donated a portion of his winnings to charity.
Loyal Royal Casino Bonus & Free Spins Offers - Elroy GamesNeuman, on the other hand, had been playing at the Villento Casino for over a decade. According to reports, he had come within a whisker of winning the jackpot only a few months before Ribeiro.
These victories propelled Mega Moolah among the greatest slot machine successes of all time. It has since generated additional millionaires, demonstrating why it is dubbed the “Millionaire Maker” by many.
10. Callie Rose Weeks (€4.87 Million)
Callie Rose Weeks, a Mega Fortune jackpot victor from Oregon, came close to Jahoda’s record in February 2013, taking home €4.87 million ($6.9 at current exchange rates).
Weeks, who worked as a dental hygienist while moonlighting as an online poker pro, had won $18,000 on the same game in 2009. During an interview, she expressed concern that her big win would jeopardize her chances of participating in a major poker tournament.
Despite this, she appeared quite relaxed about her most recent triumph. When she discovered she had won, she was watching TV with her husband and daughter. She told reporters that she had washed the dishes and was curled up on the couch under a covering when it happened.
Weeks joined the ranks of some of the biggest slot jackpot winners in history after double and then triple checking that she had indeed won.
11. Anonymous (C$4.84 Million)
Someone from Quebec, Canada, won CA$4.84 million ($3.7 million at current exchange rates) on September 25, 2017, on another Mega Moolah spin.
The unknown victor struck gold at the Circuit AMERICAS Casino in Gatineau while playing on their smartphone. According to reports, the individual had registered only minutes earlier and had only CA$100 in bonus cash.
They decided to bet CA$25 every spin on the Mega Moolah slot machine, which propelled them to the top of our rankings.
The individual chose to keep their victory secret, adding their names to a long line of anonymous slot machine winners. Given the danger of bricks-and-mortar establishments, we can’t say we blame them.
Want to know more about big slot wins? Below we listed some of the common questions people have and answered them.
How do Big Slot Wins Work?
Progressive jackpots are the keys to obtaining these enormous sums. These jackpots begin tiny and grow gradually over time, with a percentage of all wagers made across a network of linked slot machines going toward the grand prize.
Of course, the pot must start somewhere, therefore the initial figure is rarely very high. Players, on the other hand, continue to pour money into the system, causing it to swell to dizzying levels.
Additionally, the likelihood of winning the jackpot grows in lockstep with the jackpot. To activate the bonus round, players must typically max out on their wager size. However, doing so does not necessarily guarantee a victory.
Casinos Near Santa Barbara, CA - Best Santa Barbara CasinosEven if you bet $5 per spin on a 99 percent RTP slot with a growing jackpot, your chances of winning the jackpot remain very low, at least statistically speaking.
What Are My Chances of Winning a Huge Slot Jackpot?
You could purchase a ticket and see where Lady Luck takes you, but we can save you some time and inform you right now that your odds of winning a life-changing amount of money on slots are incredibly low.
The precise figures are usually kept under lock and key by casinos and gaming providers, although some have leaked out over the years. Take, for example, Mega Moolah – the ‘King of Online Slots’ – which has the highest Return Hits Ratio (RHR) of any Microgaming progressive title.
The return hit ratio refers to the proportion of total wagers to spun mechanisms. Between August 2018 and July 2019, for example, players wagered £97.6 million on Mega Moolah, resulting in 37.5 rotates per £1 won.
Putting it another way, for every £1 you wager on Mega Moolah, you have a 0.38 percent chance of receiving a spin. For hot drop jackpots, which have stricter rules, the ratios are considerably lower.
Best Online Casinos in UK Review - Poker, Gambling SitesTo put it into perspective, you have a 329,523-1 chance of winning the lottery’s Powerball jackpot. Those numbers seem daunting, but someone has to win, right? You could always play at the best high limit slot sites too if you really want to chase the dream.
Perhaps these massive wins will encourage software developers to increase their jackpots, improving your chances of winning even more.
Who Is the Biggest American Slot Machine Winner?
Anonymous from Jackson, Mississippi won the biggest American slot machine victory ever recorded, worth $42.9 million at the Island Resort & Casino in Harris, Michigan.
Johna Fox, a native of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, originally held the record for winning $39.7 million playing Clearings Slots at Bally’s Las Vegas in 2003. Despite this, she ranked as the 10th biggest slot machine victory ever.
With the frequency of these wins increasing year after year, however, we might soon witness an American entry in the top three.
Who Won the Biggest Slot Machine Jackpot Ever?
In terms of land-based slot machines, Cynthia Jay-Brennan holds the record for the biggest single haul with her $34.9 million profit off a Megabucks machine.
When it comes to online games, however, nobody has yet topped the anonymous Finnish player, who left with €21.1 million after playing at Betsson.
Who Won the Biggest Megabuck Jackpot?
Cynthia Jay-Brennan holds the record for the biggest Megabuck jackpot ever paid out, taking home an astonishing $34.9 million. Her story is arguably one of the most amazing of all time.
Although there is no official tally of how much the slot machine has paid out in total, many other individuals have walked away with multiple seven-figure checks.
Over to You
It doesn’t matter if you love slot machines or find them mundane, there’s no denying these slot machine victories are pretty remarkable. Seeing ordinary people becoming super rich in an instant is somewhat magical. Especially when you consider that a good number of these winners gave up on slots prior to winning huge amounts.
If nothing else, these tales serve as a reminder that it may happen to anybody at any time. After all, you can’t win a jackpot if you don’t buy a ticket (or pull a lever/push a button).
Maybe these stories inspire you to tell your own slot machine success story in the future.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the biggest slot machine wins of all time?
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Norman Kirk, Las Vegas Jet Cab driver, won the biggest slot machine payout ever recorded. He pocketed a whopping $4.6m at the Las Vegas Sheraton while betting merely $3! We have a full list above detailing larger slot wins throughout the ages.
### Which slot game has the biggest jackpot of all time?
The biggest online slot jackpot of all time was won playing an unspecified Mega Fortune Dream jackpot at a Casumo Casino, resulting in a €11,100,000 ($12,409,485) windfall.
### Has anyone ever won a slot machine with a jacket?
There isn't any proof to support the notion that wearing lucky clothing like a hat or shoes improves one's chances of winning a jackpot. Unfortunately Raha Ahmed El-Menshawy's lucky hat didn't contribute to her $9.5m victory.
### Do slot attendants still give out free drinks?
Yes, many casinos provide free drinks to slot machine players, although there is no rule requiring them to do so. It is customary in several jurisdictions for slot machine hosts and attendants to offer free drinks to keep patrons happy in their machines.
### Was Wolfgang Poker Wife’s Fortune on Slots?
No, Wolfgang Bruckner made his fortune through inherited stakes in apartment buildings in the southern German city of Augsburg. Joyce Porter, his wife, struck it large on the Playtech-powered King of Champions slot, netting $21 million in the process.
Best Online Casino Real Money Apps 2023### Where Can I Find the Biggest Slot Machines?
Excalibur Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas has the world's biggest mechanical slot machine. The enormous machine weighs approximately 24,000 pounds and stands more than 11 feet tall.
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