Every day, thousands of people descend on Las Vegas in hope of landing a life-changing sum of money. Some will put in the hours and research different ploys and strategies, whereas others will play with lady luck by their side in hope of securing a hefty pay out.
It can all come down to being in the right place at the right time, and some of the largest wins in Vegas have been won in such a way. If you’re feeling lucky, be sure to check out hot Vegas slots right now for your chance to win instant cash prizes.
The Mirage Casino – $4.6 million & $21 million
Some might say that Elmer Sherwin is one of the luckiest punters in the world, after landing two huge jackpots whilst playing at the Mirage Casino. The WW2 veteran managed to scoop the $4.6 million jackpot within hours of the casino opening and continued to gamble across a number of casinos all over the world. However, it wasn’t until 16 years had passed that he landed an eye-watering $21 million at the Mirage.
Palace Station Casino – $680,000 & $27 million
Elmer Sherwin is not the only gambler to have won big on two separate occasions. An anonymous 60-year-old lady managed to land $680,000 whilst playing the Wheel of Fortune slot machine at the Palace Station Casino, and she continued to try her luck instead of spending or investing the cash elsewhere. This proved to be a decision the unnamed lady would cherish later when she collected $27 million from the same casino.
Gold Coast Casino – $12 million
John Tippin is perhaps the most synonymous name when it comes to winning big at Vegas. It was back in 1996 that Mr Tippin, a postal worker was on vacation in Sin City, recorded a then world-record Megabucks jackpot of $12 million at the Gold Coast.
However, it wasn’t all rosy for Mr Tippin, as he squandered a lot of his winnings – even penning a book recording his experiences (I did it! My Life After Megabucks). Mr Tippin’s win was a moment to savour however, who won the hefty sum on his last pull of the lever.
Excalibur Casino – $39.7 million
It’s been 16 years since a 25-year-old engineer from Los Angeles recorded the biggest casino win Vegas has ever witnessed. The unnamed man was thought to be waiting to watch his favourite basketball team, and killed some time in the Excalibur playing slots. That decision turned out to be one of life’s finer choices as he promptly won $39.7 million. It’s thought that the lucky winner didn’t opt for the pay out in full, instead taking it in instalments.
MGM Grand Casino – $20-40 million
Have you ever heard the saying that money goes to money? Well, that’s exactly what happened to Kerry Packer at the MGM Grand at the turn of the century. The Australian billionaire was playing poker and baccarat and after a few hours, won between $20 and $40 million. Mr Packer wasn’t shy about his wealth or his winnings, and is believed to have tipped a number of casino staff before exiting that night.
