What happens in Vegas, stay in Vegas, as the saying goes except for potential winnings, which remain with their lucky winners for a long time and sometimes even make history. Slots are just one more game where the next spin could be lucky. Contrary to popular belief, nobody needs to make expensive investments for the biggest wins in history, and many were with a mere 1$ bet. Gaming should always be fun, and that fun can sometimes lead to unpredictable winnings.
1. The Desert Inn Casino Win
Back in 2000, local waitress Cynthia Jay-Brennan made history by nearly winning $35 million on a $3 entry. When mentioning the highest RTP slots wins, this stands at the top, proving you don’t need to invest much to get lucky. What seemed like a casual, relaxing time after work for her turned into the biggest known win in history. It’s worth knowing that this story does not have a perfect ending, as she was involved in a tragic car accident with her sister. After that experience, Cynthia used her winnings to fund many charities that help people with disabilities.
2. The Anonymous Excalibur Casino Win
On the other hand, the biggest recorded slot machine win went to an anonymous person. What’s known is that it happened on Megabucks slot back in 2003 and also in Vegas. This person placed a $100 bet and won nearly $40 million ($39.7 million, to be precise), placing his anonymous name permanently in history. It’s understandable why someone would want to stay anonymous after such a massive win since they would find out about plenty of lost relatives and sudden business proposals. Jokes aside, not even modern online slots have yet beaten such an incredible win, but anything can happen in years to come.
3. The Biggest Online Win
As slots and technology evolved, the chance to win online also appeared, and the undisputed champion remained – anonymous. Kinda anti-climactic, but when we take into account that the anonymous Finnish player won over $24 million back in 2003, we can’t blame him. What is known is that the win occurred while playing NetEnt Mega Fortune and from a single $0.25 entry. There are plenty of tactics and suggestions on how you should play online slots (and real-life ones), but such winnings prove that it’s all down to luck. Lady Luck smiled at the anonymous Finish player, and history was made from a single quarter.
4. The Bally’s Casino Win
You’re never too old to play, as luck does not have an age restriction. In 2002, while celebrating her 74th birthday, everything changed for Johanna Heundl. After spending a reported $200 on slots, she won both possible jackpots (the primary and secondary one). Her total winnings surpassed $22 million ($22,618,156.67 if we wish to nitpick and be exact). While some may argue that it was too late for her and such a grandiose win, she certainly did secure her golden years with a lush prize.
5. Trainwreck TV win
Most of our entries were back in the past, but Tyler Niknam, or Trainwreck, as he is known on Twitch, live-streamed his $22.5 million win in 2022. It’s one of the biggest livestream wins, where he didn’t even hit the jackpot. He played wild features from the Might of Ra game and hit max wilds on all six reels, thus turning his $1000 bet into a 22,500 multiplier. While he comes in second in the online slots category, he is the undisputed non-jackpot winner, proving that it’s possible to win big without going for the jackpot. If players can spend time studying the game mechanics and try alternative methods, they could be rewarded for straying from the norm.
