Playing in casinos takes strategies and a serious mindset on probability and budget management, and many players have become professionals and made the high-roller life. However, lady luck somehow turned the fortune around selected individuals to receive surprising casino prizes (million-dollar wins!), and most were not that serious about playing in the first place.
This article will show you the ten luckiest players in casino history. These people have become rich and earned more than anyone in a single day. Read more below and check them out ranked per million. The last one might surprise you.
10 – Beverly Whitten ($3.7 Million)
Beverly Whitten is a retired teacher who one day decided to visit the slots and take a shot at playing big. Suddenly, she made the lucky push of the lever and won more than 3 million dollars, all from real money slots on that specific machine after two hours of playing.
She was playing on a Golden Chambers slot machine in 2006. It was reported that it took time for Beverley to settle down because of the excitement and dedication to getting her winnings monthly, as the amount was too overwhelming for her to manage.
09 – Amy Nishimura ($8.9 Million)
Amy Nishimura was one of those uncommon but impressively patient players on the floor. She took her time playing through the games for three hours until she got the lucky match. She took Fremont in Las Vegas by storm, winning a staggering $8.9 million from a $100 bet.
Sure enough, her patience and hours of talking through the machines finally paid off. Who knew you could get rich just by waiting long enough?
08 – Mr. Peter ($14.5 Million)
A Norwegian player known only as Peter is known to have a record-holding win in the history of online casino platforms. When Peter decided to try his luck at Arabian Knights, a progressive slot game, he unknowingly struck gold when he won around $14.5 Million.
It was only when he realized he had made the jackpot through a big jump in winnings on his casino account. Still, to this day, no one knows who Peter is or his last name, but we bet he’s still enjoying that cash from that fateful moment.
07 – Anonymous Player ($17.3 Million)
When someone from Las Vegas played in the Henderson with a few extra credits, they likely won’t believe those few free plays could garner him one of the biggest wins in casino history.
The anonymous player was said to have collected $17.3 Million through the Megabucks Machine. That said, let this be a good reminder that anyone can win big at any time. So, if you have some free credits lying around, you might want to play it over slot machines, and who knows, you might be next on the list.
06 – Antonio Esfandiary ($18.3 Million)
Commonly known as the Magician by other players, Esfandiary also holds the record for the biggest win in a single poker game. Contrary to the winners above, Esfandiary is a professional WSOP player.
During his performance at the 2012 WSOP tournament, he netted an estimated $18.3 Million payday, which alone makes noise around the WSOP and casino industry. But others don’t know that Esfandiary’s win entitled him to receive a $5 Million platinum bracelet on top of his million-dollar win.
05 – Elmer Sherwin ($21.1 Million)
Many have won big and played harder at Las Vegas, but no one has won big jackpots more than Elmer Sherwin. What’s interesting about Elmer Sherwin is that this is not his first time winning the jackpot. He once earned $4 Million in 1989 and another one in 2005 worth $21.1 Million.
Lightning doesn’t strike twice, but Sherwin proved us wrong and got rich doing it.
04 – Johanna Heundl ($22.6 Million)
Johanna was a simple lady who decided to spend a little bit of cash at a Megabucks machine at Bally’s Las Vegas. Through her $170 bet, she pocketed around $22.6 million jackpot prize. This proves everyone has a chance at anything, and a simple bet on a good day can be your best decision ever.
03 – Cynthia Jay ($34.9 Million)
A simple cocktail waitress at the Monte Carlo in Vegas, Cynthia is one of the winners of the $35 million jackpot game within her first ten spins, which funded her dream wedding and improved her life.
Unfortunately, Cynthia fell into a car accident shortly after the win and passed away around March 2000. Her winnings were then donated to several nonprofit and charity organizations.
02 – Anonymous ($39.7 Million)
Based on the list, the biggest winners of the early 2000s are found from playing slot machines. But perhaps the biggest winner of slot machine jackpots comes from a young software engineer in Las Vegas.
A truly anonymous player with its position as its only clue, wagered $100 to lock in and won $39.7 million at the Excalibur Casino in Las Vegas.
01 – Archie Karas ($40 Million)
Archie Karas is a name in the poker scene who is famous with building himself up. A Greek immigrant poker player, Karas started his story when he made a $50 bet and built himself up to $40 million through sheer talent, cementing his place as one of the players with the highest wins.