There are many stories of the richest people who have won in casinos, but one of the most famous is that of cocktail waitress Cynthia Jay Brennan. In 2001, she won $35 million at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas. Her win was so massive that she threatened the club’s existence and broke the world record for the most money won in a casino. Her story was immortalized in a song by Charles Coborn.
Several people have won millions of dollars at casinos. However, a popular myth is that gambling is designed for the players to lose, which is a myth. Some gambling establishments use psychological tricks to lure players into betting by rushing them into games that are unlikely to win. Despite this widespread myth, some people have walked out of casinos with millions of dollars, and they’re willing to share the knowledge. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that it’s actually not as easy as it sounds.
In the year 2000, a young woman from New York claimed an estimated $35 million jackpot while staying at the Desert Inn in Wynn Las Vegas. Unfortunately, she lost the money due to a car crash a few months later. Another lucky player took home EUR17,861,800 in 2016 at the Excalibur Casino in Las Vegas. This jackpot was not the only one to break the record, as other players have also been making big winnings lately at this casino.
In 2006, Elmer Sherwin, a WWII veteran, won a $4.6 million jackpot at The Mirage in Las Vegas. He returned to the casino 12 years later, when he won another $21.1 million jackpot. Elmer Sherwin also donated a chunk of his prize to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The money from Elmer Sherwin’s jackpot will be the largest in the history of gambling.
The most money won in a casino has always been a mystery, but there are some notable cases. A retired flight attendant won $27 million at the Megabucks slot machine. He reportedly spent just $300 playing the machine. Another lucky person in the same year is a cocktail waitress who won US$680 grand at the Wheel of Fortune slot machine. This is not a rare occurrence, but a lucky few find themselves in the enviable position of winning big.
The most famous person who won the biggest jackpot in a casino was Kerry Packer. In the spring of 2003, he staked $40 million at the MGM Grand Casino. His subsequent losses were less than half of his original prize, and he was able to give the doorman $1 million for tips. However, two years later, he lost another $28 million in a different casino. The Australian billionaire is still the biggest winner of the Megabucks jackpot, but he did not reveal his name.
Archie Karas is another lucky man who made history in Las Vegas. Archie spent three months playing poker at Binion’s Gambling Hall and Hotel. While the money was small, he was able to turn it into a fortune. He was referred to as “The Run” for his success. Although Karas lost money frequently, he managed to turn his initial seven million dollars into $17 million.