For most people, a trip to the casino is a form of entertainment where the dream of a life-changing win is part of the thrill. While most wins are modest, every now and then, someone defies the odds in spectacular fashion, walking away with a fortune that becomes the stuff of legend. Let's look at a few legendary tales of astonishing casino victories.
The Megabucks Jackpot: A Software Engineer's $39.7 Million Win
The largest slot machine jackpot in history was won in March 2003 at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. A young programmer from L.A. put some money into a Megabucks machine to kill time before a game. He wagered just $100 before the machine's reels aligned perfectly, casino (visit this weblink) triggering the progressive jackpot. The win amounted to an incredible $39.7 million, paid out over 25 years. The winner chose to remain anonymous, and his story remains the ultimate testament to the incredible, albeit minuscule, chance of hitting it big on a slot machine.
Don Johnson: The Man Who "Broke" Atlantic City's Blackjack Tables
Sometimes, a big win is about more than just a lucky spin. Don Johnson, a corporate executive, famously won over $15 million from a trio of Atlantic City casinos in just six months.
How did he do it? It wasn't by counting cards. As a known high roller, casino he was able to negotiate extremely favorable playing conditions for himself. These negotiated perks, casino (visit this weblink) including a generous loss rebate, effectively tilted the odds in his favor. With these conditions, he played with a positive expectation, a rare feat in casino (atuttavita.com) gaming. He won so much that he is no longer welcome to play at many of the world's top casinos.
Elmer Sherwin: The Man Who Struck Lightning Twice
The odds of winning a major lottery-style jackpot are astronomical, but winning it twice seems impossible. This is the incredible story of Elmer Sherwin. He first won $4.6 million on a Megabucks machine in 1989 at the grand opening of The Mirage. He didn't stop playing, hoping for a second miracle. Sixteen years later, at 92 years old, lightning struck again, and he won a second Megabucks jackpot, this time for $21.1 million. He was incredibly generous with his second windfall, donating a large portion to charity.