Slot machines (also known as "one-armed bandits," "pokies," or "fruit machines") have captivated casino-goers for over a century. While most players hope for a modest payout, a lucky few have hit life-changing jackpots.
In this article, we'll explore the 10 biggest slot machine wins of all time as of 2024.
I've been fascinated by slot machines for years and spent countless hours researching the most jaw-dropping wins.
From the $39.7 million jackpot at the Excalibur Casino to the recent $1 million win at BetMGM, these stories prove that dreams can come true with a single spin.
Prepare to be amazed at the magnitude of these winnings and the lucky players who defied the odds.
Top 10 biggest slot machine wins of all time
These lucky players have made fortunes, enriching themselves with mind-boggling slot jackpots that will make your head spin.
From the dazzling lights of Las Vegas to the virtual reels of online casinos, we've scoured the globe to bring you the most jaw-dropping wins ever recorded.
1. $39.7 Million - Excalibur Casino, Las Vegas in 2003
On March 21, 2003, a 25-year-old software engineer from Los Angeles defied the odds at the Excalibur Casino in Las Vegas. He won an incredible $39.7 million on a Megabucks slot machine, setting the record for the largest jackpot.
Imagine the rush of hitting such a massive Megabucks jackpot.
With odds of approximately 1 in 49,836,032, this lucky winner beat some seriously long odds. Each virtual reel stop on the Megabucks slot machine made the chances of winning slim to none.
Yet with only about $100 played, this young man's life instantly changed at that Las Vegas casino. It's the kind of jackpot that most of us only dream about.
But for one fortunate software engineer, that Megabucks slot machine granted an astonishing multi-million dollar win.
2. $34.9 Million - Desert Inn, Las Vegas in 2000
January 2000, Cynthia Jay, a Las Vegas casino cocktail waitress, hit the Megabucks jackpot at the Desert Inn, winning an astonishing $34.9 million. Imagine her shock and joy when those winning symbols lined up on the Megabucks slot machine.
What's even more incredible is that Cynthia only spent $27 initially. Just as she was about to leave, she put in an extra $6, with the last $3 being the lucky charm that changed her life forever.
What are the odds of hitting this massive jackpot? An astronomical 1 in 49,836,032, according to the Megabucks rules.
3. $27.6 Million - Palace Station Casino, Las Vegas in 1998
In 1998, a 67-year-old Las Vegas resident hit the megabucks jackpot at the Palace Station Casino, winning a staggering $27.6 million. The lucky slot player had intended to risk just $100 on the megabucks slot machine while waiting for a table at the casino's restaurant.
However, she ended up spending $300, and on her $340th spin, she hit the massive jackpot. To win the Megabucks jackpot, players must bet $3 per play and line up the Megabucks symbols on the pay line.
What are the odds of hitting this huge jackpot? An astronomical 1 in 49,836,032 spins.
4. $27.5 Million - PAF.com, Online in 2013
In 2013, a life-changing event occurred for a 40-year-old Finnish poker player who won a staggering $27.5 million (€17.8 million) progressive jackpot on Mega Fortune, an online slot developed by NetEnt, at PAF.com.
To win the Mega Fortune jackpot, players must enter the bonus round by landing three bonus wheel symbols on consecutive reels. They then spin a wheel of fortune with three layers, aiming to reach the center for the jackpot.
The odds of hitting this jackpot are not public, but they often range from 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 34 million. Although the Mega Fortune slot has a theoretical Return to Player (RTP) of around 96%, meaning $96 out of every $100 is paid out as winnings, this doesn't guarantee individual success.
5. $22.6 Million - Bally's, Las Vegas in 2002
Johanna Heundl, a 74-year-old Austrian native, hit the Megabucks jackpot at Bally's Las Vegas casino in May 2002, winning an astounding $22.6 million. On her way to breakfast, Johanna played the Megabucks slot machine, hoping to win the smaller $3,000 progressive prize.
She intended to risk just $100 but spent $170 before hitting the jackpot. To win the Megabucks jackpot, players must bet $3 per play and line up the symbols on either the third pay line of a three-line machine or the lone center line of a one-line machine.
The odds of hitting this jackpot are an astronomical 1 in 50 million spins, making Johanna's win remarkable. While the Megabucks slot machine has a theoretical Return to Player (RTP) of 92.07%.
6. $21.3 Million - Caesars, Las Vegas in 1999
In June 1999, an Illinois business consultant struck gold at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, winning an astonishing $21.3 million on a Megabucks slot machine.
The 49-year-old gambler, who preferred to remain anonymous, achieved this life-changing feat on their first spin, defying the astronomical odds of around 1 in 50 million.
The lucky winner inserted just $10 into the machine before hitting the jackpot. While the exact chances of winning such a massive prize vary based on the slot's RTP and volatility.
7. $21.1 Million - Cannery Casino & Hotel, Las Vegas in 2005
In 2005, Elmer Sherwin defied the staggering 1 in 50 million odds5 to win an eye-popping $21.1 million on a Megabucks slot machine at the Cannery Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas.
On September 16, with a mere $3 max bet, Sherwin hit the jackpot for the second time, having previously won $4.6 million at the Mirage in 1989. This huge win cemented his status as one of the luckiest gamblers in history, beating odds that make multi-state lotteries look easy in comparison.
8. $20.8 Million (£13.2 Million) - Betway Online Casino in 2015.
Jon Heywood, a lucky gambler, won a staggering $20.8 million (£13.2 million) while playing Microgaming's Mega Moolah at Betway Online Casino in October 2015. The reels aligned perfectly with just a 25p wager, and Heywood hit the massive jackpot.
The odds of hitting the jackpot image on a single reel is 1 in 64. But getting it on all three? A mind-boggling 1 in 262,144.
9. $17.3 Million - M Resort, Henderson in 2012
In 2012, a lucky gambler hit the reels just right at the M Resort in Henderson, landing an astounding $17.3 million jackpot on the Megabucks slot machine.
The big win occurred on Friday night, December 14. The chances of aligning the jackpot images on all three reels were an incredible 1 in 262,144.
10. $14.3 Million - Rampart Casino, Las Vegas in 2013
In a stunning turn of events, an anonymous gambler hit the $14.3 million jackpot at the Rampart Casino in Las Vegas in December 2013. The lucky player spent a mere $20 on the Megabucks slot machine before striking gold.
What are the odds of hitting this life-changing jackpot? An astonishing 1 in 262,144.
Top 10 slot machine wins of 2023-2024
In 2023-2024, lucky players across various online casinos hit mind-blowing jackpots that changed their lives forever.
1. $3,297,864.13 - Ancient Fortunes: Zeus, DraftKings Casino in 2023
In an astounding turn of events, a massive jackpot of $3,297,864.13 was won on June 14, 2023, at the DraftKings Casino by a fortunate player in New Jersey. This record-breaking win came from a mere $0.10 bet on the online slot game Ancient Fortunes: Zeus, created by Microgaming.
The bet triggered a progressive jackpot, leading to this colossal payout that surpassed DraftKings' previous record of $1.97 million, won in April. Meanwhile, the game's return to player (RTP) rate of 96.02% indicates potential payouts over time.
2. $3,028,335.94 - Bison Fury, Borgata Casino in 2023
In October 2023, a New Jersey gambler experienced one of the biggest wins in online casino history. With a modest $2 bet on the Bison Fury slot at Borgata Casino, part of the BetMGM network, the lucky player triggered a progressive jackpot worth a staggering $3,028,335.94.
This massive payout marks BetMGM's largest jackpot of 2023. Developed by Playtech, Bison Fury boasts a respectable 93.88% RTP.
3. $2,839,968.97 - MGM Grand Millions, BetMGM Casino in 2023
In an epic jackpot win, a lucky New Jersey gambler hit it big at BetMGM Casino in 2023, scoring a staggering $2,839,968.97 on the exclusive online slot game MGM Grand Millions.
With a simple bet, the player triggered the progressive jackpot, resulting in one of the top five payouts at BetMGM that year.
While the exact odds of hitting this specific jackpot remain a mystery, MGM Grand Millions boasts an RTP rate of 91.81% and a Jackpot Contribution/RTP of 3.0004%, hinting at the game's potential for life-changing wins.
4. $2,420,549.95 - Luck O’ The Jackpot, Borgata Casino in 2023
In July 2023, a New Jersey gambler hit the $2,420,549.95 progressive jackpot on Luck O' The Jackpot at Borgata Casino online. Their $25 bet triggered BetMGM's second-largest 2023 jackpot win.
Slot jackpot odds range from 1 in 262,144 to 1 in 600,000,000, depending on the game's RTP and volatility.
5. $1,978,196.27 - Extra Chilli MEGAWAYS, DraftKings Casino in 2023
A lucky gambler hit the progressive jackpot on the Extra Chilli MEGAWAYS slot at DraftKings Casino in 2023, walking away with an astonishing $1,978,196.27. I can only imagine the joy they must have felt when those reels aligned perfectly.
Developed by Big Time Gaming, Extra Chilli MEGAWAYS is a high-volatility game featuring 6 reels and up to 117,649 ways to win.
With an RTP of 96.82%, it offers solid returns, but hitting the progressive jackpot? That's a one-in-a-million chance.
6. $1,837,896.00 - Divine Fortunes MEGAWAYS, DraftKings Casino in 2023
One fortunate gambler hit the biggest win of $1,837,896.00 while playing Divine Fortunes MEGAWAYS at DraftKings Casino on October 5, 2023. This massive jackpot was won by landing a full grid of gold coins in the bonus game, which is no easy feat considering the game's high volatility.
Divine Fortunes MEGAWAYS, a NetEnt creation, boasts up to 117,649 ways to win across its 6-reel grid and extra horizontal reel. The game's maximum multiplier win is capped at a whopping 25,000x the stake, making it a prime candidate for big jackpot wins.
While the chances of hitting this specific jackpot are slim, Divine Fortunes MEGAWAYS has an RTP of 96.09%, meaning players can expect decent returns in the long run.
7. $1,445,214.96 - 12 Western Horseshoes, DraftKings Casino in 2023
On June 14, 2023, at DraftKings Casino. The lucky player struck gold on Microgaming's 12 Western Horseshoes slot game, walking away with an incredible $1,445,214.96 jackpot.
This big jackpot win was triggered during the game's free spins bonus feature. The player collected an astonishing 12 scatters, resulting in a mind-blowing x10,000 win multiplier.
Despite the game's high volatility, the player defied the odds, considering the slot's return to player (RTP) of 96.12%.
8. $1,072,966.65 - Wheel of Fortune Ruby Riches, DraftKings Casino in 2024
In April 2024, a lucky gambler hit the biggest win of their life - a grand jackpot of $1,072,966.65 on the Wheel of Fortune Ruby Riches slot at DraftKings Casino.
This big jackpot was triggered during the game's CashLink Deluxe feature, which offers players free spins and massive prizes.
With medium volatility and a 96.15% RTP, the odds of landing such a huge win on Wheel of Fortune Ruby Riches are slim - but as this player proved, it's possible.
9. $1,012,953.01 - Hypernova MEGAWAYS, DraftKings Casino in 2023
In 2023, a lucky gambler hit the biggest win of their life, scoring a jaw-dropping $1,012,953.01 jackpot on Hypernova MEGAWAYS at DraftKings Casino.
This big win was thanks to the game's unique features, like the 6-reel layout with varying rows and the Megaways mechanics, offering up to 117,649 ways to win on each spin.
The Jackpot Respins feature, which replaced traditional free spins, allowed the player to reveal cash prizes or trophy jackpots, ultimately leading to this life-changing big jackpot.
With a medium volatility and a 96.1% RTP, this win showcases the incredible potential of Hypernova MEGAWAYS.
10. $1,000,000 - MGM Grand Millions, BetMGM Casino in 2023
In an exciting turn of events, a lucky slot player hit a massive $1,000,000 jackpot on the popular MGM Grand Millions slot game at BetMGM Casino on April 5, 2023.
This huge win came from the game's unique setup, featuring five reels, no paylines, and an impressive 243 ways to win during the main game, increasing to 1,024 ways during free spins.
Each spin contributes to five jackpots across several BetMGM slots, giving every play a chance at life-changing money. While the odds of hitting the top prize remain a mystery, the anticipation builds with each losing wager adding 3% to the ever-growing jackpot.
What are the biggest progressive jackpots available right now?
Here are the biggest progressive jackpots available right now:
- Mega Moolah: $23.6 million (€19,430,723.60): The record-holder for the largest payout ever! The average jackpot is a whopping $7.5 million.
- Jackpot Giant: $5,083,346: Another huge progressive jackpot waiting for a lucky winner.
- WOW Pot: $3,379,781: This jackpot will make you say "WOW" indeed.
- Beach Life: $2,487,930: Imagine winning this while relaxing on the beach. Talk about living the dream.
- Major Millions: $1,120,692: Become an instant millionaire with this exciting game.
- Gladiator: $627,373: Are you not entertained? You will be if you win this jackpot.
- Age of the Gods: $596,095: A divine sum awaits a mortal winner.
- Treasure Nile: $77,413: A treasure trove of cash is waiting to be discovered.
Should you play progressive jackpot slots?
Yes, you should play progressive jackpot slots if you dream of a massive slot win. While table games offer consistent payouts, only slot machines have the potential for life-changing jackpots.