When asking: “what is the biggest pokie win,” it is critical to understand that pokies are a game that involves luck more than anything else. The goal is to match symbols to create winning combinations. The game’s random nature means you only need to pull the handle or click the “spin” button to see if anything lines up.
While your win is random, your strategy for slots should include understanding slot terminology and choosing a pokie that offers the best return-to-player ratio and volatility.
Therefore, it is vital to be familiar with the rules and bonuses of each slot you play, especially if your goal is to win massive jackpots. Progressive slots steadily increase jackpots, which grow with each spin. Since a percentage of every wager goes to the community jackpot, every player who wagers the highest amount can win a massive prize. The jackpot can be activated by a special (and sometimes rare) combination, a successful bonus game, or at random.
When the jackpot hits, it can be life-changing. Join us below as we explore some worldwide record wins in online and land-based pokies!
Casinos Known for Jackpot-Winning Players
What is The Biggest Pokie Win? The Top Contenders
- Joanna Heundl – Bally’s Las Vegas – $22.6 Million
- Anonymous – PAF.com Online casino – $24 million
- Anonymous – Palace Station Resort, Las Vegas – $27.5 million
- Cynthia Jay Brennan – Desert Inn Casino, Las Vegas – $34.9 Million
- Anonymous – Excalibur Casino Las Vegas – $39.7 million
Let’s observe some of the most significant slot jackpot wins ever recorded.
Anonymous – Excalibur Casino Las Vegas – $39.7 million
This contender for the biggest pokie win comes from Megabucks. A young software engineer visited Excalibur Casino in 2003; while there, he sat down at the Megabucks slot machine and played around $100. Then, he saw the Megabucks symbols stack up to win the big prize. To date, this win is still the record for the largest Megabucks slot jackpot.
Cynthia Jay-Brennan – Desert Inn Casino, Las Vegas – $34.9 Million
Cynthia Jay-Brennan was just finishing her shift as a waitress at a bar when she decided to visit the Desert Inn Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. While she was saving for her wedding, she decided to enjoy a celebration for her mother-in-law’s birthday and a few rounds at the slots. She chose Megabucks.
Jay-Brennan started with $21 and bet the maximum – $3 per spin – to get the highest jackpot. She decided to keep going for two more spins after her initial bankroll had disappeared. However, she won matching Megabucks symbols and just over $35 million on her final spin. The entire game took less than 60 minutes and provides one of the many answers to the question of what is the biggest pokie win in history.
Unfortunately, she and her sister were involved in an accident that left her paralysed just weeks after her big win. Her sister was not able to survive the accident. Jay-Brennan donated a large portion of her winnings to charities assisting people with disabilities.
Anonymous – Palace Station Resort in Las Vegas – $27.5 million
The third subject of our dive into the biggest pokie win is also a Megabucks player.
A retired flight attendant, who preferred to remain anonymous, won $27,582,539.48 in the mega-lucky slots game. Although she originally intended to stick with her Megabucks play of $100, she felt an urge to add $200 to her bankroll.
She had only $40 left in her $300 budget when screens flashed, and the bells rang to let her know she had won. This win occurred only a few months after she had won $680,000 at the Wheel of Fortune slot in the same casino. Talk about the odds (pun intended).
Anonymous – PAF.com Online Casino – $24 million
The biggest pokie win can turn a quarter into millions of dollars. If you’re as lucky as this Finnish player, that is.
He wasn’t a regular casino player but tried his luck at the Mega Fortune slots game at PAF.com in 2013. His spin resulted in a bonus round that netted him €17.8 million, which is approximately US$24 million. He holds the record for the biggest online slot jackpot win.
Joanna Heundl – Bally’s Las Vegas – $22.6 Million
When asking what is the biggest pokie win, Joanna Heundl’s tale proves that loyalty programs can be a wise investment. She was staying at Bally’s and playing there in May 2002, thanks to a generous birthday offer from the casino, which included two nights and $100 in free play.
After spending $100, she decided to play another $100 before heading off to breakfast. She considered quitting when she had less than $20 remaining in the machine.
She spun again and stacked three Megabucks symbols along the centre line. This combination won her the primary jackpot, worth more than $22 million, and an additional secondary jackpot, of more than $3,000. Her total winnings were $22,618,156.67.
Before Winning Big, Try Practicing First
Are you not ready to risk your money? Try out the free online demos available on the top online casinos we review! In the meantime, we hope that the previously mentioned list has helped shine some light on what is the biggest pokie win. Maybe you can tackle it in the future. Good luck!
