A lucky holidaymaker has won big in Las Vegas. However, this was not at its casinos but at its airport. So how did they scoop such a big prize?
Most people who visit Vegas expect to win big at the casinos. By the time the bags are packed and people are off home, most tourists know if they have had a lucky streak or should have stayed home. Yet one visitor passing through Harry Reid International Airport won big last week as they were getting ready for transit.
Airport casinos of Nevada
The win was on the Wheel of Fortune Gold Spin Triple Red Hot 7s machine. Placing a $5 bet, they managed to land the main prize and win $1.8 million. The exact total came to $1,816,404.94. However, the authorities have kept the identity of the person quiet for now.
In Canada, it is rare to see slot machines at airports due to the laws on fixed terminals. As a result, many Canadians choose to access their slot games online. This provides convenience, letting them play wherever they have a charged device and an internet connection. Some of the best operators available to Canadian players can be found here, ranked by bonuses, payment methods and customer service.
Biggest Canadian slot game wins
It is not just Vegas where big slot game wins happen and Canada has not been without its own. To date, the most ever won on a slot in the country was on the Mega Moolah slot game. In 2019, a player walked away with $20 million after winning the progressive jackpot.
A progressive jackpot is accumulated from a small percentage of each wager made. This amount then goes into a large pot, which can be linked to a single game, across operators, developers or titles. Thus, people playing around Canada could be betting and putting a small amount into the progressive jackpot each time. This makes these sums extremely big and Mega Moolah is a slot game famous for its huge sums.
Mega Moolah was also responsible for the second-biggest win in Canadian slots. Taking place at the Yukon Gold Casino in 2020, a lucky participant managed to scoop a $13.2 million prize pot. As one of the first big wins in Canadian slots, it sparked interest around the country.
Big airport slot Wins 2025
The Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas has a history of big slot game prizes. As the gateway to Vegas, it makes sense to place machines where people are entering and leaving. They have been a fixture there since 1985 and there are now around 1,500 slots across the airport. It is one of only two airports in the U.S. that have slot machines, with the second being Reno-Tahoe International.
While this amount is by far the biggest, there have been others. On Oct. 31, a $1.57 million win on a Wheel of Fortune slot game occurred at the airport. In July of the same year, $1.45 million was also won on Wheel of Fortune Gold Spin Triple Red Hot 7s. All that was known about this winner was that they were going back to San Diego, presumably after a holiday of casino gaming.
The biggest slot wins ever recorded
All of these tend to pale in comparison to some of the largest slot wins ever recorded. Many of these tend to be on fixed terminals, often in casinos, as opposed to online slot games. So far, the highest amount won was $39.7 million at the Excalibur casino in Las Vegas in 2003. The gambler had a budget of $100 to place into the machine. Since then, this record has not been beaten.
Second in the ranking is the princely sum of $35 million. This was won in 2000 at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas. Many people will know this casino establishment as its former name, The Wynn. The jackpot was also won on the Megabucks slot machine, further adding to its reputation. The money was won by player Cynthia Jay Brennan, who was aged 39 at the time.
Third on the biggest wins list is another jackpot won in Las Vegas. This time, it was won at the Palace Station Casino by a retired elderly woman who had wagered a $100 bet. Somehow she managed to triple her budget, and then scooped up a prize of $27.6 million.
Those over 19 years of age are able to gamble at the casinos across British Columbia. Players don't have to go all the way to Vegas or its airports. While other locations may not have the famous strip, they do have facilities with a wealth of offerings. Before playing, be sure to set a budget, and above all, gamble responsibly.
DISCLAIMER: The information presented on this page/site is intended for entertainment purposes only. Please be aware that gambling entails inherent risks and it's crucial to acknowledge this when utilizing online gambling platforms.
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