Las Vegas has many names – The Neon City, The City of Light, The City of Second Chances, and Sin City, to name just a few. Regardless of what nickname you prefer, the city is known best for bright lights and big wins. The following are five of the BIGGEST wins in the history of Las Vegas. Who knows, after reading about their journey to riches, you may just be able to follow in their footsteps to a life-changing win at BitStarz!

Archie Karas – $40 million

The Greek-born Archie Karas is the main character of one of the most famous stories in the history of Las Vegas.

Over approximately 30 months, Karas turned a $10,000 loan into a $40 million payday in what is considered the longest winning streak in casino gambling history. What is known today simply as “The Run” came to an end in 1995, with Karas losing the entirety of his fortune over three weeks.

In 2013, Karas was found guilty of winning by fraudulent means and cheating after he was caught marking cards. He was sentenced to three years probation. Although it has never been directly proven, following his conviction, many have questioned the legitimacy of “The Run.”

25-year-old engineer – $39.7 million

Where Karas sought the spotlight, our next winner actively avoided it.

In 2003, a 25-year-old software engineer walked into the Excalibur casino in Las Vegas. After betting a total of just $100 at $3 a spin on the Megabucks progressive slot machine, he hit the jackpot, scoring a dizzying $39,713,982.25 payday!

Instead of opting to take the full amount upfront like most of the winners on this list, the 25-year-old chose to receive his winnings in annual payments of $1.5 million. He also opted to remain anonymous, choosing to be referred to simply as the engineer.

Kerry Packer – $26 million

Kerry Packer is a man that every employee of Las Vegas casinos wishes they were lucky enough to bump into. The Australian businessman became famous in the Neon Capital for his outrageous tipping. It’s rumored that Packer paid off six-figure mortgages of two waitresses and tipped more than $1 million to MGM Grand staff in a single night.

His antics at the tables were equally ludicrous. He is said to have lost $20 million in a single sitting playing at not one, not two, but four different roulette tables at once. His most impressive winning streak came in 1995 at the MGM Grand. During this 40-minute streak, Packer won $26 million across seven blackjack and baccarat tables, betting $500,000 a hand.

Needless to say, although Packer’s $26 million makes it onto the list, it was pretty much pocket change to a man who was worth north of $6.5 billion.

John Tippin – $10.9 million

When 50-year-old John Tippin walked into the Las Vegas Hilton, he took a seat at the Megabucks progressive slot. It was not his preferred slot. In fact, when he struck it lucky, he was preparing to move to his slot of choice, which was presumably occupied at the time.

After betting just $9 on the progressive jackpot slot, Tippin struck what was at the time a record-breaking win of $10.9 million. Unlike most winners on the list, Tippin did not opt to remain anonymous, a decision that he would later regret.

In 2001, Tippin released a book entitled I Did It! My Life After Megabucks that detailed how after the win, he lost friends and was hounded by the media. He slipped into an isolated lifestyle, distrusting of anyone and everyone he encountered. The book serves as both an autobiography and a guide for future winners.

The exact fate of Tippin is contradicted. Some reports have claimed that by 2001 when he released his book, he was essentially broke. Others say that Tippin is living the good life with his wife in Hawaii. Either way, we have no doubt that he regrets releasing his name to the public.

37-year-old mother of four – $11.2 million

With 15 minutes to kill before reporting to work, a 37-year-old mother of four sat down at the Megabucks progressive slot at the Monte Carlo in Las Vegas.

After putting $15 into the machine, she began betting at $3 a spin. Her first four spins were completely uneventful. On her fifth and final spin though, she struck it lucky, winning $11,290, 521 just minutes before she was supposed to head off to work.

In shock, the mother of four called her boss to tell him that she’d be a little late. She chose to remain anonymous, and, as a result, it’s unclear how she fared following her massive windfall.

Enjoy the Las Vegas experience at home!

You don’t need to be in Las Vegas to strike it lucky. At BitStarz, you can enjoy the Vegas experience from the comfort of your own home. We offer more than 3,000 online casino games, amazing giveaways, and a live casino experience that puts you at real tables with real dealers. Plus, our players also win big! Just this month, one lucky BitStarz account holder scored a massive $400,000 win on Midnight in Tokyo Slot.