When it comes to gambling you win some and you lose some. On the other hand, sometimes you win so much that the amount is beyond belief. Of course, when it comes to risk versus the bettor has to have big money to bet big money, which means that most of us won’t be walking away with multi-millions. Even still it is fun to take a look at some of the biggest gambling winners in history.
Some of these names are widely known while others are more of a mystery. These are the biggest winners the gambling community still talks about today.
Kerry Packer
You likely already know Kerry Packer as the Australian media tycoon that lived a rather colourful life. From turning his inheritance into a multi-billion dollar media empire, to spending obscene amounts of money at the drop of a hat, his life is something normally limited to fairy tales. But make no mistake, these stories are mostly true.
As far as gambling is concerned he has an interesting history in that department. Perhaps the most famous story is a night spent in the MGM Grand. Legend has it that Packer walked in with around $250,000, then walked out again with $40 million. The details of the story are a little thin, but most don’t question if it’s true. Chances are it is.
Archie Karas
The story of Archie Karas is well known in Poker communities. The Greek immigrant went on a 30 month Poker winning spree that ended with around $40 million in winnings. The documented tale starts with Karas arriving in in Las Vegas in 1992 with just $50 in his pocket. By 1995 he turned the $50 into $40 million, including 7 finishing spots in World Series Of Poker. Too bad for Karas that Grand Rush didn’t exist in 1992, or he could have done it all from his living room.
Winning And Losing
The story of Cynthia Jay is a truly heart breaking one. The Monte Carlo cocktail waitress decided to spin a few reels during her break. On her 9th win she managed to land a $34.9 million jackpot. The money was used to fund a dream wedding, seeming to suggest that Jay’s life was truly turning around.
Horrifically the lady died in a car accident weeks later. If the universe has a sense of humour, it certainly seems to be a dark sense of humour.
Johanna Heundl
Johanna Heundl, on the other hand, proves that the universe is as kind as it is vindictive. The elderly lady sat down at a Megabucks in Bally’s. On her first spin she landed a $22.6 million jackpot, changing her life forever. In this case all it took was a single spin to transform an elderly lady into a true high roller. It just goes to show that sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, and sometimes we do both at once. All it takes is a bit of luck and a few spins of the reels.
