1 The Biggest and Most Famous Casino Wins in History
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For most people, a trip to the casino is a form of entertainment where the dream of a life-changing win is part of the thrill. While most wins are modest, every now and then, someone defies the odds in spectacular fashion, walking away with a fortune that becomes the stuff of legend. Let's look at a few legendary tales of astonishing casino victories.

The Excalibur Jackpot
The stuff of dreams became reality for one man at the Excalibur casino. A young programmer from L.A. put some money into a Megabucks machine to kill time before a game. He wagered just $100 before the machine's reels aligned perfectly, triggering the progressive jackpot. The win amounted to an incredible $39.7 million, paid out over 25 years. His story is the quintessential example of how a small bet can lead to an unimaginable fortune.

The Blackjack King
Sometimes, a big win is about more than just a lucky spin. In an incredible run, Don Johnson managed to beat several casinos at blackjack for more than $15 million.

His secret wasn't card counting in the traditional sense. Johnson, a savvy businessman, negotiated special rules with the casinos before he even started playing. These included a 20% "loss rebate" (where the casino would refund him 20% of his losses if they reached a certain amount), the ability to bet up to $100,000 per hand, casino and favorable rules like splitting and doubling down on any four cards. With these conditions, he played with a positive expectation, a rare feat in casino gaming. His incredible run caused some casinos to change their high-roller policies, and he was eventually banned from many establishments.

The Double Megabucks Winner
The odds of winning a major lottery-style jackpot are astronomical, but winning it twice seems impossible. This is the incredible story of Elmer Sherwin. In 1989, at the age of 76, he won a $4.6 million Megabucks jackpot at The Mirage in Las Vegas, casino just 10 hours after the casino opened. He traveled extensively with his winnings but never gave up on his dream of winning again. Sixteen years later, at 92 years old, lightning struck again, and he won a second Megabucks jackpot, this time for $21.1 million. Sherwin generously donated much of his second win to charity, including relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina victims.