Everyone wonders how big some jackpot wins are. If you've wondered what is the most money ever won on a slot machine, you're in good company. We wondered the same thing and did some digging to see what we could find out.

The maximum bet on these machines is $2 and the maximum payout is limited to $800. Montana gaming regulations require these machines to return a minimum of 80%. There are seven Indian casinos offering video gaming machines that also print out a receipt. The maximum bet on these machines is $5 and the maximum payout is capped at $1,500. IGT’s Megabucks has been paying out ginormous life-changing jackpots for almost 20 years. Its slogan is “Dream big. Win big.” A network of slot machines linked throughout Nevada, Megabucks boasts a top prize that builds from a base amount of $10 million. To play it costs $1 a spin, but to quality for that top amount you’ll have to shell.

What Is The Most Money You Can Win On A Slot Machine

Megabucks Slots Often Leads to the Biggest Slot Machine Wins

Megabucks slots is a progressive jackpot slot from IGT. It's linked to many of the biggest payouts on slot machines. Since it's debut in 1986, it's paid out more than $1 billion dollars in prizes. #1 – 25-Year-Old Software Engineer Wins $38.7 Million While killing time before the 2003 NCAA tournament started on TV, an anonymous 25-year-old software engineer decided to risk $3 on a slot machine at Excalibur Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. That $3 turned into a stunning $38.7 million jackpot on Megabucks slots. #2 – Cynthia Jay-Brennan Wins $34.9 Million In 2000, Cynthia Jay-Brennan won $34.9 million playing Megabucks slots at the former Desert Inn in Las Vegas. Sadly, weeks after claiming her jackpot prize, a drunk driver crashed into the car she was in. She was paralyzed and her sister did not survive the crash. #3 – An Anonymous Woman's $27 Million Win At Palace Station Hotel in Las Vegas, one woman played Wheel of Fortune slots and won $680,000. She opted to keep playing, In just a few months, she hit a $27 million jackpot on Megabucks slots. #4 – Woman Wins $22.6 Million at Bally's There is a pattern with Megabucks slots leading to some of the biggest slot machine wins in history. In 2002, a woman playing at Bally's Las Vegas won $22.6 million on that same game. #5 – Elmer Sherwin's $21 Million Win Elmer Sherwin fought in WWII and often played slots in Las Vegas after retirement. Shortly after The Mirage opened its doors for the very first time, Sherwin won $4.6 million playing Megabucks slots. His luck repeated itself in grand fashion when he won $21 million just shy of two decades later at the age of 87. Once again, he was playing Megabucks slots. #6 – Anonymous Player Wins Just Under $12.8 Million Megabucks slots paid a prize of just under $12.8 on a $6 bet. The player was at Aria in Las Vegas for her niece's birthday when she hit the jackpot. She said she'd chosen Megabucks slots completely by chance. #7 – Rodolfo T. Wins $11.8 Million Betting just $3 on Megabucks slots, Rodolfo T. of California won the jackpot worth just over $11.8 million. That 2017 win at the Fremont Casino isn't one of the biggest from Megabucks slots, but it still made him a very happy man.

Are Any Other Slot Machines Linked to Huge Payouts?

While Megabucks slots certainly is linked to many of the largest slot prizes in history, there are some games that have also made players very happy. At Harrah's Las Vegas, a man won $1.18 million playing Wheel of Fortune slots in July 2018. This was the second large payout from that machine. Earlier in the month, a player won almost $250,000 on Wheel of Fortune at the Cosmopolitan. A Gulf Breeze, Florida, man took home a jackpot of almost $1.3 million playing Double Diamond slots in Biloxi, Mississippi. He kept playing and won an extra $14,000 a little while later. That's not the largest win in the area. Hard Rock Casino reported that the largest prized they'd given away was $14 million to a player playing Wheel of Fortune slots.

There's One More Crushing Win

In 2016, Katrina Bookman was playing Sphinx slots in New York when the machine told her she'd won a $42.9 million jackpot. It would have been the largest prize in history. The problem is the top prize on the slot machine is $6,500. She was told the machine had malfunctioned and that the most the casino could do is give her the last prize she'd won of just over $2 and a complimentary steak dinner. She is suing the casino and IGT. There's one thing all of these players have in common. They never expected they'd win the jackpot when they placed their small bets. You could join them. Whether you try Megabucks slots or something else, Lady Luck could put you on the list of the biggest slot machine wins in history. To accomplish this, you need to play slots online or at your favorite land-based casino.

Players dream of hitting a big jackpot when they play the slots. When that day comes for you, you'll have questions about the taxes you must pay on the winnings.

Hand Pay Jackpots

When you hit the winning combination of symbols for a large jackpot, your slot machine locks up. Depending on the machine, the lights on top of the machine may come on and start flashing, music may play or bells ring. A slot attendant arrives promptly to see what you have won.

On jackpots smaller than $5,000, an attendant verifies that you hit the jackpot and then assists you in claiming your money at the cashier's cage. In the case of a large or progressive jackpot, the casino may have technicians come and check the machine to certify that it was functioning properly when the jackpot hit. If you hit one of the wide-area progressive machines such as MegaBucks, the slot company that operates the game comes out and verifies that machine before giving you a check.

When you hit a jackpot, you have the option of taking your winnings in cash or check. Usually, large amounts are paid by check. In the case of the MegaBucks or similar multi-million dollar jackpots, you receive a check for the partial amount, and then you have 90 days to decide if you want to be paid a lump sum or an annual annuity on the balance. If you select the lump sum option, you receive only a percentage of your actual winnings. For example, the full winnings of one multi-million slot jackpot is paid in 25 annual installments, or you can take a lump sum of 60 percent of the winnings.

IRS Withholding

All casino winnings are subject to federal taxes. However, the IRS only requires the casinos to report wins over $1,200 on slots and ​video poker machines or other games such as keno, lottery or horse racing. When you have a win equal to or greater than $1200, you are issued a W-2G form. This form lists your name, address and Social Security number. The casinos are not required to take out withholding tax on jackpots under $5,000 as long you supply your Social Security number. If you don’t provide your Social Security number, the casinos withhold 28 percent on small jackpots.

You can request a specific amount of withholding tax to be taken out of any jackpot you win. Some players like to do this to avoid a big tax payment in April when they file their income tax returns. The additional withholding may not be necessary if you keep a log book. The law allows you to deduct gambling losses up to the amount of your winnings. You can only do this if you have documentation of your losses. Keeping a diary or log book is the way to do this.

Proper Identification

What Is The Most Money Won On A Slot Machine Buyers

Casinos can refuse to pay you until you produce proper identification—a photo ID such as a driver’s license, military ID or passport.

If you don’t produce an ID, you are photographed and the casino holds your winnings until you come back with proper ID. For this reason, you should always carry a valid form of identification with you when you visit the casino.

Korean Money Won

When the casino checks your identification, it also checks your age to make sure you are legally old enough to play. The minimum age for gambling varies from state to state, but under-age gamblers are not be paid if they hit a jackpot. This is the law in all jurisdictions, and it has been upheld in court.

What Is The Most Money Won On A Slot Machine Winners

Plan Ahead

What Is The Most Money Won On A Slot Machine Free Play

Before you start playing your favorite slot machine you should have a plan for the day you hit a jackpot. Players become excited when they hit the big one, and this may affect the decisions you make about your winnings. It is helpful if you know ahead of time how much withholding you want taken out or whether you want a check for all or some of the amount.