The ultimate dream for most gamblers is to one day land a big win that will change their lives forever. That’s often the main reason they gamble. It never happens for most gamblers of course, as life-changing wins are not particularly common. Even just the slight possibility of becoming rich is enough for many to keep betting or playing though.
Most gamblers, even those who only play with an edge, don’t make that much money. But you CAN improve your chances of winning at almost any casino or gambling game. Sometimes this means choosing the bets with the lowest house edge. Other times it means making the correct playing decisions. The winner of the WSOP Main Event receives a World Series of Poker bracelet, millions of dollars (with the exact amount based on the number of entrants), and the right to be considered the year's World Champion of Poker.
This is fair enough, as a big win can happen to anyone. It’s not always the most knowledgeable or skilled gamblers who win big, as winning a slot machine jackpot or a lottery jackpot is down to simple good fortune. Skill and knowledge can play a part in some forms of gambling of course, and especially in poker and sports betting, but there are plenty of ways to win when all that’s required is a large slice of luck.
History is full of gamblers that were either lucky enough, or clever enough, to win huge amounts of money. On this page we look at a few of the biggest and most famous winners ever, in no particular order. If you ever feel like the big win will never happen for you, remember that most people on this page probably felt the same once.