The gambling world is highly competitive by nature, featuring high stakes, thrilling wins, and exciting entertainment. As such, it is no surprise that the industry has also witnessed the achievement of some incredible feats and milestones that have been immortalized in the Guinness World Records.
From jaw-dropping winnings to marathon gameplay sessions, many people have gone to astonishing lengths to make indelible marks in the world of gambling. This article will reveal some of the most awe-inspiring gambling feats that have entered the Guinness World Records book. Let’s dive right in!
Largest Online Gambling Payout
The 1st of June 2018 was like any other day for most people worldwide, but it was life-changing for a 36-year-old cleaner from Berlin, Christina, when she won the largest online lottery win. Like most lottery gamblers, Christina took a shot in the dark and participated in the online EuroJackpot lottery, a decision that would see her win a staggering payout of €90,000,000 (£79,002,400; $105,121,000).
This lottery payout was made by Lottoland Limited (Gibraltar), easily making it into the Guinness World Record as the biggest-ever online payout in the gambling scene.
Largest Gambling Winning Streak
The late Greek American gambler Anargyros Nicholas Karabourniotis, popularly referred to as Archie Karas, achieved the largest documented winning streak in gambling history. In December 1992, Archie Karas arrived in Las Vegas with only $50 in his pockets. And by early 1995, he had managed to turn this into $40 million playing dice, poker, and pool. This Guinness Book of Record-worthy feat even got dubbed its own name, “The Run.” Unfortunately, Karas’s odds-defying two-and-a-half years-long winning streak ended, and he soon lost it all within the same year.
World’s Oldest Croupier
On the 20th of February, Joanna Dodd (born. 15th of January 1936) made the Guinness World Record as the world’s oldest croupier. Dodd worked the tables at the Flamingo Casino, Las Vegas, till the age of 79 years 36 days, when she registered the incredible feat, beating the previous record by just one day.
Joanna Dodd proved that age is nothing but a number while making an indelible mark in the annals of gambling history.
Longest Ever Poker Game by an Individual
Poker is one of the most immersive games at any casino, often resulting in hours of gameplay and a lengthy test of endurance. However, a poker lover, Phil Laak, particularly took his passion to the extreme and played at the poker table for a staggering 115 hours straight, from the 2nd to the 7th of June 2010. This earned him a position on the Guinness World’s Record for an individual’s longest poker marathon.
The amazing 5-days poker gameplay session happened at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, with over 117,000 people watching live as Laak smashed the previous 72-hour record. You can read more here about poker and other exciting online casino titles.
Largest Slot Machine Payout
Another exciting gambling feat that made it to the world record happened on the 21st of March 2003, when a 25-year-old engineer won the largest payout ever from a slot machine. The LA-based engineer visited Las Vegas and decided to put $100 (£64) in the Megabucks slot machine at the Excalibur Hotel-Casino. This decision soon became a life-changing moment for him as the machine triggered an astronomical payout of $39,713,982.25 (£25,361,761).
Largest Jackpot Payout Ever from Online Slot Machine
The digital age has undoubtedly brought about several opportunities for gamblers. One of these is the advent of online slots, which caused a life-changing shift in the life of British Man Jon Heywood. On the 6th of October 2015, Heywood became the holder of the Guinness World Record for the largest jackpot payout in an online slot machine game (nominal) after winning €17,879,645 ($20,062,600, £13,209,300). Heywood made this jaw-dropping feat while on a single round of Microgaming’s Mega Moolah slot on Betway’s website, beating the previous record of €17,861,813.
Most Casinos Visited in 24 Hours
Kimo Ah Yun and Gary Meyer, a pair of gambling enthusiasts, made history by visiting 74 casinos within a day, earning the record for the most casinos visited in 24 hours. This record-breaking feat occurred in the world’s gambling capital, Las Vegas, from the 19th to the 20th of October, 2017.
Interestingly, this feat was an attempt to break the previous record of 69 casinos made by the same pair of gamblers in 2015. They managed to visit five more casinos this time around.
Final Thoughts
The gambling industry has produced several extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime feats, from monumental winnings to quirky gameplay. These Guinness World Records not only show the excitement of the industry but also the passion and resilience of gamblers.
While records may be broken and new ones set, it’s important to remember that luck plays a huge role in all forms of gambling, whether small or big. So, always play responsibly.
