For most people, a trip to the casino (Read Atuttavita) 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. Here are some of the most famous and largest casino wins in history.

The Biggest Slot Win Ever

The largest slot machine jackpot in history was won in March 2003 at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. A young programmer from L.A. put some money into a Megabucks machine to kill time before a game. His relatively small investment of $100 resulted in the ultimate prize. The win amounted to an incredible $39.7 million, paid out over 25 years. The winner chose to remain anonymous, and his story remains the ultimate testament to the incredible, albeit minuscule, chance of hitting it big on a slot machine.

Don Johnson: The Man Who "Broke" Atlantic City's Blackjack Tables

Not all legendary wins come from pure luck. In an incredible run, Don Johnson managed to beat several casinos at blackjack for casino (what is it worth) more than $15 million.

How did he do it? It wasn't by counting cards. 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, and favorable rules like splitting and doubling down on any four cards. By combining these advantageous rules with perfect basic strategy, he was able to shift the mathematical edge slightly in his favor. He won so much that he is no longer welcome to play at many of the world's top casinos.

Elmer Sherwin: The Man Who Struck Lightning Twice

To hit a huge jackpot once is a miracle; to do it twice on the same machine type is beyond belief. This is the incredible story of Elmer Sherwin. He first won $4.6 million on a Megabucks machine in 1989 at the grand opening of The Mirage. He used the money to travel the world, casino but he continued to play the Megabucks slots, dreaming of a second win. Incredibly, 16 years later, in 2005, casino at the age of 92, he did it again. He won a staggering $21.1 million jackpot on another Megabucks machine at the Cannery Casino. Sherwin generously donated much of his second win to charity, including relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina victims.