One of the common myths about Las Vegas is that casinos pump oxygen onto the casino floors to keep players awake and playing for longer. However, according to Tony Cabot, a distinguished fellow in gaming law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, this rumor is not true. There are several reasons why this myth is false.
Firstly, the amount of oxygen needed to raise the oxygen level in a typical Las Vegas casino would be incredibly expensive. It would require more than 40,000 cubic meters of oxygen gas every day, which is not a practical or cost-effective solution for casinos. Additionally, increasing the oxygen levels in the air would create a fire hazard, as air with higher oxygen levels is more flammable and can cause fires to burn hotter and faster.
Moreover, pumping in oxygen would violate casino fire insurance policies and could lead to a public relations disaster if a fire were to occur. While casinos do use other tactics to keep players engaged, such as playing loud music, using pleasant scents, and maintaining cold air-conditioning, pumping in oxygen is not one of them.
The myth of casinos pumping in oxygen likely originated from Mario Puzo’s 1978 novel, “Fools Die,” where a fictional casino owner orders the pumping of pure oxygen to keep gamblers awake. Over the years, this fiction has been circulated as fact, leading to misconceptions about how casinos operate.
In conclusion, while Las Vegas casinos do employ various methods to keep players entertained and engaged, the idea of pumping oxygen onto the casino floors is simply a myth. It is essential to separate fact from fiction when it comes to understanding how casinos operate and dispelling common misconceptions about the industry.