Las Vegas casinos don't pump extra oxygen into their gaming floors, despite this being one of the city's most persistent myths. This misconception originated from Mario Puzo's 1978 novel "Fools Die," where a fictional casino owner orders oxygen pumped through the air conditioning system to keep gamblers awake.

Here's why this myth is false:

• A typical Las Vegas casino contains 1 million cubic liters of air. Increasing oxygen levels by just 1% would require over 40,000 cubic meters of oxygen gas daily, making it prohibitively expensive.

• Enhanced oxygen levels create significant fire hazards, as air with more than 21% oxygen acts as an accelerant. This would violate casino fire insurance policies and create serious liability issues.

• Any fire incident investigation would expose this practice, resulting in severe legal and public relations consequences.

While casinos do employ various techniques to keep players gaming - such as carefully controlled temperatures, pleasant scents, and strategic music choices - oxygen manipulation isn't one of them. The myth gained further traction through media coverage, including a 2006 BBC article that incorrectly presented it as fact.

According to Tony Cabot, distinguished fellow in gaming law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, this practice remains purely fictional, though it continues to captivate public imagination as one of Las Vegas's enduring urban legends.

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