Do Casinos Pump Oxygen to Keep Players Awake?
Casinos remove clocks from the walls and keep players in the dark about the time. They also make sure that no natural light intrudes upon the casino floor.
It's a myth that Vegas casinos pump pure oxygen onto the floor to keep drowsy punters active and awake. It's expensive to pressurise, store, transport and pipe oxygen into the casino. Too much oxygen is bad for customers and could make them sick.
The myth that casinos use oxygen to keep their clients alive and betting comes from a work of fiction. Mario Puzo's novel 'Fools Die' from 1978 is the source of the myth.
Alfred Gronevelt called the building engineer to pump pure oxygen through the casino air-conditioning system to keep the gamblers awake. This is not a tactic used by casinos in real life.
Air-conditioners keep the temperatures reasonably chilly in casinos. Las Vegas casinos keep temperatures between 65-74 degrees Fahrenheit. Music and scents are circulated through the casinos to keep punters entertained. The idea of pumping extra oxygen into the rooms only occurs in fiction.