Do Casinos Pump Oxygen into the Air?
Let’s explore the persistent myth about casinos and whether they pump oxygen into the air to make you more alert, energetic, and euphoric. If you have ever visited a casino, you might have wondered if they use any tricks to keep you playing longer and spending more money. But is the claim of pumping oxygen true or just a rumor? We’ll delve into the origin of this myth, assess its validity, and consider its implications.
Popular Casino Tactics
Casinos do use several tactics to create a comfortable and enticing environment for their patrons. Some of these include:
- Loud music: Casinos often play upbeat music to create a lively atmosphere and stimulate your senses. Music can also mask the sounds of other players winning or losing, affecting your mood and decisions.
- Pleasant scents: Casinos may pump scents into the air using ventilation systems or aromatherapy devices. Depending on the desired effect, these scents can make the space more pleasant, relaxing or stimulating. Scents can also create a strong association between the casino and a certain smell, triggering memories and emotions when encountering it again.
- Freezing air-conditioning: Casinos often keep the temperature low to prevent you from feeling sleepy or sluggish. Cold air can also make you more alert and focused and encourage you to drink more beverages, which may contain alcohol or caffeine.
- No clocks or windows: Casinos usually do not display any clocks or windows on their walls to prevent you from keeping track of time or noticing the changes in daylight. This can make you lose your sense of time and reality, making you play longer than intended.
The Truth about Pumping Oxygen in Casinos
While these tactics are common and legal, pumping oxygen into the air is not. There are several reasons why casinos do not pump oxygen into the air, such as:
- Cost: Pumping oxygen into the air would be extremely expensive and impractical. A typical Las Vegas casino contains 1 million cubic liters of air. To raise the oxygen level by just 1%, it would require more than 40,000 cubic meters of oxygen gas every day. This would cost thousands of dollars per day, which would not be worth the marginal increase in playing time or spending.
- Fire hazard: Pumping oxygen into the air would also create a serious fire hazard, as oxygen is an accelerant that makes flames burn hotter, faster and at lower temperatures. This would violate all fire insurance policies and safety regulations, and put the casino and its patrons at risk of a catastrophic fire. In fact, one of the worst casino fires in history occurred in 1980 at the MGM Grand (now Bally’s) in Las Vegas, where 85 people died, and more than 700 were injured due to faulty wiring and lack of sprinklers.
- Unnecessary: Pumping oxygen into the air is unnecessary to keep players awake and happy, as casinos already use other methods such as music, scents and temperature. There is also no scientific evidence that oxygen significantly affects mood, cognition or behaviour in healthy individuals. In fact, too much oxygen can be harmful, as it can cause oxygen toxicity, which can damage the lungs, brain and eyes.
The Origin of the Myth
So where did this myth come from? One possible source is the novel “Fools Die” by Mario Puzo, the author of “The Godfather”. In this book, published in 1978, a casino owner orders his engineer to pump pure oxygen into the casino at 2 a.m. to keep gamblers from getting sleepy. This fictional scene may have inspired some conspiracy theorists to spread this rumour as fact.
Another possible source is the confusion between oxygen and ozone. Ozone is an oxygen form with three atoms instead of two (O3 instead of O2). Ozone has a distinctive smell that some people associate with freshness or cleanliness. Some casinos may use ozone generators to purify the air and eliminate odors from smoke or food. However, ozone is not pumped into the air to increase oxygen levels or affect mood. Ozone is also unsafe to breathe in high concentrations, as it can irritate the respiratory system.
The Bottom Line
The myth that casinos pump oxygen into the air is false and has no real basis. Casinos can avoid resorting to such extreme and dangerous measures to keep players entertained and engaged. Casinos rely on other psychological tricks and environmental factors to create a captivating atmosphere that encourages you to play longer and spend more money.
If you want to enjoy your casino experience without falling victim to these tricks, here are some tips:
- Set a budget and stick to it: Before entering a casino, decide how much money you will spend and lose. Do not exceed your limit or borrow money from others. Keep track of your winnings and losses, and quit while you are ahead or before you lose too much.
- Set a time limit and stick to it: Before you enter a casino, decide how long you will play and leave when your time is up. Stay focused on the music, scents or lights. Wear a watch or set an alarm on your phone to remind you of the time.
- Take breaks and hydrate: Playing for long periods can make you tired, thirsty and hungry. Take breaks every hour or so to stretch, walk around, eat, drink and use the restroom. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, as they can impair judgment and dehydrate you. Drink water or juice instead.
- Have fun and be responsible: Remember that gambling is a form of entertainment, not a way to make money. Do not gamble with money you need for other purposes, such as bills, rent or food. Do not gamble if you are stressed, depressed or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Do not gamble if you have a gambling problem or addiction. Seek help if you need it.
