Las Vegas Rumours, Facts and Fiction
Megabucks - the life changing jackpot slot
which some believe is cursed
Las Vegas or "Sin City" as it is often referred to, is one of the most captivating places on earth. From bright lights to amazing sights and sound and everything in between, it is truly a city that was built for entertainment.
Of course, as with any popular destination, you'll find that a number of rumours about what the city is like or what actually goes on there. These rumours are however greatly multiplied when it comes to Vegas - probably because everything in this city is larger than life.
Let's look at some of the most popular rumours and whether they're truth, fiction or a bit of both as told by real Las Vegas insiders!
Casino Related Speculation
The Megabucks Jackpot Curse
Megabucks is one of Las Vegas' highest paying jackpot slots, with the minimum jackpot payout out at a whopping $10 million! So when the jackpot is hit the winner's life is forever changed, although if the rumours are to be believed, not for the better. There are many tales circulating about players dying violently or being injured after winning the Megabucks jackpot.
This is largely attributed to the fact that a single winner, Cynthia Jay-Brennan, a Las Vegas cocktail waitress who hit the jackpot of $34.9 million was injured and rendered a quadriplegic just 6 weeks after her life-changing win. All other rumours over deaths and injuries are unfounded. So this one's definitely fiction.
Casinos pump in extra oxygen into the casinos to keep you awake and gambling
Like most venues in the world, casinos are air-conditioned - something you'll be very glad of when visiting this desert city during summer months. So while the casinos may feel cool and airy, they are not intentionally being filled with oxygen.
If you think about it logically, people smoke cigarettes in certain parts of the casino, you can't pump oxygen into areas where open flames will be used. It's just pure nonsense.
There are no clocks or windows in Las Vegas Casinos
The myth goes, casinos don't have windows or clocks so you can't keep track of time and end up spending far more of your day in them than you would if you could see the time or look outside to determine the time of day.
While casinos don't usually have clocks (but then again neither do malls, movie theatres or restaurants and bars), many of the newer casinos do have windows and natural light. If you want to keep track of the time, you can always look at your watch or phone.
The "eye in the sky" decides who wins the next jackpot
Have you notice how EVERY Las Vegas jackpot winner is a super hottie? Oh wait, no, you haven't... because that just isn't so. Winners come in all shapes, sizes and age groups.
Still, some people believe that the guy watching the casino cameras over the casino floor gets to decide and push a button to award the next jackpot.
The truth of the matter is that slots payouts are determined by a Random Number Generator (RNG) which awards jackpots at random. Machines are not rigged and no one is controlling them.
Casinos have to continually replace their carpeting due to players not wanting to leave their machines to take bathroom breaks
Disgustingly this is true, despite adult diaper sales being high in Las Vegas, some people believe that if they leave their slot for a second to take a bathroom break some else will steal their jackpot, and so they just relieve themselves right where they are. By the time security arrives to remove them, the deed is usually already done.
The MGM Grand removed it's Wizard of Oz theme
due to Asian Clientele's belief about the lion
The MGM Grand removed the Wizard of Oz theme that once adorned its decor due to the fact that Asian visitors thought it was bad luck to walk into the lion's mouth.
This is true - in the past, the entrance was a lion's mouth which you had to walk under in order to enter the building.
This is believed to be bad luck in Asian culture and due to the fact that a large percentage of the resort's guests are Asian, management decided to re-invent the casino look and feel to accommodate this clientele group.
Other Vegas related Rumours
Prostitution is legal in Las Vegas
While Sin City's adult entertainment abounds from strip clubs to hookers, prostitution is definitely not legal in Las Vegas and you will get arrested for solicitation should you get caught in the act. You've been warned!
Roy of Siegfreud & Roy was attacked by his tiger on stage
The answer to whether this is true or not depends on whose account you believe. While the media would have you believe that Montecore the white tiger savagely attacked Roy Horn of the famous duo during a show at the Mirage in 2003, Siegfreud and Roy have another story.
According to the illusionists, Roy suffered a stroke on stage, causing him to fall to the floor, Montecore in an attempt to protect and help Roy off-stage placed his mouth over his neck to drag him away, accidently severing his artery in the process. Roy was paralyzed on one side during the episode.
Las Vegas water shortages mean that restaurants don't serve water unless specifically requested to do so.
This is a fact. So when you're in town try to use water wisely.