The MGM Grand Hotel fire of November 21, 1980, claimed 87 lives, but contrary to popular belief, no victims died because they refused to leave slot machines. This myth stems from an incorrect Washington Post report published two days after the tragedy.

According to Clark County Fire Department's official report, none of the 17 bodies found on the first floor were located in the casino area. Fire Captain Jon Sabol, who fought the blaze, confirmed that "nobody died at a gaming table or slot machine."

The true cause of the tragedy was corporate cost-cutting. MGM's owner Kirk Kerkorian and chairman Fred Benninger refused to install automatic sprinklers to save $192,000 on the $106 million construction. They obtained an exemption from Clark County Building Department, citing 24/7 operations as justification.

The National Fire Protection Association later concluded that with sprinklers, it would have been a minor incident. Instead, the fire led to over 1,350 legal claims and a $223 million settlement.

The tragedy prompted significant changes in fire safety regulations. The MGM Grand reopened eight months later with mandatory sprinkler systems and fire alarms. In 1986, the property was sold to Bally Manufacturing and is now known as Horseshoe. The current MGM Grand, opened in 1993, stands at a different location one mile south of the original site.

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