The MGM Grand fire exposed Las Vegas’ deadly cost-cutting in 1980
Forty-five years ago, Las Vegas faced one of its deadliest disasters—the MGM Grand Hotel fire of 1980. The tragedy claimed 85 lives and injured hundreds more, sparking legal battles and lasting myths. Today, a rerun of the Vegas Myths Busted series examines one of the most persistent falsehoods: the idea that gamblers died because they refused to leave their slot machines.
The MGM Grand Hotel fire broke out on 21 November 1980, killing 85 people and injuring over 700. Investigations later revealed that greed played a central role in the scale of the tragedy. The hotel’s owner and chairman had resisted installing automatic sprinklers in their Las Vegas hotels to save $192,000—a decision that proved catastrophic.
The MGM Grand fire remains a turning point in Las Vegas history, exposing fatal flaws in building regulations and corporate accountability. The $223 million settlement closed legal battles, but the disaster’s lessons reshaped fire safety laws nationwide, influencing hotel fire safety standards.
