The EXXXcalibur
February 8, 2009
The Excalibur (“The X” as it’s known locally) has long been considered on-par with Circus Circus as one of the least desirable properties on The Strip, because of a perceived high concentration of children.
Of course, the Excalibur and Circus Circus perception are mostly non-sensical.
I have never encountered a kid at a gaming table in either property. Not one screaming baby, and not one 12 year old splitting tens.
If I go to the kid’s area I see lots of kids, but otherwise, I do not.
Now, will you trip over kids going to and from the parking garage in either place?
Sure.
But after that, the adult’s and children’s areas are pretty well separated. Adults and kids have completely separate floors on which to play.
Do more kids stay in the actual rooms?
Yes.
But they don’t put kids in every room. Just like back home, kids may live next door, but that doesn’t prevent you from firing up porn and enjoying yourself. There are walls.
I trip over kids when I make my way through the airport to try and catch a plane. That doesn’t mean I don’t fly.
The casino floors themselves are 100% kid-free unless they are just passing through.
Saying you won’t go to The X or The Circus because of the kids is a cool thing to say … because everyone says it … but as a patron of both places, it’s just not as big of a problem as people make it out to be.
I’ve seen more kids in the Flamingo lately than anywhere else, and the MGM lions are right next to the MGM Poker Room. When the lions come out, the kids crowd around, but nobody has a problem playing cards or hitting the Centrifuge bar just a few yards away.
X hatred is just more douchebaggery. You’ll never get criticized for bagging on the place, and the most ardent haters of these properties have little experience in them.
The X is old, and it does show its age, but it’s still a fine property. It is also one of the few properties left that has one of the old-school themes … so I still enjoy the place. It’s also connected to the Luxor, and the Mandalay Bay by tram, so it’s in a great location.
I also like their Electronic Poker Room. It can be a great place to go fishing in cash games, but some dude named “Brian The Pimp” wins all the tournaments, so I wouldn’t bother playing in any of them.
Even though the perception is that it is a kid’s playground, the Excalibur often tries hard to shed that image.
Excalibur Las Vegas
The X has been hosting “Thunder Down Under” for a long time. This is a show where heterosexually-challenged men dance for post-menopausal women who haven’t seen a dick since Richard Nixon resigned.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I mean, it’s gross, but to each his/her own.
Frankly, I prefer my adult entertainment to have boobs, and the X is making an effort here as well.
In the same vein as Caesars’ Pussycat Pit, and Flamingo’s Burlesque Pit, the Excalibur has created something called the “Party Pit”.
The concept is the same as the Pussycat Pit. Pseudo-strippers prance around while you play the table game of your choice, and you are free to enjoy the eye candy while losing your money. Some of the women are surprisingly hot, too.
Excalibur's Party Pit
Excalibur's Party Pit
Excalibur's Party Pit
Excalibur's Party Pit
I’ll be straight with you, as much as I like the X, not even I expected this property to put a stripper-pit on the floor … so I was a bit surprised when I first saw it. The pit actually works, to a degree. There is only so much bonerdom to be achieved when the strippers stay clothed, but I give them props for the effort. It is also next to the somewhat popular “Dick’s Last Resort” bar. They are definitely trying to take the adult factor up a notch or two.
Dick's Last Resort
These new “adult” pits are really gaining momentum. In addition to Caesars, Flamingo, and The Excalibur … Planet Hollywood created a “Pleasure Pit” last year.
These pits seem to be the trend of the future, and it’s a good first step toward slightly more unique entertainment. When I have a choice to play a stripper pit vs. a non-stripper pit, I usually choose the former.
Until online gambling can give me naked women dancing a few feet from the table, this type of thing will always separate brick-and-mortar from online casinos.
Anyway, if you are afraid of the Excalibur and the supposed kids running all over the place, I suggest giving the Party Pit a try at least once.
Of course, you might not want to tell people that you got a boner at the Excalibur until the “ Disney” stigma is removed from the X.
Hot women and the Excalibur generally don’t go together unless you are a Megan’s Law violator, but this place just might surprise you.
Written by trentmc on February 9, 2009 at 4:50 pm
The Excalibur is also the only place on the strip that you can play Full Pay 10/6 Double Double Bonus Video Poker.
Written by Jander on February 10, 2009 at 11:43 am
Sunset Station is doing a half ass job of having hot dealers in minimal clothes on the weekend. The girls are ok looking, the outfits not so much. And all the girls are new dealers. They are still learning so that makes it interesting. No dear, dont pay me when I have 18 and you have 19. I bet $15 so my blackjack pays 37.50.
Written by Jerry P on February 11, 2009 at 11:24 pm
I’ll tell you why I don’t like the X and it has nothing to do with the kids. I hate the theme.