The Solo Scale:

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Vegas is known for a few things — gambling, entertainment, a culture of vice and sin. Even with all that, there are still wholesome options. There are arcades all over the strip, but the most traditional of all of them happens to be on the north end of the Strip and feels extremely on-theme. That would be the Midway at Circus Circus.

It’s not quite on the main area of the Strip. To get there, you can take a ride share, or book a meal at one of the hotels that’s further up and then walk. There’s even a McDonald’s right before you arrive, in case your thirst gets the better of you. That’s likely to happen most months of the year, given that it’s Las Vegas and it’s hot in the desert..

Once you arrive, you’ll go through the older casino area (where the cigarette smell is deeply baked in) and then head upstairs. Soon, the sound of arcade games greets you. This is the Midway, with a plethora of choices — both new and old.

You’ll buy a game card from one of the machines, where you’ll purchase credits. The value for entertainment here is actually fantastic.

TYPES OF GAMES

While you’re at the Midway, you can also take a break from the games to indulge in the entertainment which, unsurprising for the theme, is very circus based. There are coin drop machines, skeeball, claw machines, and other more modern options.

However, if you’re feeling like you want to step back in time, there are old-fashioned carnival games available too, from balloon popping to water gun races and more. All of them will deliver tickets — which will eventually turn into prizes (more on that later).

ENTERTAINMENT – shows

You’re not going to be getting Cirque de Soleil level experiences, so you should temper your expectations. However, you will get a more classic version of the circus experience — clowns aplenty, and it’s totally free! You can’t beat that price. Plus there’s a place to sit and watch while the activity of the midway happens all around you.

Prizes

The best part of gaming at the Midway is the value. When you’re at a casino, you’ll have the chance to get money back. There’s also a very high chance of spending a lot of money only for a little entertainment. At the Circus Circus Midway, not only will you get the thrill of the games for a relatively cheap value to the duration of your play, but you’ll also be receiving tickets that you can redeem for prizes.

This is the part where the value proposition really comes into play. I spent about $40 USD in tickets to play for about two hours. The prizes my tickets were able to generate gave me about $60 USD in prizes (between stuffed plushies, toys, and other items). We quickly checked online to price compare and discovered that we got our money’s worth and then some.

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Are you headed to Vegas with kids? Maybe you want a cheaper option for entertainment for a few hours. Maybe you just really love arcades. No matter your situation, I guarantee there’ll be something at Circus Circus Midway to entertain you. Yes, it might be a little dated and it’s not exactly state-of-the-art, but that’s a little bit of the charm you’ll experience. Plus, if you’re looking for more adult entertainment, the good news is that the rest of Las Vegas is definitely ready to deliver.