I personally chose to live my life by one motto: “There are no laws when you’re dropping claws.”
I have spent countless hours by the shopping carts at various grocery stores, endlessly pumping dollars into the mechanical abyss and loosely grasping at the object of my child’s desire, only to watch disappointment wash over her face as it plummets from the clumsy talons of a rigged claw. Frantically shaking barely functioning machines to tip the odds in my favor has become a common and desperate practice. When I heard about a claw arcade in Las Vegas, I was hesitant to be enthusiastic and not very sure about going. However, my kid really wanted to go, so we piled into the car and headed over there.
Located just outside of Chinatown, at 5850 W Flamingo Rd, Suite #42, Las Vegas, NV 89013, is a hidden gem disguised as a hole in the wall. What lies beyond the nondescript doors and nonchalant exterior of the building is a jaw dropping, claw plopping good time for people of all ages.
When you first enter, you are greeted by friendly staff and a massive wall of plushies. The soft violet neon glow of the claw machines permeates the room as people stuff plushies into giant purple plastic bags, going from machine to machine, and letting out cheers or cries as they test their skills. This is a place where magic happens. A place where both dreams come true, and empires fall. This is THE CLAW!
The claw machines are all coin operated and feature plushies from an assortment of anime, 90s cartoons, and modern pop culture. They are newer machines, well maintained, clean and offer much better chances of success than your local Smiths. You can get tokens to play the machines in a range of quantity and prices. We started off with 23 tokens for 20 dollars, but quickly found ourselves running low on ammo, and purchased another 38 tokens. However, the more you buy at once, then the better deal you will get.
While the machines are much better quality than I am used to, they are still a gamble, require a good eye and a steady hand. However, everyone in the family was able to win and walk away with something. For all our money, effort, and skill, we concluded our Las Vegas claw excursion with 4 plushies and a keychain. Everyone had an exciting time, wanted to stay longer, and loved the things they won. I highly recommend this place for anyone who casually hears the calling of the claw. Spare yourself the frustration of dirty, unkempt, and rigged Walmart machines and treat yourself to a great time!
I never played with the claw