Sex in Sin City is a very complex subject, but I was able to narrow it down to two classifications – it is either gratuitous or prostitution. The kind of sex and who to have it with are decisions that are contingent upon one simple attribute: timing. The demand for casual sex is consistent all day, but Craigslist’s personal ads section is busiest during “skag hours,” which is what a male sex worker call the hours between 2 am to 5 am (the time period when clubs close in Vegas). During “skag hour,” there is enough alcohol in the system to give even the shyest Vegas sex tourist the needed push to act on any desire.
For Vegas sex tourists, the question is not how, but what kind of sex to partake in. As described above, sex in Sin City encompasses a very broad spectrum of desires – from mild to wild, twosome to groups, etc. (See below picture) Vegas is the city that never sleeps, so access to the city’s very wide selection of sex activities is never a problem. For those willing to pay for sex, the case is even more so.
Gratuitous sex is obviously a lot less complicated and doesn’t warrant much explanation. Sex is the consequence of a decision made by consenting parties who are sexually attracted to one another. I explicitly wrote “parties” because sex in Sin City has many variations. Beyond one-on-one, sex could entail an act that involves two guys and a girl or two girls and a guy or three guys and a girl, etc.
In Sin City, the opportunities to meet someone for casual sex are available for those that are confident in enough to take them. Bars and clubs, casinos, restaurants, hotel lobbies, even hotel elevators are venues in Vegas where it is possible to meet someone the old-fashioned way – in person.
In more modern terms, looking for sex in general is as easy as downloading a dating/hook-up app or going online. Apps are instantaneous (no lengthy conversations needed), specific (it pins your location and shows you people that are also cruising within close proximity) and are usually created based on sexual preference. Websites that contain a personal ads section (such as Craigslist.com and Backpage.com) offer Vegas sex tourists access to a public listing of personal ads, which is as varied and unique as they come. Regardless of sexual orientation, the Vegas version of these websites is sure to pique a sex tourist’s interest because they offer the advantage of having a huge selection. Thus, making it possible to explore even the inner most desires.
If you didn’t already know, Craigslist is more than just selling and buying goods, etc. In Vegas, Craiglist’s personal ads section attracts a huge number of posts and gets updated frequently (every 15 minutes), making it possible for Mr. or Ms. Looking For Right Now to find exactly what they are looking for. The instruction is simple: pick the kind of sex you want, then post or respond to an ad.
However, looking for casual sexual encounter online can be a tricky affair because the very same websites contain ads by “pros” (sex workers) soliciting business. A sex worker’s ad is likely to contain the words “gifts,” “donations,” and/or “rose” which are codes for sex for sale.
Why the codes? Contrary to popular belief, prostitution is illegal in Nevada’s Clark County, which includes the city of Las Vegas under its jurisdiction. The misconception stems primarily from the fact that prostitution is legal in certain parts of Nevada and because the moniker “Sin City” implies that prostitution is part of the city’s “culture of sins.” This is simply not the case. One can gamble until all the money is gone. One can drink alcohol as much as he or she can tolerate. As long as such a person doesn’t drink and drive, the law is not broken. As well, one can partake in the use of drugs as long as the cops aren’t involved. The same applies to prostitution. It only becomes a legal matter if caught partaking in it.
Next up in the series: Las Vegas’ deepest and most shameful secret revealed.
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