What really goes on at Vegas sex clubs? To find out, we talked to former kink educator and podcast host Gemini Stevens in a recent episode of the City Cast Las Vegas podcast. Here’s what we learned about the etiquette and why sex clubs are important to both visitors and locals.
What Is a Sex Club?
The definition of a sex club is just as broad as sex itself. Just as a pizzeria can serve pineapple on its pies or bake casseroles with sauce — no shade to Chicago-style pizza — each sex club can define its services as it pleases.
Most simply, a sex club is a place for consenting adults to participate in whatever level of intimacy they’d like, even if it’s just watching.
Nobody’s DTF, they just wanna watch.
Gemini Stevens, Former Kink Educator and Podcast Host
How Do Sex Clubs Work?
On the logistical side, some clubs offer ongoing memberships and others charge per visit. Unsurprisingly, single men tend to pay a premium, while couples get a “discount” and single women often get in for free. Clubs also tend to provide social lubricants like drinks, food, and live entertainment, as any good host would. Some establishments do allow you to bring your own alcohol, with the caveat that they will handle the serving to avoid overconsumption.
As far as what actually happens inside, that’s up to you! Logistically speaking, there are usually different areas for different activities, be that one-on-one interactions, threesomes, or group sex. You will sometimes find fully private rooms, but it’s not uncommon to encounter what’s called a “soft boundary” in the form of an open door with something like a small chain to communicate that someone is already partnered up.
Aside from social lubrication, clubs can also offer actual lubrication, condoms, dental dams, and other protection. You might even encounter a dungeon master — a person in charge of moving through the club to check that folks are respecting boundaries and having a good time.
Why Las Vegas Sex Clubs Matter
It’s worth mentioning that Nevada legalized brothels in the 1970s, despite the existence of sex work since the state’s mining days. As I alluded to earlier, the main distinction is that managing boundaries and safety is a tall task when sexual encounters are happening underground.
The fact of the matter is that sex is part of being human, and we all experience it in different ways. Holding space for people to gather and negotiate their desires with openness and consent at the forefront goes a long way towards building community and inclusivity.
Perhaps sex clubs are not for you, but keeping essential human desires in the shadows can create actual debauchery. And that’s the real sin.
Want to learn more about Vegas sex clubs? We spoke to former kink educator Gemini Stevens about the lore of the famed Green Door, what else you might encounter, and how some places are working to be more inclusive of sexuality and race.
