Excalibur Las Vegas Reviewed for 2025

Excalibur resort in Las Vegas has one of the most distinct and extravagant exteriors of any resort in the world – themed on a medieval castle.

Compared to the sleek, high-tech modern resorts of the current day, themed hotels such as Excalibur can be seen as a little bit kitsch or tacky in the modern world. Nevertheless, Excalibur is still an impressive spectacle on the Las Vegas Strip, particularly when lit up at night.

Offering budget-friendly and family-friendly accommodation, plus a good-sized casino and a range of eateries and attractions, Excalibur is still highly popular with Vegas visitors. 

With that in mind, I went along to find out exactly what this resort has to offer, and let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to stay the night in a medieval castle?

Excalibur opened on June 19, 1990, on the south side of the Las Vegas Strip. 

At the time, the Strip was a mixture of themed and non-themed resorts. Caesars Palace and Circus Circus were heavily themed, Flamingo too, to an extent, but Harrah’s and Bally’s (now Horseshoe) were relatively unremarkable in design. 

However, the Strip’s first mega-resort, The Mirage, had just opened in 1989 signalling a new chapter in Las Vegas architecture and style.

Excalibur continued this trend, and it led to a decade of spectacular builds along the Las Vegas Strip including Luxor, Treasure Island, MGM Grand, New York-New York, Bellagio, Venetian and Paris to name just a few. 

When Circus Circus Enterprises secured the land, they came up with the idea of a medieval castle theme but held a worldwide contest to find the name. From 180,000 entries, ‘Excalibur’ won, named after King Arthur’s mythical sword.

Designers visited castles throughout Europe with the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany providing the biggest inspiration. To avoid Excalibur bearing any resemblance to a Disney castle, trademark experts were hired in the design process.

The final design of Excalibur included stone turrets with varying coloured points, a drawbridge, and a moat. I remember the first time I saw Excalibur and I absolutely loved its whimsical appearance. It looked like something out of a fairytale or a movie and I still love it to this day.

Quite a lot has changed at Excalibur since it first opened to current day. Firstly, it used to be just as heavily themed indoors as is it outdoors. The rooms themselves used to feature medieval theming with exposed brickwork, artwork and artefacts. A remodelling of the hotel in 2006 saw this removed and the room design made more neutral.

Secondly, just a few years after opening, Excalibur opened a Dragon Show within its moat, which featured Merlin the wizard battling a three-story tall animatronic dragon. 

Shows were hourly and used to attract a large crowd much the same as the Mirage volcano show. The Dragon show stopped in 2003, and the moat has now been paved over unfortunately, although you can see Merlin’s little house still. 

However, many of the resort’s theming and features are still intact, and can be enjoyed by visitors today. These include walking across the drawbridge on entrance, stained glass windows, and lots of intricate medieval architecture including battements, exposed brickwork and circular turrets throughout the casino. 

I’m a bit of a sucker for a themed resort, if I’m being honest. I love a casino that stands out and distinguishes itself from all the others. I do find Excalibur casino to be a little dark overall, but it perfectly fits the theme, so it just adds to the character.

Location 

Excalibur is located at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, on the Tropicana – Las Boulevard Intersection.

It is diagonally opposite is MGM Grand, while New York-New York and Luxor are positioned either side of Excalibur. 

Excalibur has close links with all its neighbouring resorts. It is connected by a free daily tram to Luxor and Mandalay Bay as well as internal and external walkways. Plus, it is connected by pedestrian bridge to New York-New York which in turn is connected to MGM Grand by another bridge.

To travel further along the Las Vegas Strip from Excalibur, you have several options. Firstly, the Deuce bus stops right outside offering cheap travel all the way down the Strip and onto Downtown Las Vegas and Fremont Street. 

Secondly, you can take upper walkways to MGM Grand to catch the Las Vegas monorail, which will take you all the way down the east side of the Strip. This costs $5.50 for a single ride, but you can buy daily or weekly passes up to $57.50 and it has stops at Paris, Flamingo/Caesars Palace, LINQ, all the way to Sahara. 

If you don’t mind walking, then Excalibur is just five minutes’ walk to Park MGM, which is connected to Aria by an internal walkway. There is also the free Aria Express tram which runs between Park MGM, Aria, Vdara and Bellagio. 

Excalibur is well positioned for both the T-Mobile Arena and the Allegiant Stadium for big sports and music events. You can walk to T-Mobile Arena in just a few minutes and Allegiant Stadium is around a 20-minute walk, or you can take the tram to Mandalay Bay to get closer.  

If you are travelling to Excalibur from the airport, then it falls within Zone 1 of the fixed rate taxi fee from Harry Reid International Airport. So, expect to pay a flat fee of $22 plus tip.

If you’re arriving by car, you’ll find plenty of car parking on site which costs between $18 - $23 per night depending on which night you stay. 

Excalibur casino is just over 92,000 square feet, making it similar in size to that of the Paris casino and slightly smaller than Cosmopolitan. The rectangle shape has a centre bar in the middle, the hotel reception to one side and then some bars and restaurants around the outside.

The casino does incorporate the medieval theming well. Sitting playing at the slots, I could see various themed architecture around me, such as turrets, brickwork, and battlements. Throughout the casino, there are replica stained-glass windows, chandelier lighting, coloured banners and even some suits of armour. 

The casino always seems busy, no matter what time of the day or night you go. There’s a lively atmosphere with music coming from several bars on the ground floor, and upstairs there’s more bars, shows and restaurants.

Table Games Selection

There are around 80 live table games at Excalibur offering all the most popular games – blackjack, roulette, and craps plus some poker pit games. The games pit surrounds the centre bar in the middle of the casino.

Table minimums start from $10/$15 which is one of the lowest on the Strip, although this can increase on evenings and weekends.

The lower paying blackjack tables pay 6:5 but I did see 3:2 blackjack available with a $25 minimum. I could only see double zero and triple zero roulette, no single zero games.

I played blackjack for a while and you could tell the table and chairs were well used, with a few marks and scratches here and there. But the dealer was friendly and I had some luck, which is always a good thing.

Classic table games:

• Blackjack
• Roulette
• Craps 

Variants: 

• Pai Gow Poker
• 3 Card Poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em
• Crapless Craps
• Free Bet Blackjack

There is no poker room at Excalibur but both Mandalay Bay and MGM Grand have poker rooms that are close-by.

Excalibur also has a stadium electronic gaming area with blackjack, crapless craps and roulette with minimum bets from $3 - $5.

Slots

There are over 1,200 slots at Excalibur sprawled across the full casino floor, including some old-style retro games and penny slots. Modern video slots take up most of the space, though, as you’d expect.

The Excalibur casino can be quite dark, and this is due to the theming, the low casino ceiling and the fact that there isn’t really any natural light coming in. It can also be a little confusing and hard to navigate for this reason. But the big centre bar does help to get your bearings.

Some of the most popular slot games available at Excalibur include: 

• Wheel of Fortune
• Huff n More Puff
• Dragon Link
• Planet Moolah
• Dancing Drums
• Lightning Link
• Wonder 4 Tall Fortunes

I have always enjoyed playing slots at Excalibur, it has a really relaxed and informal gaming atmosphere. It is always very busy though and many of the slots are located along main walkways which can be full of hotel guests and people to-ing and fro-ing, so just be aware of that. If you prefer a little more privacy when playing at the slots, you might want to go in the high limit lounge or pick a quieter area.

I’ve had some luck on Huff n’ More Puff and Dragon Link in Excalibur, even hitting two jackpot handpays in one visit. 

For players looking to hit a huge lifechanging jackpot, you can play Megabucks Triple Red Hot Sevens. A lucky player became an instant millionaire in 2024 by winning $12,185,766 at Excalibur.

Bar-Top Gaming

Bar-top gaming is available in at least four bars at Excalibur. The newly renovated Center Bar, Lobby Bar, Sportsbook Bar and Sherwood Bar all have bar-top games you can play while you enjoy a drink.

Just pull up a chair, put some money in the game and you can usually choose between video poker, blackjack or a few select slot games.

The good news for players is that you can receive complimentary drinks while you play on bar-top games. Each bar has a system in place to determine how regularly you will be offered drinks. Just enjoy playing and your server will offer you a drink when you’ve met the criteria. Always remember to leave a tip.

Excalibur Sportsbook

You can watch sports and place bets at the Bet MGM sportsbook in Excalibur. It isn’t as big or as impressive as some other sportsbooks on the Strip, but it is pleasant enough.

You’ll find a wall of TV screens, two bigger plasma screens, some soft casual seating and some high-top chairs too. A sportsbook bar is also available so you can sit at the bar and watch the screens while enjoying a drink. 

The sportsbook is situated right on the casino floor and you can bet on a range of sports including pro and college football, pro and college basketball, soccer, MMA and boxing to name a few.

Waitress Service 

If you’re gambling in a Las Vegas casino you should get offered complimentary drinks while you do. However, the service does vary depending on the casino.

I have found mixed waitress service at Excalibur on my visits there. Some nights the drinks service has been frequent and reliable, while other times I have not been offered a drink at all. 

Obviously, this is dependent on a number of things, such as how busy the casino is, how many staff are on site and also where you’re located within the casino. Often if you’re in a quiet corner, you can be easily missed by the servers.

My top tips for getting good waitress service are to sit in a busy location or close to where the waitresses enter the casino floor, ask nicely for drinks and tip well when you get them.

Complimentary drinks on offer include beers, wines, spirits, cocktails, water and soft drinks. If you’re not sure what to ask for, just ask your waitress what they serve. At Excalibur, the drinks tend to come quite basic, so don’t expect fancy glasses and fruit in your cocktails like you can get at some of the higher end resorts. 

High Limit Gaming at Excalibur Casino 

There is a high-limit slots area at Excalibur, but not a high-limit table games salon.

With around 20 slot games, the high-limit area is small, but it provides a more refined gaming experience. You’ll find high denomination games of some of the most popular slots such as Dragon Cash and Huff n’ More Puff as well as lots of three-reel games too.

If you’ve never tried a high-limit gaming area then I’d always recommend giving it a go. It’s usually quieter and often has a more dedicated waitress service. 

Many people believe they are for high rollers only, but actually you can usually spin from $5 a press, so if this is within your range, then why not try it out?

Cash and Payment Options 

Cash is needed on the casino floor when gambling. You cannot yet gamble at Excalibur with card payments.

If you don’t have cash, then ATM’s are provided but they do generally have inflated withdrawal fees, so it’s always worth bringing cash with you. 

If you’re gambling at the slots, you will begin by putting money directly into the game. However, when it pays out it comes out in a voucher rather than cash. That voucher is known as a TITO (Ticket In, Ticket Out) and is the equivalent of cash on the casino floor.

If you want to continue playing slots you just insert the voucher into another game. Alternatively, if you want to cash out, then you can do so at one of the redemption machines positioned around the casino.

If you’re a table games player, then you will buy-in with the dealer at the table, who will exchange your cash for chips. When you’ve finished playing, you exchange your chips for cash at the cashier cage.

When first built, Excalibur had 4032 rooms, which made it the largest hotel in the world at the time. However, it was overtaken by MGM Grand just three years later which had over 5,000 rooms.    

Today, Excalibur has around 3980 rooms over two towers, the Resort Tower and the Royal Tower. There isn’t a lot of difference between the two towers in terms of the basic rooms, but the Royal Tower has undergone a more recent renovation at the time of writing.

If you want to bring your four-legged friend with you to Las Vegas, then Excalibur does provide some dog-friendly rooms for an additional charge of $50 per night, per dog plus tax.

Excalibur Rooms

All basic rooms at Excalibur are around 352 square feet, or can you stay in a Superior Room which is slightly bigger at 372 square feet. Strip View rooms and Stay Well rooms are also available if you’d like a slight upgrade.

For a little more luxury, Suites are also available with separate bedrooms, a living area and added amenities.

I booked a Resort Strip View King room and found the room to be very basic. The décor was plain, with cream walls, dark furniture and a dark patterned carpet.

There was a large set of drawers with the TV on top, a table and two chairs, wardrobe and a bedside table. The bathroom was medium sized with one sink and a shower, with no bathtub. Amenities included hairdryer, iron/ironing board, TV and in-room safe.

Probably the most disappointing part of the room was the view, because although it was spectacular, I couldn’t really see it past the dirty windows. Unfortunately, it looked like the windows hadn’t been cleaned in a long time so it was difficult to enjoy the view that I’d paid for.

Overall, I would say you get what you pay for at Excalibur. There’s a reason it is so affordable and that’s because it offers value accommodation. I’m not someone who spends a lot of time in my hotel room, (why would I when there’s so much fun to be had in the casino?), so I found the room to be acceptable if you just want a place to sleep and shower. However, if you do want something a little more luxurious, then I’d look at upgrading to a higher or mid-end property. 

Bars 

Excalibur has a variety of bars, most of which are casual, but there’s a couple of cocktail bars too. Some of my favourites include:

• Center Bar – recently renovated lively bar in the centre of the casino   
• TAP Sports Bar – casual bar with pub food and big TV screens for sports
• Sherwood Bar – small casual bar ideal for a quick drink in between gaming 
• Lobby Bar – Chilled bar in between lobby and casino with good cocktails 

If you’re looking for more up-scale nighttime bars then the Lounge is right on the casino floor and has regular live music and karaoke nights too. Meanwhile, upstairs, the Thunder Bar is ideal for pre and post-show drinks and also has a resident DJ on weekends.

If you want a drink with some extra attitude, then you can try your luck at Dick’s Last Resort, which offers a unique service style. Just be prepared for some extra sass with your beverage!

Buffets and Restaurants

Excalibur has one of the remaining all-you-can-eat buffets on the Las Vegas Strip and it is located on the second floor above the casino.

The Buffet at Excalibur is open every day from 7am - 2pm for brunch and serves a range of cuisines from around the world. Prices range from $31.99 on weekdays to $37.99 on weekends. 

In terms of quality, Excalibur’s buffet can’t rival the likes of Bellagio, Wynn, Caesars Palace and Cosmopolitan. Nevertheless it provides a good value option at a good standard. 

Other dining options include Dicks Last Resort, which offers a unique eating experience with a side dish of insults, comedy and a rowdy atmosphere. Dick’s is known for bad customer service, deliberately, so be prepared when you go here. When I first visited, my server made us all hats with personalised derogatory statements on each one!  

TAP Sports Bar serves good old-fashioned fan favourites such as burgers, wings, and sandwiches while showing all the biggest and best sporting events on TV’s and big screens. 

Buca di Beppo is an Italian restaurant serving family-size portions of traditional Italian dishes in a lively atmosphere. Meanwhile Drenched Bar & Grill offers food and drinks on the poolside around Excalibur’s pool.

More casual dining options include fast-food style Johnny Rockets, just off the casino floor, Baha Fresh Mexican Grill, Starbucks, The Roasted Bean and an upstairs food court with Pizza Hut, Krispy Kreme, Fatburger and Cinnabon plus more. 

Shows and Entertainment 

The most on-theme attraction, which is a big hit with families, is Tournament of the Kings. This is a live-action dinner and entertainment show based on the tale of King Arthur featuring horses, riders and special effects. 

Visitors sit in the circular 900 seat theatre and cheer on their favourite knights while enjoying a traditional hearty meal.

Another family friendly show is the Mac King Comedy Magic show, which combines magic, comedy and some special furry friends, namely, his pet guinea pig Colonel Sanders. 

For kids old and young, the Fun Dungeon is Excalibur’s family arcade featuring over 200 games including carnival, arcade, sports games as well as virtual reality. 

The Australian Bee Gees have a resident show at Excalibur, showcasing all the biggest hits from the Gibb brothers. Plus, the very adult show Thunder from Down Under features male dancers showcasing just about everything they’ve got in a male revue show.

Excalibur has a lovely pool deck featuring three different pools, hot tubs and a family-friendly water slide for those hot Vegas days.

Excalibur Pool

The Excalibur pool deck is quite large at 30,000 square feet and features three main pool areas surrounded by rocks and lush landscapes.

There’s plenty of space for lounging around the pool with free day beds and because there’s three different areas, it is nicely spaced out too.

The big pool is ideal for swimming and has waterfalls and a water slide for children. Meanwhile the two other pools are medium sized and have pool-side hot tubs. If you want some poolside dining then Drenched Bar & Grill has some casual eating options such as sandwiches, fries and nachos. 

The Excalibur pool can get really busy in the summer with lots of families, so it’s not the most peaceful place to relax. However, it is a really nice spot, with lovely surroundings, so if you can find a quiet corner, it can be lovely.

If you want to ensure a little more poolside luxury then you can hire one of the private cabanas that are available around each of the pool areas. 

Spa

There is no spa at Excalibur. At the time of writing it is temporarily closed and has been for a while, easily long enough to suggest it is not coming back. 

However, if you’re are interested in some spa pampering, then you can find good spas at MGM Grand, Luxor and Mandalay Bay which are all just a few steps away.

As an MGM resort, Excalibur is part of the MGM Rewards program, which is one of the best in Las Vegas.

Because MGM operate multiple resorts in Las Vegas and across the US, the MGM Rewards Program goes across them all, giving plenty of opportunity to pick up and redeem points.

Registering as an MGM Rewards member is free and easy, just take along some photographic ID to any MGM resort and go to the rewards desk. You must be 21 or over though. 

After you’ve signed up, just present or use your card whenever you spend money in an MGM resort, whether gambling, paying for food and drink, shopping or booking attractions

Your membership card can be inserted into the slot machines directly, and if you play table games, just hand it to your dealer. 

All spend will earn you points that can be used to redeem against purchases, get you freeplay and help you climb the rewards tiers to get better rewards. The tier levels are as follows:

Sapphire (0 – 19,999 credits) – access to complimentary rooms

Pearl (20,000 tier credits) – as above with free self-parking and occasional complimentary concert tickets

Gold (75,000 tier credits) – as above with zero resort fees and free room upgrades (where available)

Platinum (200,000 tier credits) – as above with airline credit and priority lines

Noir (Invitation only) – as above with guaranteed restaurant reservations

Should you join MGM Rewards?

I’m a firm believer in joining rewards programs as it gives you a chance to earn some added perks for spending the same amount of money.

There is a temptation to spend more in order to climb the tiers, but this really isn’t a good idea and it isn’t necessary either.

Even on the lowest level (Sapphire) you can receive benefits such as complimentary rooms and slot freeplay. The trick is just to spend exactly the same and enjoy the benefits that come in return. 

In terms of points, you receive four tier credits for every dollar spent on rooms, food, drink and retail at MGM Rewards.

When gambling, points are awarded based on both how much money you stake and how much time you spend gambling. There’s an algorithm that works it all out, which can be a little bit of a mystery to most gamblers. But you can track your progress on the MGM app. 

Ultimately, in my opinion, it is worth joining MGM Rewards, as I like to get something back for my spending.

In my opinion, Excalibur offers a fun, attractive, good value, and well-located accommodation option on the Las Vegas Strip.

Let’s be clear, it’s not the biggest or best resort, but it also isn’t the smallest or the worst either. It’s very much in the middle in terms of price, standard, and service.

What it does have though, is a unique aesthetic and theme, a good casino with lots of game variety, a range of food and dining options, a large pool area and a mix of family friendly and adult entertainment.  For a value resort, it is a great all-rounder. 

The rooms are basic, but are clean and average sized, plus the location is ideal for easy access to lots of other Vegas casinos and resorts, as well as big event arenas too.

If you’re looking for a well-priced and well-placed resort from which to explore Las Vegas then you can’t really go wrong with Excalibur. As for the theme, why not just embrace it, its certainly different from everything else out there and I, for one, love it.