Dave & Buster’s is adding a touch of gambling to its arcade games
Dave & Buster’s is adding a touch of gambling to its arcade games
Will letting customers wager on Skee-Ball and Hot Shots basketball games hurt the company’s family-friendly image?
BY Chris Morris
Does anyone know the over/under on Skee-Ball? Dave & Buster’s has introduced an upcoming feature that will let patrons wager on its arcade games via the company’s app. The gambling functionality is expected to start in the coming months and is being offered in conjunction with gamification software firm, Lucra.
“We’re thrilled to work with Lucra to bring this exciting new gaming platform to our customers,” said Simon Murray, SVP of entertainment and attractions at Dave & Buster’s, in a statement. “This new partnership gives our loyalty members real-time, unrivaled gaming experiences and reinforces our commitment to continuing to elevate our customer experience through innovative, cutting-edge technology.”
It’s a move that follows America’s growing love of gaming for real money—even ESPN has launched a betting platform, partnering last November with Penn Entertainment. But the move could threaten Dave & Buster’s reputation as a family-friendly destination.
The company currently has nearly 225 venues in North America, along with 5 million members of its loyalty program. Adults and children alike visit to play games, laser tag, and other activities. While the terms “bet” and “wager” were carefully excluded from the announcement, Lucra runs what it calls “real money contests,” which are essentially the same thing.
Because the bets are placed on skill-based games, rather than games of chance, Lucra does not face the same regulations as gambling operations. The company says it hopes “to destigmatize cash-based competition by evolving it into a fun, friendly, and social experience.”
To take part in a “real money contest” involving arcade games, you’ll have to be a member of the D&B’s loyalty program and at least 18 years old (19 in Nebraska and Alabama and 21 in Massachusetts and Iowa). Only 43 states allow the product, according to Lucra’s website.
Lucra also allows people to bet on Pickleball ratings and in tennis matches against each other.
The move allows Dave & Buster’s to get a cut of any wagers. But, if someone wanted to bet with a friend over who was better at Hot Shots basketball (something, mind you, that absolutely occurs already), why would they choose to make that wager through the app rather than in person?
It also raises concerns about the impacts of normalizing gambling in an area that is often populated by children. Dave & Buster’s is hardly alone there, though. Other venues, such as Chuck E. Cheese, might not have real money wagering but are filled with games of chance that resemble roulette wheels—giving young players a dopamine hit when they ‘win’ a large number of tickets they can exchange at the restaurant’s redemption counter.
The internet, as you would expect, had some hot take reactions to the news.
Dave & Buster’s stock has climbed 50% in the past year. Earlier this month, the company reported earnings that missed analyst projections on both earnings per share and revenue, though both figures were higher than they were the year prior.
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