Dave & Busters Arcade Gambling Future Hits Snag as Lawmaker Tries to Stop It
‘I think there are some spaces and environments that are just not appropriate for gambling to be pushed on people, especially places where there are lots of children,’ says Illinois state Rep. Dan Didech following reports that the dining and entertainment chain Dave & Busters is looking to allow gambling on its arcade games.
“What they announced is just so inappropriate. In the past few years, gambling has expanded in a lot of ways that I think are good, but in the process become a much larger part of daily life for a lot of people,” the state rep added.
There are five Dave & Busters venues located in the state of Illinois.
Didech, who chairs the Illinois House Gaming Committee, filed HB5832, the Family Amusement Wagering Prohibition Act, just two days after the chain announced its plans.
The bill seeks to
- Prevent family amusement establishment venues from facilitating wagering on amusement games.
- Prevent said establishment from engaging in advertising that promotes wagering on amusement games.
“Gambling establishments are among the most strictly regulated businesses in Illinois. Everyone involved in the gambling industry in Illinois undergoes thorough background checks, is required to implement security protocols, can only offer games that are fair and safe for players, and must create a responsible environment to protect minors and problem gamblers. It is inappropriate for family-friendly arcades to facilitate unregulated gambling on their premises. These businesses simply do not have the ability to oversee gambling activity in a safe and responsible manner.
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Plan Raises Eyebrows
It didn't take long for one anti-gambling organization to sound the alarm bells, expressing concern over youth exposure to gambling. It wasn't exactly lost on us that Dave & Busters is more or less a step up from Chuck E. Cheese outlets.
“Unlicensed and unregulated gambling is associated with increased gambling problems in adults and youth,” Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, told MarketWatch. “We call on state gambling regulators to examine the legal justifications and gambling-addiction risks of ‘social’ gambling, especially in settings that cater to youth and families.”
Because Dave & Busters offers booze, company policy stipulates: “Persons under the age of 18 or 21 (varies by location) may only enter the premises with a guardian who is at least 25 years of age.” Some establishments even require those under the age of 21 to leave by 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
D&B, however, is a popular location for kids’ birthday parties. And because these arcade games are mostly popular with younger people, Whyte might be right.
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Raids of Arcade Betting Establishments Just Days Before D&B Announcement
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police filed some 800 plus charges in connection to illegal "fish arcades", arresting two individuals while around a half dozen others were being sought.
The object of these arcades is to feed money into the machine to buy "bullets" then shoot the fish as they swim across the screen. The bigger the fish, the more money you win. More expensive bullets purchased, the higher the payouts as well.
NC law enforcement considers these games to be gambling and illegal in a state that does have casinos.
Dave & Buster's appears to offer a game similar to the fish arcades.
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