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Back in May, Gambling911.com reported on how the popular sports bar entertainment chain Dave & Busters intended to begin offering gambling across its 158 locations with games that could include those similar to fish arcades.
Adults age 18 and older will be able to place real money wagers on arcade games with friends once the technology is implemented.
$5 wagers on a Hot Shots basketball game and Skee-Ball competitions in addition to other arcade games will be available in the coming months and via the company's app.
Dave and Buster’s is using technology by gamification software company Lucra.
Here's the catch: These fish arcades with real money action may not be legal, at least not in North Carolina, one of the states D&B operates in.
Illinois lawmakers were quick to blast the plan without hours of the news breaking.
‘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,’ Illinois state Rep. Dan Didech said.
He intended to introduce a bill that would prevent this type of gambling in family establishments.
“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.
“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.
Getting back to North Carolina, authorities there have aggressively gone after establishments offering the so-called fish arcades.
It all went down again Tuesday morning.
A CMPD SWAT Team was on the scene of a gambling investigation at a north Charlotte arcade.
Law enforcement agents including a CMPD Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) Team and Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Unit were present Tuesday around 8 a.m. at Shark Tank Arcade on Freedom Drive in north Charlotte.
Officials later confirmed that they carried out a warrant for an illegal fish arcade. Several firearms, a ‘significant amount of money’, and illicit gaming equipment were seized.
Imagine for a moment sitting with the little one's celebrating Timmy's 5th birthday only to have SWAT take down all the kids and other customers in a Dave & Buster's over fish arcade gambling. It could happen.
A more likely scenario is that Dave & Buster's won't move forward with their gambling plans.
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