Beyond Sportsbooks: Even Dave & Buster’s Is Getting In On The Gambling Trend

It wasn’t that long ago that most folks had to travel to Vegas or Atlantic City in order to place bets, but the past few years have seen a massive spike in the number of states allowing gambling of some form.

The most popular version involves sportsbooks like FanDuel and DraftKings, but a growing number of companies tangentially related to the world of competitive gaming are eager to dip their toes in the water — and that even includes the restaurant/arcade chain Dave & Buster’s.

What’s in the app?

While Dave & Buster’s serves a more grown-up clientele than Chuck E. Cheese, it was still somewhat surprising for many fans to learn that they would soon be able to place bets on the outcome of some of the games offered at locations across the country.

According to reports, the company has partnered with a software company called Lucra to provide new betting features in its existing app … but it’s worth noting that they’ll be reserved to users over the age of 18 and only available in 44 states where such activity is legal.

Lucra explained that “loyalty members” will be able to “digitally compete with each other, earn rewards, and unlock exclusive perks” for an experience that combines “the sports arena and the arcade for an unparalleled, gamified experience.”

Some questions remain

Although Lucra touted its objective to maintain a “safe and trustworthy” environment for those who choose to participate, Dave & Buster’s didn’t immediately address concerns about children accessing some of these 18+ features.

There are already mounting fears about whether the nationwide embrace of gaming will have long-lasting negative consequences, but Dave & Buster’s exec Simon Murray was nevertheless enthusiastic about the chance to offer a “real-time, unrivaled gaming experience” and “elevate our customer experience through innovative, cutting-edge technology.”

Chris Agee May 1st, 2024

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