Arcade-goers will soon be able to bet on games at Dave & Buster’s
Soon, gamers will be able to place real-time bets with friends on arcade games at Dave & Buster’s.
“That’s not a good idea at all,” said Daniela Friel.
Friel came to Dave & Buster’s Wednesday with her 12-year-old grandson.
“It’s cool that it’s in here but I think it should be in a different section,” Cassius Rao said.
“I think it shouldn’t be in this place,” Friel said. “They have special places for you to go. And there’s so many apps on phones. So let them have that.”
Kids and other players won’t necessarily see it happening because this new gaming platform will also be in an app, the Dave & Buster’s app. Dave & Buster’s is partnering with a gamification technology company called Lucra. It’s supplying the software that lets loyalty members, who are at least 18 years old, make small bets. Players will be able to make $5-10 wagers on different games such as skee ball and the hot shots basketball game.
“That’ll grow. $5-$10 for a start but that’ll grow,” Tim Haberman said. “Then you’ll have a Dave & Buster’s online casino. It’ll just keep going.”
Players wager against each other. Not the company. It’s called social betting.
“Well, it’s happening everywhere,” Haberman said.
In 2023, the American sports betting industry posted a record $10.92 billion in revenue. That’s according to the American Gaming Association’s annual report. And social betting is quickly growing as well.
Several companies have emerged hoping to capitalize on the popularity of gambling by capturing the under-21 crowd.
“Pennsylvania is swallowed up with gambling, online gambling,” Haberman said. “All that stuff. So, it’s going to happen.”
Dave & Buster’s hasn’t said specifically when the bets can start, other than in it’ll happen in the coming months.
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