In a move that could have significant repercussions for the intersection of gaming and gambling, Illinois Representative Dan Didech, chairman of the House Gaming Committee, has taken a firm stance against the prospect of betting in family amusement centers. On May 2, Didech introduced “The Family Wagering Prohibition Act,” a piece of legislation designed to put a halt to wagering in establishments such as Dave & Buster’s. More than just preventing these locations from “facilitating” wagers on their games, the bill also seeks to curb the advertising of such activities.
The proposed act is currently with the Rule Committee, though it has yet to be scheduled for a hearing. Despite the session deadline for bill introductions in the Illinois house being February 9 and the crossover deadline April 19, the legislative body has the flexibility to make exceptions under certain circumstances, which could include the unique situation presented by this proposed law.
With 36 co-sponsors already rallying behind the bill, Didech is, as of now, the solitary legislator to have responded to the announcement by Dave & Buster’s to host betting through legal action. However, the situation is being closely monitored elsewhere; state regulators in both Ohio and Pennsylvania are scrutinizing the issue rigorously. PlayPennsylvania reported that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is taking active steps to educate itself regarding Dave & Buster’s intentions.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission has expressed “serious concerns,” indicating to Legal Sports Report (LSR) that Dave & Buster’s plan to allow customers to wager on arcade games “appears to violate Ohio law.” In pursuit of clarity and details, the Commission has initiated communications with Dave & Buster’s. Along with Massachusetts, Ohio stands as one of the states with stringent regulations concerning gambling, its advertising, and the involvement of minors.
Dave & Buster’s, with 140 locations distributed across 42 US states, as well as Puerto Rico and Canada, operates five venues in Illinois, six in Ohio, and eight in Pennsylvania. Since the company’s inception in Dallas back in 1982, it has experienced significant expansion, particularly in Texas with 15 locations and California with the most at 22.
The company’s ambitious plan includes allowing its loyalty members aged 18 and above to place bets against one another using the Dave & Buster’s app. This would create a peer-to-peer betting environment where real money could be wagered on games such as Skee-ball, Connect 4 Hoops, billiards, and an assortment of video and arcade games.
To make this offering a reality, Dave & Buster’s has collaborated with gamification software company Lucra for the app’s creation. Capping the betting amounts is part of the plan to maintain responsibility in wagering, a detail CNBC disclosed when they first reported on the partnership. The rationale behind the collaboration follows the premise set out by Lucra that skill-based games are not subject to the same regulations as traditional wagering or casino gambling.
Lucra’s CEO, Dylan Robbins, shared with CNBC that their mission is to “amplify” and “digitize” the experience of social sports and gaming situations. While innovation is at the heart of Lucra’s ambitions, Illinois’ Didech is unconvinced by the distinctions being made between different types of gaming and remains opposed to any form of unregulated gambling within family-friendly venues.
Didech didn’t mince words when expressing his viewpoint, as reported by Sports Handle: “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.”
As lawmakers, regulators, and businesses navigate the complex web of gambling laws and the evolving landscape of digital gaming, the outcome of this bill and actions in other states could redefine how entertainment venues integrate betting into their experiences, particularly with the added element of protecting families and minors in what has traditionally been a non-gambling environment.
