Illinois Lawmakers Push to Ban Betting on Arcade Games Amid Dave & Buster’s Plans
Illinois lawmakers are scrutinizing a new trend where arcades, particularly Dave & Buster’s, plan to incorporate betting into their gaming offerings. The move has sparked a legislative response aimed at prohibiting such activities, signaling the state’s commitment to regulating gambling strictly.
Legislative Response
The Illinois House of Representatives gaming committee has advanced legislation designed to prevent “facilitating wagering” on arcade games at entertainment venues.
This action was largely prompted by Dave & Buster’s announcement to introduce real money wagering on arcade games like Skee-ball, leveraging the growing legal sports betting market in the U.S.
Democratic Rep. Daniel Didech highlighted that the legislation was catalyzed by Dave & Buster’s intention to allow real money betting on arcade games.
While the proposed legislation does not explicitly name Dave & Buster’s, it is clear that the company is a primary target. Didech underscored the misalignment of arcade gambling with responsible gambling practices in Illinois, emphasizing the need for stringent regulations.
Legislative Measures Against Arcade Betting
Dave & Buster’s aims to integrate wagering into its arcade-style business, starting with games like Skee-ball. This would be a pioneering step in the arcade industry, introducing a real money-wagering element for the first time.
In response, Illinois lawmakers have introduced an amendment to House Bill 394, now known as the “Family Amusement Wagering Prohibition Act.”
This bill seeks to ban any form of arcade-style gambling, except for established games like Golden Tee and pool tournaments at local venues. The legislation passed unanimously in the House, reflecting broad support for maintaining strict gambling regulations.
Rep. Didech pointed out potential legal issues with Dave & Buster’s new app, which allowed users to place bets without proper age verification, bypassing Illinois’ legal gambling age of 21. This move is seen as circumventing stringent licensing requirements that other legal gambling operators must adhere to in Illinois.
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