If you’re struggling with gambling, please don’t hesitate to call the national gambling hotline at 1-800-GAMBLER or take steps to find a counselor near you.

In a definite sign of the economic decline of the United States, the kiddie and adult arcade establishment; Dave and Busters, is testing out video game gambling.

Betting on Skee Ball

Picture it…you’ve taken your 8 year old and her gaggle of friends out for a party at Dave and Busters. After scarfing pizza and cake, passing around gift bags and balloons, you catch a crowd assembling in your periphery at the Skee Ball lanes. A gaggle of dudes are cheering as they witness some of their cadre ante up on who wins the next round.

If you’re wondering how Dave and Busters has transformed itself from the boozy, but near-innocent and fun arcade you’d hang out at after a week of exams, to a full blown casino, you’re among friends.

After toying around with regular, old ticketed redemption games for years, D&B is letting players place bets using the Dave and Buster’s app. Dave and Buster’s is adding a “gamification layer,” on top of its games (huh?). Players can bet against each other, or themselves to win real money.

Dave and Busters, nor their gamification partner; Lucra Games, is responding to comment from the media. Betting on games is nothing new. Slot machines have been around forever. Casinos are loaded with tons of regulated betting machines resembling video games. What’s different however, is introducing kids to an already addictive platform.

Not a Huge Leap to Shrimp Mania

The latest casino games are essentially video games. Anyone who has seen the onslaught of betting apps on TV understands the ills accompanying gambling. Why are we introducing the concept everywhere we go?

Dave and Buster’s are able to skirt existing gambling/gaming laws because video games are considered games of skill, and not chance.

This just feels sleazy. Regardless of how classy MGM Grand or the Bellagio is, we’re still talking about vice. And D&B hasn’t exactly been above board when it comes to having a certain element. Call me a nimby, old and crotchety, or an old head, but sometimes a girl just wants to bring her kids to an arcade and play some games without the added vice element.

-MJ