Gambling on Video Games Possible? You Betcha!

It was bound to happen at some point, and the last few years have been that point. I’m talking about legalized gambling. You can hardly watch or listen to anything these days without being enticed to put some money on something. 

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You can bet on so many things from the color of the Gatorade for the winning team at the Super Bowl to how many penalties will be called during a game.  

So, knowing all that information, I guess this was inevitable as well. Betting on Video Game Play.  

Restaurant & Entertainment chain, “Dave & Busters” has announced they will soon allow gambling on the games played in their facility on their app.  

For those who have never been to a Dave & Busters, each location features a full restaurant and bar along with a full gaming arcade. Dave & Buster’s refers to their arcades as “The Million Dollar Midway”. 

The move could be in trouble before it ever gets off the ground, at least in Illinois. A democratic state senator there is trying to “nip this in the bud” because he says that venues like Dave & Busters do not have the proper safeguards in place. 

The opposition to betting on video games says that there’s no way to make sure placing wagers on video games can be done safely and responsibly. The bill to make this illegal has support in Illinois from both parties.  

Another reason some people do not support this move is that places like Dave & Buster’s target families, and the opponents feel this could alter the environment and make it less appealing to families with young children.  

The company that makes the software that will allow betting on the Dave & Buster’s app has said that most of the wagers placed across their software platform is around ten dollars.  

I’m not sure how soon this could become a reality, but it’s likely there will be a lot of people wanting to let their voice be heard on the matter before it’s all said and done, which never allows things to move quickly.  

There are two locations of Dave and Buster's in Minnesota, in Edina and Maple Grove.