New Illinois Bill Targets Dave & Buster’s In A Specific Way

The arcades aren't getting out of this one.

In Illinois, House Bill 2724 passed the state Senate this week, according to NBC Chicago, and it would have a direct impact on Dave & Buster's.

The bill would not allow Dave & Buster's customers to wager in the company's app. Last year, Dave & Buster's rolled out the option for customers to wager on games like Skee-Ball and Hot Shots Basketball in the company's app.

State Sen. Bill Cunningham describes it as "unregulated gambling" and that arcades shouldn't offer the option to wager on games. The bill also wouldn't allow other companies to offer similar games.

In Illinois, Dave & Buster's currently has 5 locations in the Chicago suburbs. It's on the Iowa side but remember, Davenport could be getting a Dave & Buster's. The company filed for a liquor application with the city in September 2024.

Cunningham said in a statement:

We have been extremely careful with how we regulate gambling in Illinois, whether that is on sports, table games or video poker. Arcades marketed as family fun shouldn’t be in the business of exposing minors to gambling.

Meanwhile, Lucra (the company who teamed with Dave & Buster's to introduce the technology) told CNN last year:

Friendly competition really is a big fuel for our economy... There’s so many ways that you can compete with friends and family, and I think gamifying that and digitizing all this offline stuff that’s happening is a massive opportunity

Illinois isn't the only state to raise it's eyebrows at Dave & Buster's app wagering. It's getting pushback from Ohio and Pennsylvania too, though no legislation about it has been passed in those states, but they pledged to look into the availability of betting on arcade games. Nevada flat rejected Dave & Buster's plan to allow wagering in it's establishments.