Scott Olson
Great news for degenerates! Soon, you can bet real money against your friends playing Skee-Ball at Dave & Buster's.
The adult entertainment (the wholesome kind) chain just announced a partnership with Lucra, a company that makes "white-label gamification software" to create gambling betting wagers cash-based competition on certain arcade games when you visit the restaurant.
The experience is 18+ and in the Dave & Buster's app — (It hasn't launched yet, so don't get up from your slot machines and run over there today) — and will allow friends to place $5 bets against each other on games like Skee-Ball, Hot Shots basketball, and other games.
According to CNBC, this won't be regulated like real gambling:
Lucra says its skills-based games are not subject to the same licenses and regulations gambling operators face with games of chance. Lucra is careful not to use the term "bet" or "wager" to describe its games. "We use real-money contests or challenges," Madding said.
Lucra has also created apps for people to play each other for money in real-life pickleball.
The details of how the Skee-Ball betting will work are not totally clear yet, but it sounds like you'll be betting against your friends, not the house — if you lose, your buddy gets your $5, not Dave & Buster's, which didn't immediately respond to my request for comment.
Over on the Dave & Buster's subreddit, hardcore fans are somewhat confused. "I don't get it. 'Hey man, bet you $5, I can beat you at shooting hoops.' 'Ok, but put it in the app so that D&B can take a cut.'" wrote one person.
