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Dave & Buster's adding a betting function to its arcade games is just the latest sign society is cooked

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For The Win (usatoday.com) 

Dave & Buster’s used to be a place where family and friends could gather for fun and games with a little meal and beverage on the side. In the coming months, a change to the company’s app might just turn the arcades into something closer to a casino or sportsbook.

In a move absolutely nobody asked for, Dave & Buster’s is introducing a betting component to its app that will allow loyalty members of at least 18 years old to place real money bets on games at its more than 222 venues across North America, according to CNBC. Whether it’s Hot Shots basketball, Skee-Ball or some other game, Dave & Buster’s wants to up the ante on competition. And because these games are skill-based, D&B isn’t subject to the same regulations as gambling operators.

We are so doomed, aren’t we?

Full disclosure, I’m one of FTW’s betting writers. This isn’t some holier-than-thou rant. I’m pro gambling, as long as it’s done safely. But Dave & Buster’s as a bookie?! Have we no shame? Even I have to draw a line somewhere, and this is it for me. Is the ratio of adults over 18 there even enough to make this profitable? Especially considering, ya know, people could always bet at Dave & Buster’s if they really wanted to. Why would anyone sign up to give D&B a piece of that profit?

Though the company’s stock is up 50% over the past year, this just screams desperation to me, scraping the bottom of the barrel for every nickel and dime. Or maybe even a sign of where things are headed next for Dave & Buster’s — are actual slot machines on the way? Just sit them right there next to the air hockey tables.

Aside from jokes about hustling kids, the internet reaction was less than thrilled.

A sign of the times

Beef up the security

You could always gamble at D&B