The scrutiny of Dave & Buster's plan to enable betting on arcade games is increasing.

• In the near future, Dave & Buster's will enable wagering on arcade games through its app.
• An Illinois lawmaker is proposing legislation to prohibit gambling at family entertainment venues due to the lack of proper safety measures.

Arcade chain plan to allow customer betting isn't winning over everyone.

On Tuesday, Lucra Sports declared that it was collaborating with Dave & Buster's to enable customers to place bets on their arcade games via the Dave & Buster's app.

But some lawmakers are calling foul.

On Thursday, Illinois State Rep. Daniel Didech, a Democrat from Buffalo Grove, introduced a bill that aims to prohibit family amusement establishments from facilitating wagering on amusement games. The bill also seeks to criminalize the activity by amending the Illinois Criminal Code. The bill has garnered bipartisan support and is backed by more than two dozen other state lawmakers.

Didech stated that it is not suitable for family-oriented arcades to allow uncontrolled gambling on their premises. These businesses lack the capacity to monitor gambling activities in a secure and responsible manner.

As chairman of the Illinois House Gaming Committee, Didech stated that he will be pushing for legislation this session to make it clear that such behavior is illegal under Illinois law.

CNBC reported that Didech expressed concerns about the idea of online gambling, including the lack of safeguards for problem gamblers and the potential exposure of young people to gambling. Despite Illinois' age requirement of 21 to gamble, Lucra's service is designed for individuals aged 18 and above.

Didech stated that none of the protections are present at Dave & Buster's locations, and they have not done their due diligence.

The Ohio gaming control board has also taken notice.

"The Ohio Casino Control Commission has expressed serious concerns about Dave & Buster's proposal, which may violate Ohio law on illegal prize facilitation for skill-based amusement machines. A spokesperson for the commission stated that they are reaching out to the company for more information."

Neither Lucra Sports nor Dave & Buster's responded to the opposition.

Since legalization, the sports betting industry has experienced significant growth, prompting companies to capitalize on the gambling trend. Dave & Buster's aims to provide customers with a unique form of entertainment, keeping them entertained for longer periods and encouraging them to spend more money.

Across its software platform, Lucra stated that the average size of most wagers is about $10. However, the company has not yet determined the maximum bet amount for Dave & Buster's.

According to Lucra, the arrangement with Dave & Buster's is not subject to the same gambling regulations or taxes as sportsbooks because peer-to-peer betting is considered skill-based. Additionally, Lucra has implemented responsible gaming policies, including options for self-exclusion and self-limiting on the platform.

Dave & Buster's may implement safeguards, and Brett Abarbanel, executive director of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, International Gaming Institute, is interested to see what those safeguards are.

Despite whether the activity is legally classified as "not gambling" or "gambling," it involves participants taking a risk on an uncertain outcome with something of value at stake. As such, consumer protection measures should be implemented, especially when the target audience is predominantly young players.

The article has been updated to show the correct day when Illinois State Rep. Daniel Didech filed his bill.