Music & Games
Photo: Baharlou — stock.adobe.com
May 7, 2025
Illinois State Senator Bill Cunningham is advancing legislation, HB 2724, aimed at prohibiting sports betting at entertainment venues like Dave & Buster’s, according to an LSR report.
The bill, which has passed the Senate Executive Committee, seeks to prevent arcades from offering real-money wagering on games, a practice Dave & Buster’s recently announced plans for.
«Arcades marketing as family fun shouldn’t be in the business of exposing minors to gambling,» Cunningham told the news outlet.
This effort follows a similar bill last year that did not pass. While Dave & Buster’s argues its offering involves games of skill, Illinois lawmakers are concerned about the potential for exposing minors to gambling within family-friendly environments. Illinois launched sports betting in March 2020 and has since become a significant market.