Dave & Busters is apparently just the start for technology company Lucra’s plans to bring a gambling component to bar and arcade games.
This week, Lucra announced another partnership, this time with TouchTunes Music Company. TouchTunes provides interactive music and entertainment platforms to bars and restaurants. The deal aims to combine that presence across the country with Lucra’s technology to enable those playing bar games like darts to challenge friends and strangers alike to real-money performance challenges.
“We’re thrilled to add Lucra’s gamification technology to the TouchTunes app, as we have a common belief in harnessing friendly competition and music to enable shared experiences that connect, energize, and inspire communities,” said Lucra CEO Dylan Robbins. “This partnership will allow millions more people to create memorable moments together by providing exciting new ways to compete with friends on the games we all love.”
The partnership will allow patrons to utilize the forthcoming FunWallet app later this year to wager credits or money on darts and games with friends and patrons at the same bar or even with patrons in another bar several states away.
“We know many of our members already love to make a friendly wager for cash or drinks when they play bar sports like darts or pool. Partnering with an innovative technology company like Lucra allows us to elevate the in-venue experience with more fun and easy ways for people to connect and compete,” added TouchTunes CEO Ross Honey. “Engaged patrons play more and stay longer at their favorite bar or restaurant. So, by adding this new capability to FunWallet seamlessly within our massively popular mobile app, we are not only bringing joy to consumers but also driving growth and value for our operator.”
When Lucra announced its partnership with Dave & Busters earlier this year, there was some backlash that an establishment where children are present would offer wagering. While the TouchTunes partnership is focused on bars and 21+ environments, questions remain about which states such a partnership will be available.
Many states allow for carveouts for skill games to operate without regulation, but the definition of gambling and skill games varies from state to state and could impact where this deal’s launch could take place.
