So, today is not my son Adam’s 12th birthday, but we are celebrating it today. Yesterday, his middle school had its last day. Soon, his friends will be heading to various forms of summer camp. We decided that now was the time to take party-action.
We are going to Dave and Buster’s. Adam really likes this place, and as far as entertainment/game places go I enjoy it too. If you play ticket games, D&Bs offers much better prizes than Chuck E Cheese. Here’s the thing…
It is illegal for minors to gamble. We do not allow children to use money in a gaming atmosphere when one of the motivations for using that money is to have a chance at making more money. Spending money + playing a game + possibility of making more money = gambling. [On a similar note, when we take out the gaming part of this equation, we have: spending money + possibility of making more money = investing or in some cases a bad infomercial business scam].
BUT, we DO allow kids to spend money and play games with no possible financial reward. Spending money + playing a game + possibility of getting a $1.50 prize = entertainment. We often will use the argument that children should not be able to gamble, because they are not old enough to know the value of money; but what kind of message are we sending when we allow them to spend money—and you can spend a lot of money at D&Bs—with only the possibility of getting a cheap door prize? Hmmm, spending money for entertainment (and gambling is a form of entertainment) with possible financial gains = BAD; spending money for entertainment with no possible financial gains = GOOD. I smell a capitalist at work in this equation. Someone is making money off this cultural equation, and today, it’s not me.
All these thoughts aside, I am still willing to pay a pretty good price to see my son happy and having fun on his 12th birthday. The parent-child lesson on money can wait for another day. Today, we play games, win prizes, eat pie, open presents, and celebrate.
Posted by Frank Yamada at June 9, 2006 03:39 PMLeaving aside that you also pay money to play fantasy football in hopes of winning the right to display a little trophy for a year...
I do think you're leaving at least one element out of your equation: the possibility of financial loss. In gambling-type activities, there is really no control on this factor, whereas at D & Bs, there is (though, granted, you might question this when you get the check). This is why people with limited conception of the risks (kids, people with poor impulse control, etc.) are (nominally) forbidden from gambling. Also, Dave & Buster's is less likely to send thugs to break your thumbs than your average bookie.
Posted by: Matt at June 9, 2006 06:52 PM