Governor Bill Walker has signed Senate Bill 157 into law, legislation which clarifies that restaurants featuring arcade-style games, like the franchise Dave & Buster’s, may lawfully operate in Alaska.
In recent years, businesses like Dave & Buster’s have shown interest in expanding to Alaska’s market however the state’s gambling laws were unclear.
Senator Lesil McGuire sponsored SB 157 to diversify Alaska’s economy and provide greater certainty for those types of investors by defining that they are not incorporated into the gambling definition.
The Dallas-based company Dave & Buster’s is planning a 44,000 square-foot location on the top level of the Dimond Center in Anchorage.
Developers for the company say the chain’s construction would create approximately 200 construction jobs and it would need 160 full-time Alaskan employees when it opens.
Governor Walker applauded Senator McGuire’s efforts to put more Alaskans to work by diversifying the economy.
