Do You Win Prizes at Dave and Busters? The Ultimate Guide - 33rd Square (2024)

Dave & Buster‘s is one of the most popular adult arcade and entertainment chains, with over 140 locations across North America. The playful atmosphere and massive arcade selection attract adults looking for food, drinks, games, and of course, prizes!

Winning and redeeming prizes is a central part of the Dave & Busters experience. But how exactly does their ticket and prize system work? What kinds of prizes can you win? And how can you maximize your prize haul on your next visit?

As a Dave & Busters enthusiast and prize pro, I‘ve created this comprehensive guide to walk you through everything you need to know about winning amazing prizes. With the right strategies and a bit of skill, you‘ll be redeeming epic rewards in no time!

An Overview of the Tickets and Prizes System

The foundation of Dave & Busters prizes starts with tickets. Tickets are earned by playing the hundreds of redemption and arcade games located throughout every venue. This includes classics like Skee-Ball, crane games, sports simulators, shooters, driving games, and more.

• Most games will have designated ticket payout rates, with average earnings of 1 ticket per 3-4 chips/credits spent
• Skill and redemption games payout more tickets compared to sports or multiplayer games
• Higher scores, more difficult levels, and progressive jackpots payout bigger ticket hauls
• Once earned, tickets are automatically loaded onto your rechargeable Power Card

According to Dave & Busters, the average player will earn approximately 700-1000 tickets during a typical 90 minute visit. Of course, with skill and the right strategy, earning significantly more is possible!

All earned tickets are tracked on your Power Card and can be monitored in the mobile app or at Prize Check kiosks. Over time, you‘ll accumulate enough tickets to redeem for awesome prizes.

The Epic Prize Selection at the Winner‘s Circle

All tickets can be redeemed at the iconic Winner‘s Circle located inside every Dave & Buster‘s. This is their massive prize counter with options organized into different tiers based on ticket cost:

• Low Tier (5-100 tickets) – Small novelties like bouncy balls, temporary tattoos, candy, stickers
• Mid Tier (100-5,000 tickets) – Medium prizes like plush animals, sports memorabilia, tech accessories
• High Tier (5,000-50,000+ tickets) – Large prizes like gaming consoles, tablets, TVs, hoverboards

The specific selection varies by location, with new prizes rotated in frequently. I‘ve seen prizes like:

• Electronics – TVs, tablets, laptops, drones, VR sets
• Gaming – Consoles, controllers, headsets, games
• Tech – Headphones, speakers, charging devices
• Toys – Nerf guns, Lego sets, board games
• Apparel – Hats, sweatshirts, jerseys, sunglasses
• Housewares – Blankets, pillows, coffee mugs
• Candy – Huge selection of bulk sweets

I once redeemed a haul of over 200,000 tickets from a summer of strategic play for a brand new Xbox One X! It pays off to earn and save up tickets over multiple visits for the major prize possibilities.

Special Bonus Programs for More Ticket Opportunities

In addition to earning tickets through gameplay, Dave & Busters offers fun bonus programs with chances to win extra tickets.

The most popular is the Birthday Bonus which gifts 20,000 tickets ($20 value) during your birthday month. I like to put these birthday bonus tickets towards prizes like gaming headsets, Bluetooth speakers, or VR goggles.

Other special programs include:

• Double/Triple Ticket Events – Limited-time promotions that multiply ticket earnings
• Rewards Tiers – Achieve tiers like Gold for bonus play and tickets
• Contests/Sweepstakes – Like the Summer of Prizes with big ticket prizes
• Coupon Codes – Look for online codes that can add bonus tickets
• Recharge Bonuses – Reloading your card online sometimes comes with extra tickets

Taking advantage of these special offers and promotions can really add up over time for bigger rewards.

Pro Tips to Maximize Your Prize Winnings

While prizes involve an element of luck, skillful play and the right strategies can dramatically increase your ticket earnings. Here are some of my top pro tips:

• Stick to redemption games – Focus on Skee-Ball, basketball, etc. for reliably high payouts
• Master lucrative games – Learn and practice games with progressive jackpots
• Check replay values – Some games award more tickets for repeat plays
• Enjoy multiplayer – Playing in groups makes earning more fun
• Take breaks – Walk around to find hot machines paying out high
• Have fun – Don‘t just chase tickets – enjoy the play experience

I like to casually stroll the arcade scoping for games with elevated jackpots. And I always check the Winners Circle first to identify the prizes I want to save up for. Beginning with an end-goal in mind helps focus your effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you‘re new to Dave & Buster‘s prizes, here are answers to some of the most common questions:

How many tickets do you need for the best prizes?

• Major prizes like game consoles, high-end electronics, and bigger toys will cost tens of thousands of tickets. For example:
  • Xbox Series S – 35,000 tickets
  • 50" TV – 85,000 tickets
  • iPad Pro – 60,000 tickets

What can you get with a typical amount of tickets?

• With approximately 1,000 tickets (average per visit), prizes may include:
  • Medium plush animals
  • Sports balls
  • T-shirts or hats
  • Higher-end candy packs
  • Small electronics like Bluetooth speakers

Do prize tickets expire?

• Yes, tickets expire after 120 days of inactivity. However, rewards members get a 1 year expiration from the last visit.

Can you use tickets at any location?

• Yes, your ticket balance and Power Card work at all North American locations. But prize selections will vary.

Winning Progressive Jackpots

In addition to redeemable prize tickets, Dave & Busters also offers progressive jackpot games with escalating cash prizes.

These specialized games include Wheel of Fortune, Wizard of Oz, Lock It Link, Jackpot Stampede and more. The jackpot starts at a base value and climbs progressively higher as more players put money in. Some current examples:

• Wheel of Fortune – $347 jackpot
• Buffalo Diamond – $568 jackpot
• Lock It Link – $967 jackpot

At Dave & Busters, progressive jackpots typically start at $250 and can surpass $1,000+ before being won. Then, the prize resets and begins growing again. While winning requires some luck, the excitement comes from watching those jackpots climb higher!

Tips for Hitting Progressive Jackpots

Scoring one of those elusive Midway Jackpots involves skill and strategy. Here are tips to up your odds:

• Seek out games withalready elevated jackpots
• Play at busy times so more players drive faster growth
• Use maximum bets for access to bigger payouts
• Stay on a single game to improve probability
• Remain patient through near misses
• Have reasonable expectations – jackpots are still a bonus
• Enjoy the thrill of watching the jackpot climb

My advice is to walk the Midway section first to identify games with jackpots over $500 already. Plant yourself there and enjoy the excitement as you and other players contribute to growing the pot.

Game Specific Strategy for Maximizing Tickets

While a part of ticket earnings comes down to chance, strategy goes a long way. Here are tips to maximize tickets on popular games:

Skee-Ball

• Aim for the 100 & 50 holes – These offer the best ticket payouts
• Curve your roll to improve odds of landing in the narrow 100 slot
• Practice your swing to develop a smooth, controlled throw

Down the Clown

• Alternate side to side rapidly knocking down clowns as they pop up
• Aim for lit bonus clowns for bigger payouts
• Adopt a steady rhythm instead of random shots

Tailgate Toss

• Toss into the farthest holes for maximum ticket earnings
• Use a gentle underhand throw for the best accuracy
• Develop consistent swinging technique

2 Minute Drill

• Focus on technique over speed – Accuracy scores more points
• Aim for lit bonus targets for bigger payouts
• Adopt a steady shot rhythm for consistency

Quick Drop

• Time drops to hit lit scoring nodes – These award bonus jackpots
• Pay attention to patterns in the moving bars
• Remain focused – one missed drop can ruin your bonus

Practicing and analyzing games pays off in the long run with better skills and higher ticket earnings.

The Benefits of Dave & Busters Rewards Membership

Signing up for the free Dave & Buster‘s rewards program provides awesome benefits that can accelerate prize earnings.

As a rewards member, you‘ll gain access to:

• Exclusive bonus ticket offers – Limited promotions add free tickets
• $10 reward on your birthday – Good for food, games, or prizes
• Earning bonus chips/credits – 20 for every $100 spent
• Extended ticket expiration – 1 year instead of 4 months
• Easy online ticket tracking – Via the website or mobile app

One of my favorite perks is the birthday $10 bonus which I always use towards more games and tickets!

The program is totally free to join and provides great incentives that make winning prizes even more rewarding.

Final Tips for Prize Success at Dave & Busters

As a long-time Dave & Busters fan and prize pro, I want to leave you with some final tips for unlocking your prize-winning potential:

• Have fun above all else – don‘t just chase tickets
• Take breaks to refresh – tickets accumulate over time
• Share your prize goals with any group you go with
• Learn game strategies and practice at home
• Take advantage of happy hour specials on games
• Enjoy the experience as much as the prizes
• Think long-term – prizes can take a few visits to earn
• Persist through cool streaks – hot machines return

With the right mindset and strategies, your next Dave & Busters trip will be full of games, food, drinks, and of course prize-winning excitement. I hope this guide provided everything you need to know about redeeming epic rewards. Let me know if you have any other questions – I‘m always happy to share prize tips and stories. Good luck and have fun!

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