Dave and Buster’s is a popular arcade and restaurant chain that offers a wide variety of games and entertainment. One of the best parts about Dave and Buster’s is winning tickets that can be redeemed for prizes. With the right strategies and tips, you can maximize your ticket winnings at Dave and Buster’s. Here are some of the top techniques for winning more tickets during your next visit.
Play Games with the Best Ticket Payouts
The first key to winning tickets is to identify and play the games that have the best ticket payouts. Dave and Buster’s has hundreds of arcade games, but not all of them have equal ticket earning potential. Focus on games that reward a high number of tickets relative to the skill or cost required. Here are some of the top ticket paying games:
| Game | Ticket Payout |
|---|---|
| Spin N Win | Up to 500 tickets |
| Down the Clown | Up to 500 tickets |
| Quick Drop | Up to 500 tickets |
| Flamin’ Finger | Up to 999 tickets |
| Super Shot | Up to 999 tickets |
| 2 Minute Drill | Up to 999 tickets |
| Tailgate Toss | Up to 250 tickets |
| Dizzy Chicken | Up to 250 tickets |
Focus your play on games like these to maximize your ticket earnings. Avoid games with low payouts.
Use Coupons and Discounts
Take advantage of any coupons, happy hour specials, or other promotions that offer discounted gameplay or bonus tickets. Dave and Buster’s frequently offers “20 for $20” game card specials that give you extra credits. You can also find various coupons online or in mailers that offer $10 or $20 in free gameplay when you buy a certain amount on a game card. Maximizing these discounts will stretch your dollar further allowing you to play more games and earn more tickets. Make sure to also check for any daily happy hour specials that offer discounted games or higher ticket payouts during certain hours.
Learn the Games and Improve Your Skills
The more skilled you become at the ticket games, the higher your payouts will be. Take time to learn the basics and advanced techniques for the top games. Ask employees for tips or check online gaming forums for advice about gameplay, rules, and strategies. The more you practice a game, the better your results will become. Mastering games like Spin N Win, Down the Clown, 2 Minute Drill, Super Shot, and Milk Jug Toss will pay off in the long run with more tickets earned.
Play on Half Price Game Days
Dave and Buster’s offers half price game days on certain days of the week. Every Wednesday games are half price from open to close. Playing on these discount days allows you to maximize the number of games for your dollar. Even if you play the same games you normally would, you’ll earn twice as many tickets since you can play twice as many rounds at the discounted price. So your $20 game card now plays like a $40 game card. Check your local Dave and Buster’s for their half price days to take advantage of this.
Use the Mobile App for Bonuses
Dave and Buster’s mobile app provides opportunities to earn bonus tickets and rewards. Download the app and take advantage of ticket bonuses, food and game discounts, and prize coupons that pop up. The app also notifies you of the latest promotions being offered. Having the app provides an easy way to maximize your ticket earnings and rewards every time you visit.
Save Tickets and Buy on Double Ticket Days
To maximize the value of your tickets, save up your tickets earned during multiple visits and redeem them on double ticket days. Dave and Buster’s offers periodic double ticket promotion days where the value of your tickets is doubled when redeeming for prizes. So 10,000 tickets becomes 20,000 tickets on double days. This allows you to get more valuable prizes for the tickets you’ve earned. If you’re saving up for a big prize, hold off on redeeming until a double ticket day comes along to double the value of your stash.
Strategies for Winning at Specific Games
Now let’s dive into some game-specific tips and strategies to boost your performance and ticket payouts:
Down the Clown
Down the Clown is one of the easiest games to win high numbers of tickets, especially if you employ the right strategies:
– Aim for the red button on the clown’s nose for a 100 ticket jackpot each time
– Throw the ball with an arc rather than straight on to have the best shot at the nose
– Try bouncing the ball off the back wall to hit the nose button from behind
– After hitting the nose, aim for the red buttons on the clown’s stomach
– Hitting yellow buttons yields 10 tickets and green buttons yield 15 tickets
– Learn to time your throws precisely as the clown moves side to side
Milk Jug Toss
– Focus on perfecting your throwing accuracy to hit the highest point values
– Learn the right amount of power needed for each distance
– Aim for back jugs first as they are furthest away
– Then move closer for the 50 and 100 point jugs
– Throwing at a slight upward arc helps reach the furthest jugs
– Develop a consistent throwing motion and release point
2 Minute Drill
– Quickly scan the entire field of holes to spot the high value red holes
– Start by hitting those red 100 and 200 ticket holes
– Then work your way down through the other colors
– Throw quickly without too much force for the short distance holes
– Use a gentle lobbing motion on higher angled holes
– Don’t spend time aiming for ones you miss, just keep moving
– Reset the timer if you have shots left for a ticket bonus
Super Shot
– Calibrate the basketball shot to your height and release point
– Aim to make as many baskets in a row as possible
– Concentrate on perfecting your shooting form for consistency
– Use proper follow through and wrist flicking motion
– Bank shot angles off the backboard for trickier long distance shots
– Take advantage of any “hot spots” on the rim you identify
– Let shots fly quickly within the short time limit per round
Spin N Win
– Wait for the light above the wheel to turn green indicating max payout
– Pull the handle slowly and steadily straight down to maximize spin time
– Try various pull speeds to find the ideal spin rate for your strength
– Release the handle gently without adding sideways motion
– You can lightly nudge the edge of the wheel in the right direction
– Position yourself for the best angle to land on high value wedges
Tailgate Toss
– Use an underhand tossing motion for maximum accuracy
– Focus on the center diamond of the farthest bins for big ticket payouts
– Toss gently with just enough power to reach the target bin
– Perfect your release point and tossing angle through practice
– Aim your toes towards the target and align your body
– Develop a smooth, repeating throwing rhythm
– Grab bags quickly before the next round starts
Dizzy Chicken
– Wait for bonus time when chicken speed increases for more tickets
– Tap buttons quickly in short rapid bursts for accuracy
– Use both hands alternating to hit left and right buttons
– Try to create a steady tapping rhythm from button to button
– Avoid pressing buttons as the chickens pass to prevent jamming
– Hit red buttons first whenever they appear for 100 ticket bonuses
– Focusbutton tapping on areas where chickens overlap
Redeeming Tickets for Prizes
Once you’ve mastered the games and racked up a stash of tickets, it’s time to cash in your earnings. Follow these tips to get the most value when redeeming your tickets:
Wait for Double Ticket Days
As mentioned before, wait to redeem on double ticket days when the value of your tickets doubles. So 10,000 tickets becomes 20,000 for prize redemption. This simple strategy doubles the prizes you can get for your efforts.
Do the Math on Expensive Items
It’s easy to get sucked into the excitement of the giant prizes, but make sure you do the math. Calculate how many actual tickets that giant stuffed animal or electronics gadget will cost you. You may realize it’s not worth blowing all your tickets on one prize.
Aim for 30-50 Tickets Per Dollar Spent
When evaluating prizes, aim to get about 30-50 tickets worth of value for every $1 you’ve spent at Dave and Buster’s. This ensures you’re getting a solid return on your entertainment dollar. So if you’ve spent $100, look to redeem for prizes valued around 3,000 – 5,000 tickets.
Check eBay for Resale Value
If you have your eyes on high-end prizes, check eBay and other resale sites for what they are selling for. It makes more sense to redeem for a prize you can resell for a nice profit vs blowing tickets on junk. Limited edition or rare prizes can have great resale value.
Pool Tickets with Friends
If you have friends and family with you, consider pooling all your tickets together to redeem for a major, expensive prize you couldn’t get on your own. Then sell the prize and split the cash. This allows you to redeem for prizes that would normally be out of reach.
Donate Unwanted Tickets
If you end up with leftover unwanted tickets that are expiring, donate them at the winner’s circle. This allows deployed military members to redeem them. It’s a nice way to get value from tickets you would otherwise waste.
Getting the Most Play Time for Your Money
To maximize your ticket earnings, you want to stretch your dollar as far possible at Dave and Buster’s. This gets you more gameplay time which results in more chances to win tickets. Here are some tips:
Take Advantage of Coupons and Discounts
As mentioned before, take full advantage of all coupons, special offers, happy hours, and promotions. This will discount your gameplay costs and allow more play for your budget. Sign up for emails and watch for mailer coupons for extra savings on Power Cards.
Purchase Power Card with Chip
Invest in the reusable Power Card with built-in chip. While it costs $2 initially, you get $1 back each time you reload it with $10 or more in credits. This means 20% off all future reloads. In the long run, this adds up to big savings that you can put towards more gameplay.
Load Power Card with Rewards Bonus
When reloading your Power Card, use a credit card that offers rewards on entertainment spending to earn additional points/cashback. This essentially lowers your cost. Be sure to use a card that considers Dave and Buster’s as an entertainment purchase.
Visit on 50% Gameplay Wednesdays
As mentioned in a previous tip, Wednesdays offer 50% off all gameplay, all day. If you have a flexible schedule, build your Dave and Buster’s trips around Wednesdays to maximize how much your dollar gets you.
Check for Unused Credits
Before reloading credits on a Power Card, check your balance at a kiosk. You may have unused credits remaining from previous visits. Load new credits only when your balance runs low to maximize the value of your existing credits.
Order Food Discounts Through App
Ordering food through the Dave and Buster’s app provides opportunities to save on your meal. You can find various food discounts and bonus offers. For example, get half off an entree or appetizer. A discounted dining tab means more money freed up for games.
Buy Gameplay Credits in Bulk
Buying a bulk amount of credits on your Power Card at once usually provides a discount compared purchasing individually. Take advantage of reloader discounts that kick in when you purchase a larger block of credits, such as 100 or more. This lowers your per-credit cost.
Play During Happy Hour
As mentioned earlier, playing during happy hour allow you to take advantage of discounted gameplay credits and increased ticket payouts. Choose your Dave and Buster’s visiting times strategically around these limited happy hour windows to maximize value.
Stick to a Gameplay Budget
Determine a firm gameplay budget per visit and stick to it. It’s easy to keep reloading your Power Card once your original credits run out. But uncontrolled reloads eat into funds that could go toward future visits. Stay disciplined within a budget to ensure you have money left for your next Dave and Buster’s trip.
Getting the Most Value from Your Winnings
Winning lots of tickets is great, but maximizing what you get out of those tickets as prizes gives you more bang for your efforts. Here are some clever ways to get the most value from your ticket haul:
Save Up Over Multiple Trips
Resist the urge to redeem every visit. Save up tickets earned over multiple trips and outings to accumulate larger redemption piles. Those small hauls add up faster than you think when saved for the long run.
Pool Tickets with Friends
Get together a group of friends and pool all your tickets. Combining everyone’s tickets allows you to redeem for more expensive, higher end prizes.
Sell Valuable Prizes You Won
If you win a particularly hot item, consider selling it and using the cash to buy more gameplay credits. Limited and rare prizes often sell for a nice profit on eBay.
Trade Prizes Rather Than Redeem
Some locations allow you to trade prizes directly for other prizes rather than redeeming for tickets. Make trades to acquire more valuable prizes than you could get for your ticket amount.
Buy Prizes from Winner’s Circle at Discount
Check if your location allows prize purchases directly from the Winner’s Circle at a discount. You may score prizes for less than the posted ticket value this way.
Grab Coupons Online Before Visiting
Check sites like Groupon and LivingSocial for Dave and Buster’s coupons before you visit. You can often find $20 gameplay coupons for $10 or BOGO free entree coupons. This adds value to your experience.
Resell Prizes You Don’t Want
Try reselling any unwanted prizes you redeem on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist or OfferUp. You can turn unused prizes into cash.
Donate Unwanted Prizes
If reselling seems like too much of a hassle, donate unused prizes. Many charities accept plush toys, electronics, and other prizes to help kids in need.
Conclusion
Dave and Buster’s offers amazing opportunities to have fun and win big. But winning those coveted tickets takes skill and strategy. Master the tips and tricks provided above to maximize your ticket earnings on every visit. Learn how to choose the right games, play to win, and redeem smartly. With the right approach, you can become a Dave and Buster’s ticket-winning master. Use these techniques to take your ticket haul to the next level and enjoy bigger prizes on your next redemption trip!
