Chuck E. Cheese gambling lawsuit dismissed
Posted By Admin on May 27, 2011
A California woman has dismissed her lawsuit against Irving-based Chuck E. Cheeses Pizza restaurants in which she claimed the family entertainment centers promoted gambling to children.
Debbie Keller, who has 3- and 5-year-old children, claimed in her suit that the facilities games are illegal gambling devices. The suit sought up to $5 million in damages.
There are 16 Chuck E. Cheese locations in the Houston region.
The companys entertainment centers offer pizza and games and focuses on families with small children. The games offer tickets as rewards that can be redeemed for merchandise.
The companys Dallas-based lawyers, Weil, Gotshal amp; Manges LLP, contended that the games are legal and that the California legislature never intended to criminalize the operation of arcades for children.
Chuck E. Cheeses attorneys also contended that even if the games were illegal, Keller could not seek damages because she would be an admitted participant in illegal gambling.
Chuck E. Cheeses is owned by CEC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: CEC), which has more than 500 entertainment centers in 48 states and six countries.
lmurray@bizjournals.com
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