Can You Add a Dave & Buster’s Card to Apple Wallet? The 2025 Guide

The Quick Answer

Let’s get straight to the point. You’re here because you want to know how to add dave and buster’s card to apple wallet for that smooth, tap-and-go experience you’re used to with credit cards and airline tickets. The direct answer is that you cannot add a Dave & Buster’s Power Card or gift card to Apple Wallet through an official feature.

The reason for this is simple. Apple Wallet’s tap-to-pay feature uses NFC (Near Field Communication) technology and needs deep connection with a company’s payment system. Dave & Buster’s uses its own special system for its Power Cards, which are made to work with game readers through a magnetic stripe or a barcode, not NFC. Their system isn’t built to talk directly with Apple’s Wallet system in the same way a Visa or an American Express card does.

But don’t close this tab just yet. While there isn’t an “Add to Apple Wallet” button on the back of your card, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck carrying around extra plastic. We’re going to walk you through two great solutions. First, we’ll cover the official, recommended method using the company’s own app, which is the most powerful way to manage your cards. Then, for those who really want a shortcut living inside their Apple Wallet, we’ll show you a clever workaround that gets the job done for quick game access.

The Official Solution

The best and most feature-rich way to make your Dave & Buster’s experience digital is by using the tool they built just for this purpose: the official Dave & Buster’s app. Think of this app as the control center for your entire D&B visit. It’s where you can add cards, check balances, add more chips, and even track rewards, all from your iPhone. This is the method we recommend for most users because it unlocks the full digital power of your Power Card and other features.

Getting started is simple. The app is free and available on the Apple App Store.

1. Open the App Store on your iPhone.
2. Tap the “Search” icon in the bottom right corner.
3. Type “Dave & Buster’s” into the search bar.
4. Find the official dave and buster’s app (it will have their logo) and tap “Get” to download and install it.
5. Once installed, open the app. You’ll be asked to create an account or sign in. We recommend creating an account to save your information and track your rewards over time.

With the app installed and your account set up, you’re ready to add your cards.

Adding a Power Card

This is the main function of the app for any serious gamer. Adding your physical Power Card to the app not only creates a digital backup but also gives you powerful management tools. Here’s how we do it.

1. Open the Dave & Buster’s app and make sure you’re logged into your account.
2. Look for a section labeled “Power Card” or “My D&B Card,” often found on the main screen or in the bottom navigation bar. Tap on it.
3. You’ll see an option like “Add a Card” or a “+” icon. Tap this to begin the process.
4. The app will now ask for the information from your physical dave and buster’s power card. Flip your card over. You will need to enter the long card number and the 4-digit PIN (sometimes called a security code).
5. Here’s a tip from experience: The numbers on the back of the card, especially the PIN, can sometimes be covered by a scratch-off strip or be very small and hard to read in the low light of a D&B. Don’t hesitate to use your phone’s flashlight to get a clear view.
6. Carefully enter the numbers into the app and tap “Submit” or “Add Card.”

Once successfully added, you’ll see your card appear in the app. You can now tap on it to see your dave and buster’s power card balance in real-time, including both your chip count and your ticket balance. More importantly, you can add more chips to your card directly through the app, often with special app-only offers. When you’re at a game, you can simply have the worker scan the barcode from your phone screen.

What About Gift Cards?

The process for a dave and buster’s gift card is a bit different, which causes some confusion. The question of how to add dave and busters gift card to app is common. Unlike a Power Card, you don’t typically store a gift card in the app’s “wallet” section to be held forever. Instead, you use it as a payment method when you buy something, much like you would a credit card.

Here’s how to use dave and busters gift card funds within the app:

1. Add a Power Card to your app using the steps above.
2. Go to the “Recharge” or “Buy Chips” section.
3. Select the chip package you want to purchase.
4. Go to the checkout screen.
5. When you get to the payment options, alongside Credit Card and Apple Pay, you should see an option to “Use a Gift Card.”
6. Select this option and enter the number and PIN from the back of your Dave & Buster’s gift card. The balance will be applied to your purchase.

If you just want to see how much money is on the card, you’ll need to check the dave and buster’s gift card balance. While some app versions may have a balance check feature, the most reliable way to check balance dave and busters is to visit the official Dave & Buster’s website. They have a special page where you can enter your gift card number and PIN to see the remaining value.

The “Apple Wallet Hack”

We understand. Even with the official app, you might still want the convenience of a card that lives directly in your Apple Wallet, allowing you to access it with a double-click of the side button. While there’s no official way, we have a creative workaround that achieves this for barcode scanning.

Importantly, you must understand what this method does and does not do. This “hack” creates a simple, non-changing pass in your Apple Wallet. It will display the barcode of your Power Card, which can be scanned at the game machines to start a game. However, it will not display your live chip or ticket balance, and it has no payment features. It is purely a visual copy of your card’s barcode for scanning convenience.

For this, we’ll use a third-party app designed to create custom wallet passes. A popular and reliable choice is Pass2U Wallet, which is available on the App Store.

Creating a Custom Pass

Follow these steps carefully. It looks like a lot, but the process is quick and easy once you start. We’re basically taking a digital picture of your card’s barcode and turning it into a format Apple Wallet can understand.

1. Download Pass2U Wallet: Go to the App Store, search for “Pass2U Wallet,” and install it.
2. Open Pass2U and Get Started: Launch the app. You may see some introduction screens. Tap the “+” button, usually at the bottom or top right, to create a new pass.
3. Choose the Right Template: The app will present several templates like “Coupon,” “Boarding Pass,” or “Event Ticket.” The best choice for this purpose is “Store Card.” Select it.
4. Scan Your Barcode: This is the most important step. The app will ask for the barcode data. The easiest way is to tap the small barcode icon, which will turn on your phone’s camera. Take your physical dave and buster’s power card and position the barcode in the camera’s view. The app should recognize and capture it automatically. If it fails, you can manually type in the number printed below the barcode.
5. Customize Your Pass: Now you get to make the pass look official.
6. Logo & Icon: The app may let you search for a logo online. Search for “Dave & Buster’s” and select their official logo.
7. Pass Name: Give it a clear name, like “D&B Power Card” or “Dave & Buster’s Arcade.”
8. Colors: You can even customize the background color of the pass. Choosing Dave & Buster’s signature blue is a nice touch to make it instantly recognizable in your wallet.
9. Add to Apple Wallet: Once you’ve customized the pass to your liking, look for a button that says “Add” or “Done” at the top right of the screen. Tapping this will create the final pass. The app will then show you a preview and present a button that says “Add to Apple Wallet.” Tap it. A final confirmation screen from Apple will appear. Tap “Add” one last time.
10. How to Use Your New Pass: That’s it! Your custom Dave & Buster’s pass is now in your Apple Wallet. To use it, simply open your Wallet, select the pass, and hold the barcode on your screen up to the scanner on the game. It will read the barcode just as it would the physical card.

This workaround is the perfect solution for someone who wants the fastest possible access to their card for gameplay without needing to see the balance at that exact moment.

Making the Most of Your Experience

Now that you have your card on your phone—either through the official app or the Apple Wallet workaround—let’s go a step further. A digital card is just the beginning. We can use these tools to plan your entire visit, save money, and get the most out of every chip and ticket.

Power Card vs. Gift Card

Understanding the basic difference between the two main types of D&B cards is key to managing your funds well. New visitors often confuse them. A Power Card is for playing games, while a gift card is a form of payment. Let’s break it down in a simple table.

Thinking of them this way makes their roles clear. You use the gift card to buy chips for your Power Card. You use the Power Card to earn tickets and rewards.

Unlocking D&B Rewards

The dave and buster’s rewards program is a must for anyone who visits more than once a year. It’s a loyalty program that gives you real benefits for the money you spend on games. By adding your Power Card to the dave and buster’s app, you’re automatically enrolled and can easily track your progress.

The program works on a point-based system. Every dollar you spend on games with your registered Power Card earns you loyalty points. As you collect points, you move up through different status levels (like Player and Icon), unlocking better perks. A common and powerful benefit is earning free game play. For example, the program often features a structure where you might earn $10 in free game play for every $100 you spend on games. These rewards are automatically loaded onto your digital Power Card, ready for you to use on your next visit. The app will notify you when you’ve earned a reward, taking all the guesswork out of the process. This is a big advantage over using an unregistered physical card, where you might be leaving free money on the table without even realizing it.

Planning Your Visit

A great trip to Dave & Buster’s involves more than just games; it’s also about the food and atmosphere. Your phone is the perfect tool for planning ahead. Before you even leave the house, you can use the D&B app or website to plan your visit.

One of the most useful features is the ability to browse the full dave and buster’s menu. You can explore the entire dave and buster’s food menu, from shareable appetizers like the Giant Pretzel and Cantina Nachos to main courses like the Voodoo Pasta and Buster’s Cheeseburger. This is a great way to decide what you want ahead of time, especially if you’re with a group or have picky eaters.

More importantly for budgeting, you can often view the dave and buster’s menu with prices for your specific location. Prices can vary slightly by region, so checking the menu for your local D&B ensures there are no surprises when the bill comes. You can plan a meal that fits your budget, see what drink specials are available, and get a good idea of the total cost of your outing. Using the app to review the menu saves time at the table and lets you focus more on the fun. It’s a pro-tip that experienced visitors use to make their experience smoother and more predictable.

Conclusion

While the dream of a fully integrated, NFC-powered Dave & Buster’s card in Apple Wallet isn’t a reality just yet, you are by no means left without excellent digital options. Your phone is absolutely the key to a more convenient and rewarding experience at Dave & Buster’s.

We’ve covered the two best paths forward. For the complete, feature-rich experience, the official dave and buster’s app is the clear winner. It’s your all-in-one tool for adding chips to cards, checking your chip and ticket balances in real-time, and, most importantly, automatically tracking your progress in the dave and buster’s rewards program. This is the method that provides the most value and control.

For those who prioritize speed and the simple convenience of having a scannable card inside Apple Wallet, our workaround using a pass creator app is a brilliant solution. It provides a quick-access barcode for gameplay, fulfilling the original desire for an Apple Wallet shortcut, as long as you understand its limitations.

By combining these digital tools—using the official app for management and rewards, and perhaps the custom pass for quick scans—you can leave the plastic at home and streamline your entire visit. Your next trip to Dave & Buster’s can be more fun, more rewarding, and completely managed from the device that’s already in your pocket.