501 Fun, a global leader in providing engaging and innovative social entertainment systems, is celebrating as it surpasses 501 million darts thrown worldwide.
On reaching this milestone, Jonny Powell, CEO, has shared the key moments that have shaped the company.
Experience-led leisure
501 Fun was founded in 2018 and responded to changing trends in how visitors were spending their time and money.
“The competitive socialising movement was gaining serious momentum, and we recognised an opportunity to reinvent a classic game for this new era of experience-led leisure,” says Powell.
“That’s how 501 Fun was born – with a mission to create unforgettable shared experiences through technology and play. From that single idea, we’ve grown into a global entertainment brand. And now, just a few years later, we’ve hit a milestone that truly captures that journey: 501 million darts thrown worldwide.”
The company’s first innovation was a bold reinvention of interactive darts, which went beyond simply putting a TV on a wall.
“We partnered with Unicorn, the most prestigious name in darts, and integrated their Smartboard technology to deliver the most accurate auto-scoring system ever made. Every throw is tracked in real time, with gameplay, scoring, and dynamic graphics displayed on a big-screen TV right above the board.”
This approach removed the need for manual scoring and opened up possibilities to create new, fast-paced, easy-to-play games. The traditional pub classic had become an immersive, digital experience that was advanced, intuitive, and social.
World’s first AR darts system
“But we didn’t stop there,” says Powell. “We took the concept even further and created the world’s first and only Augmented Reality (AR) darts system. Building on everything players loved about interactive darts, we made it even more immersive by projecting the entire gameplay experience directly onto the dartboard and the surrounding canvas.”
By mapping animated targets, visual effects, and real-time feedback to the physical board and its immediate background, throwing a dart becomes a rich, visual experience. Players are engaged by a game that feels instinctive, exciting, and completely new.
501 Fun’s collaborations have evolved alongside its products. The company works with leading brands in the worldwide leisure and hospitality industry, such as Dave & Buster’s in the US, Mitchells & Butlers in the UK, Topgolf across Europe, and Funlab in Australia. Its systems are now used at more than 700 venues in over 40 countries, evidencing the universal appeal of contemporary, tech-powered social entertainment.
“But beyond the tech and the milestones lies a bigger story. Competitive socialising has transformed the way we connect, blending play, performance, and togetherness in ways that speak to today’s consumer.
“It’s not just a trend – it’s a cultural shift that’s here to stay. And we’ve been proud to help hundreds of venue operators around the world get ahead of the curve: diversifying their offer, attracting new audiences, and unlocking brand-new revenue streams through interactive, competitive, high-energy play.”
A key milestone was the launch of the Accessible Oche. This world-first, wheelchair-friendly solution enables seamless play between standard and accessible-height dartboards, demonstrating the company’s belief in making social entertainment inclusive and welcoming to all.
501 Fun’s products are shaped by ongoing learning and development. The company has advanced its technology, introduced new games, expanded into multiple languages, and added adaptive difficulty settings that make its products even more versatile.
An impactful addition has been Social Replay. This feature captures highlight moments during gameplay and creates personalised, shareable clips. This has transformed the player experience and provided venues with new tools to connect with their visitors and extend their social reach.
Shaping the future of competitive socialising
501 Fun has expanded in every way, from showing at trade shows across the globe to quadrupling its team, moving offices, and evolving its products.
“And so, here we are – half a billion dart hits later. It’s a moment to celebrate and reflect, but also a moment to look ahead. Because while we’ve come a long way, we’re only just getting started,” says Powell.
“With the launch of our brand-new Interactive Mini Golf product, we’re entering an exciting new chapter. Played on a single green with LED targets, game graphics, and multiple scoring holes, it combines all the hallmarks of 501 FUN – intuitive gameplay, bold visuals, and seamless integration – in a format designed to thrill and engage.
“The future of competitive socialising is bright, and we’re proud to be helping shape it. Whether it’s with Interactive Darts, Augmented Reality Darts, or now, Interactive Mini Golf, we remain committed to creating experiences that connect, excite, and entertain.
“Here’s to every dart thrown so far – the best is yet to come.”
501 Fun recently reflected on its successes in 2024, a year of innovation and international expansion, and shared plans for 2025.
