U.S. Military Impact Analysis on Gambling Receives Support From NCPG
The Senate Appropriations Committee has made a significant move by directing federal resources to research gambling addiction among military personnel for the first time. This funding is included in the FY2026 Defense Appropriations Bill and makes gambling addiction an eligible research topic under the Department of Defense's Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP).
Until now, no dedicated federal funding had been allocated to study the impact of gambling on active-duty service members and veterans, despite gambling addiction being a recognized issue in these populations. According to the Department of Defense’s 2022 Health Related Behaviors Survey, about 1.6% of active-duty personnel suffer from gambling problems.
With this funding, researchers, Veterans Affairs clinicians, and military health officials will have the resources to conduct more rigorous and targeted research on the prevalence, causes, and consequences of gambling addiction among military personnel. They will also be able to develop improved screening, prevention, and treatment programs tailored to the military context.
The move is widely welcomed as long overdue and crucial to addressing what many experts view as a serious behavioral health condition affecting combat readiness and overall well-being in the military community. The funding will give researchers, local VA clinicians, and military health officials the ability to better understand and address gambling addiction among those who serve.
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and its President of the Board of Directors, Derek Longmeier, have welcomed the allocation of funding to research gambling addiction among US military personnel. Longmeier commented that this financial commitment is a long-overdue action and comes at an important junction.
It's important to note that gambling addiction is not a minor issue. At least 20 million Americans are showing signs of gambling-related problems. Sen. Ben Ray Luján has spoken about the issue of gambling addiction among military personnel and its significance for ordinary Americans, particularly veterans. He emphasized that servicemembers and veterans facing gambling addiction deserve the same level of support and understanding that has been built around PTSD, depression, and other behavioral health challenges.
This funding allocation sets the stage for enhanced study, improved clinical practice, and potentially new safeguards against gambling addiction within the U.S. military. The Senate's action recognizes the overlooked reality that the military community faces an unaddressed gambling-related problem, and it's a step towards ensuring that those who serve receive the support they need.
- The gambling addiction phenomenon, prevalent among military personnel and a concern for mental health, will now be subject to extensive scientific research, due to funding allocated by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
- The funding for research on gambling addiction among military personnel will not only support a better understanding of the issue but also enable the development of specialized therapies and treatments for this health-and-wellness concern.
- With the inclusion of gambling addiction as an eligible research topic under the Department of Defense’s Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP), casinos and gambling establishments are now under scrutiny, as their influence on the mental health of military personnel comes under heightened investigation.
