Advocacy

Gambling Addiction Research in the Armed Forces

Including gambling addiction as an eligible research topic in the Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) will help to address the gap in research on the best ways to support servicemembers with gambling addiction.

Researching Gambling Addiction in the Military

What Federal Action Can Achieve:

  • Include gambling addiction as an eligible research topic in the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP), a competitive grant program administered by the Department of Defense to support medical research with relevance to military health.

  • Unlock an estimated $5–7 million annually in federal funding to support research on gambling addiction among servicemembers and Veterans, helping to close a major gap in understanding and treatment of this high-risk population.

  • Support evidence-based policy and clinical practices by generating data on the prevalence, risk factors, and effective interventions for gambling addiction in military populations, including its intersection with suicide, PTSD, and other behavioral health conditions.

Despite the high prevalence and risk of gambling addiction amongst our service members and veterans, there is a lack of comprehensive research on how to best treat, intervene, and prevent this mental health issue within the military population.

Gambling Addiction in the Military

  • Servicemembers experience gambling addiction at twice the rate of the civilian population.
  • Gambling addiction affects an estimated 7.5–10.5 million Americans, including many active-duty personnel and Veterans.
  • Young male servicemembers (ages 18–29) are at the highest risk for developing a gambling problem.
  • Military-related risk factors include high-risk decision-making, PTSD, depression, and chronic stress.
  • Without treatment, gambling addiction can lead to severe consequences such as financial ruin, relationship breakdown, substance use, and suicide.
  • Veterans with gambling problems are 6 times more likely to have experienced homelessness in their lifetime.
  • An estimated 40% of Veterans and servicemembers who seek treatment for gambling addiction report having attempted suicide.
  • The suicide rate among those with a gambling addiction is as much as 15 times higher than among those without the condition.

Download NCPG's Letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense

Questions?

Contact Cole Wogoman, NCPG Director, Government Relations and League Partnerships.