Advocacy

ABOUT THE GAP ACT

What the Gap Act Is All About

• Requires the Department of Defense (DoD) to develop policies and programs to prevent & treat gambling problems.
• On OCONUS bases where gambling activities take place, such policies and programs would include provisions of educational materials and promotion of responsible behavior.

Why the Gap Act Matters

• NCPG estimates that as many as 56,000 active-duty members of the Armed Forces meet the criteria for gambling disorder.
• Research finds that veterans are 2-3x more likely to have a gambling problem.
• Prevalence of gambling disorder in the military is a serious health and financial issue and also poses a threat to national security.
• Less than 10 percent of individuals with gambling problems seek help, due to shame and stigma and misunderstanding of the disorder.
• The Department of Defense currently has 3,141 slot machines on overseas military installations.
• These slot machines generate approximately $100 million per year for the Department of Defense.