NCPG Celebrates Historic Opening of Federal Research Funding for Gambling Addiction

FY26 Defense Appropriations bill provides first federal funds to study gambling addiction in the military

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) today welcomed a significant development in federal public health policy: for the first time, federal government research funding will be available to support the study of gambling addiction through the Department of Defense’s Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP), as included in the final bipartisan House–Senate compromise funding package for fiscal year 2026.

The accompanying Senate report language affirms that gambling addiction is a sanctioned research topic under PRMRP. While limited to military and veteran populations, this marks the first time Congress has made a federal medical research program available to support peer-reviewed research on gambling addiction, signaling a shift toward treating the issue as a recognized public health concern.

“This is an important step forward,” said Heather Maurer, Executive Director of NCPG. “For the first time, federal research funding is being made available to study gambling addiction. This development is especially critical for servicemembers and veterans who face elevated risk and have historically been underserved by research.”

Research shows gambling addiction is associated with dramatically elevated suicide risk, and among veterans seeking treatment for a gambling problem, nearly 40 percent report having attempted suicide. While servicemembers and veterans also face higher exposure to known risk factors for gambling-related harm, including stress, trauma, and access to high-risk gambling environments, gambling addiction has long been excluded from federal research priorities – leaving critical gaps in evidence needed to guide prevention, early intervention, and treatment.

The final FY26 defense appropriations package now heads to the President where it is expected to be signed into law.

“This inclusion sends a clear signal that gambling addiction is a public health issue, not a stigma” Maurer added. “When we invest in research, we reduce stigma, improve care, and build the knowledge needed to protect individuals, families, and readiness.”