Senate committee approves military gambling addiction research
The US Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a provision in the Defense Appropriations Bill that would allow gambling addiction to be studied under the Department of Defense’s Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program.
The measure, which Sen. Ben Ray Lujan put forward, attempts to address the impact of gambling disorder on military personnel and veterans.
Backed by the National Council on Problem Gambling, its state affiliates, and major operators like FanDuel and MGM Resorts, the approval shows growing bipartisan recognition of gambling addiction as a serious behavioral health issue.
Derek Longmeier, President of the National Council on Problem Gambling’s Board of Directors, said, “The Committee’s action will finally give researchers, local VA clinicians, and military health officials the ability to better understand and address gambling addiction among those who serve. We’re grateful to our allies in Congress, industry partners, and the public health community for making this progress possible.”
According to the council’s research, military members are twice as likely as civilians to face gambling problems, while almost 40% of veterans seeking treatment for gambling addiction have reported suicide attempts.
Yet, despite a 2019 congressional mandate for annual screenings, federal funding for research has lagged.
According to Lujan, the provision, which would create the first federally backed research pathway into military gambling addiction, is a vital step towards recognizing the reality of gambling addiction among members of the military.
It now heads to the full Senate for further debate.
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Charlotte Capewell brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in writing, researching, and the gambling industry to every article she writes. Her specialties include the US gambling industry, regulator legislation, igaming, and more.
