Senate moves to fund military gambling addiction research
New US defence bill includes provision for gambling disorder research.
Key points:
– The US Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a provision to include gambling addiction in the Department of Defense’s Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program
– The move acknowledges gambling disorder as a behavioural health issue affecting active military personnel and veterans
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has acknowledged the approval of a new provision in the US Senate’s FY26 Defence Appropriations Bill.
The provision would allow gambling addiction to be included as a topic under the Department of Defense’s Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP).
The measure was led by Senator Ben Ray Luján and supported by a group of lawmakers, over two dozen NCPG state affiliates and gambling industry stakeholders including FanDuel, BetMGM and MGM Resorts International.
Recent NCPG research suggests nearly 20 million US adults report engaging in at least one problematic gambling behaviour on a regular basis. Servicemembers are estimated to be twice as likely as civilians to experience gambling-related problems.
Although annual screening for gambling disorder was mandated by Congress in 2019, the absence of federal research funding has limited the development of early intervention and evidence-based treatment approaches.
Good to know: If enacted, the FY26 Defence Appropriations Bill would provide the first federally funded pathway for research into gambling addiction within military populations
Derek Longmeier, NCPG’s Board of Directors President, stated: “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.
Luján added: “Servicemembers and Veterans facing gambling addiction deserve the same level of support and understanding we’ve worked to build around PTSD, depression and other behavioral health challenges.
“This provision is a critical step toward recognising the realities our military community faces and ensuring the federal government invests in the basic, foundational research needed to support recovery.”
The US Senate’s move to fund military gambling addiction research mirrors growing concerns, as China’s navy recently warned young personnel about the risks of online gambling and dating.
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