Gambling addiction in the military may be going unnoticed, advocates warn
A person most likely to develop gambling addiction is a risk-seeking, competitive young man — the same person most likely to join the military. But almost no research exists on military gambling.
Patty Nieberg
Published Jul 3, 2025 1:04 PM EDT
Close-up on a man gambling online using a mobile app on his cell phone while drinking beer at the pub
Advocates are asking Congress to allow for more research on gambling addictions in the military in order to improve prevention and treatment. Stock photo from Getty Images.
The military is full of young men who are drawn to risky behaviors, a demographic that experts say has the greatest probability for developing gambling addictions.
“The biopsychosocial factors of that military population — it’s likely a younger male audience, high-risk takers, adrenaline seekers — those types of personalities that are drawn to the military are also very likely drawn to gambling for the same reasons,” said Cait Huble, director of communications for the National Council on Problem Gambling.
Experts who study addiction say gambling is a blind spot in the military’s approach to mental health. Each branch treats problem gambling differently, ranging from a mental health issue to a “crime against society” like prostitution. Official data on gambling in the ranks comes through voluntary surveys, responses to which are often not truthful.
https://taskandpurpose.com/military-life/research-on-military-gambling-disorders/
