With the spread of sports betting across the United States, fears of increased gambling addiction are on the rise. While several athletes have found themselves embroiled in gambling scandals, frustrated gamblers have also been making their presence felt by posting threats on social media against professional and collegiate athletes.
However, it’s not just the civilian population that’s at risk. There are growing concerns about gambling addiction within the military as well. Discussions about the revenue generated by US military slots, which bring in around $100 million annually, have stirred up fears about addiction.
Across the globe, more than 3,000 slot machines operated by the US military provide servicemen with access to gambling activities. The funds from these slots are used to support other recreational activities and amenities for military personnel.
Dominick DePhilippis, the deputy national mental health director for substance abuse disorders at the US Department of Veterans Affairs, recently spoke to CNBC about the issue . He highlighted that the rise in problem gambling isn’t unexpected. He cited the increased availability and ease of access to gambling activities as contributing factors to addiction and harm.
DePhilippis explained: It’s not terribly surprising, because with accessibility and availability increases, we tend to see a rise in unhealthy engagement. Gambling Addiction Among US Military Personnel Needs More Study
Despite these concerns, the Department of Defense’s Health Related Behavior survey indicated that gambling addiction among US military personnel was between 1.6% and 1.7%. These figures are not significantly different from the percentage of civilians addicted to gambling. However, this survey dates back to 2018, the same year PASPA was repealed, which allowed for the expansion of sports betting across the country. This means the full impact of sports betting on US military personnel is still unknown.
In response to these concerns, Rep. Paul Tonko has proposed an amendment calling for the ban of slot gambling on military bases. This proposal is part of the changes to the National Defense Authorization Act.
Dave Yeager, a former Army Staff Sergeant, shared his experiences with gambling in an interview with CNBC. He described how what began as a fun and relaxing […]
Growing Concerns Over Gambling Addiction Among US Military Personnel
