DoD Receives Funding for Research on Gambling Addiction in the Military

Under the Defense Appropriations Act signed into law on Tuesday, the US Department of Defense will receive $370 million for its Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP), which supports medical research projects with demonstrated scientific rigor and direct relevance to military health. A large part of that sum will be used to study gambling addiction in active military members and their families.

Gambling Addiction in the US Military to be Subject of Research

Congress passed the bill on Tuesday after the House of Representatives approved it by a 217–214 vote, following its earlier passage in the Senate. National Council on Problem Gambling executive director Heather Maurer described the measure as a significant step forward, noting that it marks the first time federal research funding will be available to study gambling addiction. She added that the development is significant for service members and veterans, who face heightened risk and have historically been underserved by research.

Under the Defense Appropriations Act, which directs $180 million toward non-defense initiatives, gambling addiction is designated as an approved area of research. The availability of federal funding for gambling addiction studies represents a significant change in how the federal government approaches the issue within a public health framework. The measure would create new opportunities to improve understanding of gambling addiction among active-duty service members and veterans, particularly as the US gaming industry continues to expand and diversify.

It Was a Long Road to Get to Here

The funding for the study was added to the Department of Defense bill in August last year, but calls for research on gambling addiction in the military had been growing long before that. Among the advocates was Cole Wogoman, director of government and league relations at the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).

He expressed pride in his team’s efforts to secure the measure’s passage, noting that it required contributions from multiple fronts. Lobbyists were active on the ground, state chapters of the NCPG wrote to members of Congress, and board members joined the advocacy efforts. Wogoman also emphasized that the accomplishment was a collective one, highlighting that the community’s coordinated approach could serve as a model for similar initiatives in the future.

Various institutions had also called for more research into the issue. The Government Accountability Office was one of them, as in a report released last year, it recommended that the Department of Defense strengthen its efforts to protect service members from gambling-related harm. The report noted that 185 active-duty service members received a gambling-related diagnosis in fiscal year 2024.

Private enterprises have also voiced their support for such initiatives. For example, a few months ago, the Kindbridge Research Institute launched a program to reduce gambling-related harm and issues among active members of the military and their families.