U.S. 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…

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.