New study shows potentially alarming link between military service and gambling disorder
Shane W Kraus, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, UNLV, and Joshua Grubbs, PhD., Bowling Green State University presented their research yesterday at the International Center for Responsible Gaming Conference on Gambling and Addiction in Las Vegas. Their study was funded by Kindbridge Research Institute. It is one of the first longitudinal studies of gambling in this group.
KRI is leading the drive for greater awareness, research and treatment for US veterans suffering from gambling disorder. The research was supported by donations from DraftKings and Playtech. The data was collected as part of funding awarded to Drs. Joshua Grubbs and Shane Kraus for their work on sports betting from the ICRG.
The US Department of Defense operates over 3,000 slot machines on overseas bases that produce over $100 million dollars of revenue each year. The DoD requires only one of the ten responsible gambling policies recommended by the American Gaming Association. Military personnel with gambling problems are discouraged from seeking help. 40% of US veterans receiving treatment for gambling issues reported a suicide attempt. People with untreated gambling disorders can get caught in a destructive cycle of negative feelings and gambling to escape those feelings. They can cause significant damage to their home life, career, mental health, and finances.
