Military mental health clinicians and public health researchers are flagging problem gambling as an under-recognized driver of distress in the ranks.
Symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and sleep problems often mask gambling problems, which many service members hide because of guilt and stigma.
Lt. Col. Isaac Lopez says instant access to betting and prediction markets can produce dramatic financial swings that hit younger, lower-income enlisted members hardest. A 2018 DHA-PH study found about 1.6% of active-duty personnel screened as having gambling problems. These individuals had 3.1 times greater odds of severe psychological distress.
Congress has now made gambling addiction a research priority in the FY2026 defense funding bill.
