Kindbridge Research Institute announced today (26th June) the creation of the Military Gambling Awareness Committee. This new initiative is dedicated to developing better gambling resources for US Military and servicemen.
A release states that the MGAC “will collaborate closely with the US Department of Defence (DoD) and military to identify gaps in policy through evidence-based methods and provide guidance on possible adjustments”.
Kindbridge stated that this will involve advocating “a holistic approach to public health” within the defense community. The MGAC’s members will be able to leverage their experience by “enhancing public awareness, educating stakeholder and promoting the best practices”.
Mark Lucia will be the MGAC’s chair. He is a senior military researcher for Kindbridge, and an 8-year veteran in the US Army Special Forces. The committee, he told iGB, will educate officials about gambling and establish relationships.
He said, “In future, we’d love to have some sort of chance to work with DoD.” It’s about providing the best practices and public health research available on how to handle these situations.
Gambling is a very niche subject and many people don’t even know what it is. “We can act as a central hub and say, We are here to help you. ‘”
Experts in gambling and military warfare will serve on the committee
The MGAC’s initial board will consist of seven members with military experience and gaming expertise. Lucia will be joined by the following members on the first board:
- Brianne Doura-Schawohl is a CEO and spouse of the military, as well as a policy advisor for .
- Representative of the industry:Richard Taylor is senior manager at BetMGM for responsible gambling and a US Marine veteran.
- Representative of the sports industry: Joe Solosky, manager of sports betting for NASCAR;
- Expert in tech/security Joseph Martin is the CEO and US Marine Corps Veteran of Kinectify.
- Caroline Ponseti is a communications strategist and former press secretary of the US House committee on Veterans’ Affairs. She was formerly a public affairs adviser at Invariant.
- Education programme developer David Yeager is a former US Army soldier and intake specialist at Kindbridge, as well as a gambling recovery coach.
Lucia says the members’ diverse backgrounds will help bridge the gap that exists between military life and the gambling industry.
He said: “Having people with diverse expertise from these various spaces opens some really good doors for us to be able have a great voice about this.” We have an opportunity here to offer some valuable information and to be heard.
Doura-Schawohl said to iGB the military community is not traditionally included in the RG area. The MGAC hopes to make that change.
She said, “We are bringing together an unique group of people who I think will be perfectly positioned to tackle this issue head-on.”
The subject of gambling in the military is a sensitive one
The US military has been very sensitive about gambling for a long time. Contrary to drug and alcohol abuse, there are very few resources available for military personnel who have a gambling problem.
The fact that US servicemen can play at US bases overseas is a further complicating factor.
According to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) from 2017, DoD has more than 3100 slot machines on US bases located in at least twelve countries. Although the exact amount of revenue generated by these machines is not known, it is believed to be around $100m.
In 1951, slots were prohibited on domestic bases and international bases began to ban them in the 1970s. In the 80s, they began to appear on bases overseas and remain there ever since. The revenue generated by them now is very valuable, as it helps fund other programs and activities.
In 2019, gambling screening will be introduced.
Several changes were suggested after the GAO’s report. Inclusion of questions on gambling harm in the annual health screenings was one successful implementation. This change is included in the National Defense Authorisation Act for FY 2019.
Doura-Schawohl said that she was part of the team responsible for bringing about this change. However, more must be done in order to solve the issue.
She said that neither the policy manuals nor treatment are readily available. We do not provide any training materials or education.
She pointed out that the report of Congress on gambling and harm to military personnel was supposed to have been filed in March, but it has not yet.
The DoD reported in a report from 2022 that 0.06% or active duty members, and 0.13% of reservists had gambling disorders. This was in comparison to 1,6% and 1,7% of periodic health surveys.
US National Council on Problem Gambling posits that 56,000 military personnel meet the criteria of gambling disorder. According to the council, veterans have a two-to-three times greater chance of developing a gambling disorder than civilians.
As awareness of the issue grows, it will also affect its impact.
It is a great step to bring this issue into the open, even within the military.
Lucia said that until the very end of his military service, he was unaware that bases had slots. Lucia, who himself did not have a mental disorder but showed sympathy to those that do, said he didn’t need any help. He said that “he wouldn’t have known where to turn” if needed.
He analysed, in one of his research exercises, how the American Gaming Association suggested RG policy was implemented by each state. When comparing those rankings with the DoD’s, it was the DoD that ranked the lowest.
He said that the policy needed to be updated in order to keep up with the latest developments in the gaming and sports betting industries.
Doura-Schawohl agreed. She said that for servicemen and women stationed at US military bases with legal gambling markets, online betting is an issue.
Tonko Amendment would have prohibited on-base slot
Paul Tonko, a New York State Representative who has long advocated for stricter gambling policies, is one such official.
Tonko had previously proposed legislation to ban all sports betting advertisements. Earlier in the month, he submitted an amendment to FY2025’s version of the NDAA which would prohibit on-base slot machines.
Tonko, in a statement made to Military.com said that the amended law “would reduce the likelihood of our military personnel developing gambling addiction”.
Sources tell iGB, however, that Tonko’s amendment did not make it into the final version.
