This is episode 25 of the Gambling Still Sucks podcast.
In this episode, Jeff rejoins the show to share how gambling is impacting our service members.
Hey there, and welcome to the Gambling Still Sucks podcast. My name is Jamie. I’m a compulsive gambler, and I’m also the host of this show. The last time I gambled was July 15th of 2010.
Today, I’m excited to bring you a special episode. Jeff and I had talked on our last episode, and he does some really great work to help our veterans who are dealing with gambling addiction. So I wanted to have him back on the show to talk about this issue and bring some more awareness to it. Without further ado, here’s my conversation with Jeff about veterans and gambling.
Jamie:
I’m excited to have Jeff join me again. If you remember Jeff from Episode 21, he came on and shared his story. Jeff, I’m glad to have you back to share an area that you’re extremely passionate about.
Jeff:
Thanks, Jamie. It’s great to talk to you again, and I’m really grateful for the opportunity to share some of my thoughts on gambling addiction among service members and veterans.
Jamie:
Absolutely. This is a topic that, when I first found out about it, I was actually on the Discord talking to someone who was military-connected, and I didn’t even realize this was a thing. Then, obviously, I connected with you, and I know this is something you’re very passionate about and doing a lot of work in. So, Jeff, if you could just get us started by giving us a little bit of history on gambling in the military and how you got into the field.
Jeff:
Sure. First, let me tell you how I got involved in the whole issue of service members and veterans connected to gambling. As you know, I work for the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems. One of the first things I did when I started working there was to try to have gambling-addicted offenders in our criminal justice system get the same opportunity for treatment, as opposed to punishment, that those with substance addictions and other mental health issues have. Delaware, like most states, has what they call problem-solving courts — courts specifically designed to focus on treatment rather than traditional punishment.
The drug court model is used in most states, and it provides what they call diversion, away from punishment and towards treatment, with the thought that if we treat the underlying mental health condition that may have caused the criminal behavior, there’s much less likelihood that those offenders will repeat criminal behavior. From a compassionate standpoint, we need to really treat offenders with addiction and mental health issues, because when they come out of jail or probation, they’ll just repeat the same type of criminal behavior if they’re not given treatment to deal with those issues.
So we submitted a proposal to have the court recognize gambling addiction in the criminal justice system so we could give gambling-disordered offenders that opportunity. The judges in our court directed us to first try gambling addiction screening and treatment in the Veterans Treatment Court, which is another problem-solving court designed specifically for veterans who commit criminal offenses. Typically, these veterans engage in criminal behavior because of substance abuse disorders or other mental health issues related to their time in the military. There’s a high rate of service members who develop substance addictions, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, etc.
So, Veterans Court is designed as a problem-solving court specifically for men and women who served in the military. There’s also a lot of public policy in favor of this type of treatment, with the belief that they served our country, so we owe it to our veterans to provide treatment and help rather than just punish them for criminal behavior. Typically, this criminal behavior is nonviolent, like drug possession or theft — not crimes like murder or rape.
That’s how I got involved in Veterans Treatment Court. It was really because that’s where we were directed to start. As I educated myself, not being a veteran, I knew nothing about veterans’ culture or the veterans’ population in terms of their specific risks. I discovered that the veterans’ population is at high risk of developing gambling addiction for several reasons, which we can go into.
Jamie:
Yeah, and I’d definitely want to go into some of those because, from the little research I did on it, it’s kind of shocking. I think I saw that the rate is two to three times that of the general population. Is that right?
Jeff:
Exactly. There are several reasons for it. First, why do soldiers in the military gamble? One reason is that gambling is readily available. I learned that service members who are deployed overseas in military installations or bases have the opportunity to gamble on slot machines that are actually on these military bases, run by the Department of Defense. There are roughly 3,100 slot machines on overseas installations, which is pretty shocking. We have a statute that prohibits slot machines from being placed on military bases in the continental U.S., but that doesn’t apply to overseas installations.
Those slot machines are allegedly provided as a recreational activity for service members when they have downtime. For many, that’s fine, but a significant percentage of these soldiers develop gambling addiction as a result. It’s unfortunate that the Department of Defense, which makes roughly $100-150 million a year in profit from these slot machines, spends zero dollars on helping service members who develop gambling addiction. It’s really a disservice to our military men and women and goes against everything we believe in when it comes to supporting our veterans.
Jamie:
Yeah, absolutely. I was extremely shocked when I found out about the slot machines overseas. Someone told me online, and they said, “Oh yeah, they’re everywhere.” It’s incredible.
Jeff:
Yeah, and not only do they have these slot machines, but if they’re stationed in bases, many of them are also near casinos in those countries. Gambling is pervasive in the military, and it’s been going on for decades.
Jamie:
Yeah, and speaking of decades, I was talking to my mom about this, and my grandfather served in World War II. She said, “Oh yeah, he talked about it.” They had those even back then. I don’t know whether they were on bases or just nearby, but you think about it — you drop a young person, typically male, into an environment that has a lot of stress and other challenges, and of course they’re going to find gambling as an outlet. It’s escapism, multiplied exponentially.
Jeff:
Absolutely. Stress relief is a major factor. Gambling masks the negative feelings they have, and for some soldiers, it’s a way to cope with trauma. It also fills an emotional void — loneliness, isolation, boredom — and it’s used as a substitute for other addictive behaviors like alcohol or drugs because gambling isn’t on most people’s radar as a harmful activity. They know what alcohol and drugs do, but gambling seems like a recreational activity until it’s too late.
Jamie:
Yeah, and that’s one of the things that I think is really challenging. I’ve heard it described as the hidden addiction. It’s not one that people often talk about openly, and it doesn’t carry the same stigma of a physical dependency. But the mental health challenges it creates are just as real, if not more complicated in some ways, because it’s so hidden.
Jeff:
Exactly. Gambling addiction has the highest suicide rate among all addictions. It’s often not until the person has hit rock bottom that anyone even realizes there’s a problem, which makes it harder for people to get help in time. A lot of veterans I’ve worked with tell me they felt ashamed or didn’t even know they had a problem until they were already facing legal trouble or financial ruin.
Jamie:
That’s really heartbreaking, especially when you think about veterans who served and sacrificed so much. They deserve all the support we can give them, but instead, they’re kind of set up for failure with the availability of these gambling options and not enough support. What kinds of solutions do you think could help address this problem for veterans?
Jeff:
There are a couple of things that need to happen. First, we need more awareness and education — both within the military and among the general public — about the risks of gambling addiction. A lot of service members don’t even know the signs of problem gambling until it’s too late. If there were more training on this, like there is with substance abuse, it could make a difference.
Another thing is treatment options. Right now, there isn’t enough treatment tailored specifically to veterans with gambling addiction. A lot of veterans also suffer from PTSD or other mental health issues, and we need to treat these problems simultaneously because they’re often interconnected. The Department of Veterans Affairs needs to step up and provide more treatment resources. There are some, but not nearly enough.
And finally, there needs to be a serious discussion about whether it’s really appropriate to have gambling opportunities like slot machines on military bases. It seems like a conflict of interest to have these on bases where young, vulnerable soldiers can easily develop a problem.
Jamie:
Yeah, I think that’s a huge point. You have this environment that’s very conducive to addiction, and then you put an addictive activity like gambling right in the middle of it. And I know for myself, as a compulsive gambler, there’s just no way that I would have been able to resist those machines if I was in that type of environment.
Jeff:
Absolutely. It’s very similar to someone with a substance addiction being surrounded by their substance of choice all the time. It’s incredibly hard to resist, especially when gambling is framed as entertainment or a way to blow off steam. We need to provide better alternatives for stress relief and recreation for our service members.
Jamie:
I completely agree. So, for anyone listening, what can people do to help veterans who might be struggling with gambling addiction? How can they get involved or support these efforts?
Jeff:
There are a few ways people can help. First and foremost, if you know a veteran who might be struggling, reach out to them. Let them know they’re not alone and encourage them to seek help. There are hotlines like the National Problem Gambling Helpline, and many states have local resources as well.
Also, consider supporting organizations that work with veterans struggling with addiction, whether that’s by donating, volunteering, or just spreading the word about these services. Finally, people can advocate for change — talk to your representatives about eliminating gambling machines on military bases or increasing funding for veteran addiction services.
Jamie:
That’s great advice, Jeff. Thank you so much for coming back on the podcast and sharing your insights. I think this is such an important issue, and it’s one that definitely needs more awareness. I really appreciate the work that you’re doing for our veterans, and I hope this episode helps bring a little more light to the topic.
Jeff:
Thanks, Jamie. It’s been great talking to you again, and I appreciate the opportunity to share this information. Hopefully, we can all work together to make a difference for our veterans.
Jamie:
Absolutely. Thanks again, Jeff.
Outro:
Thank you for listening to this episode of the Gambling Still Sucks podcast. Remember, if you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling problem, reach out for help. There are resources available, and you don’t have to go through this alone. Stay tuned for more episodes, and as always, take care of yourselves and each other.
