The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the provision on August 4. Senator Ben Ray Luján led the effort to get gambling addiction research included in the FY26 Defence Appropriations Bill.
More than two dozen state affiliates of the National Council on Problem Gambling backed the measure. Major gambling operators also supported it, including FanDuel, BetMGM and MGM Resorts.
The NCPG called this a “historic step” for addressing gambling issues among military personnel. Derek Longmeier, the organisation’s Board of Directors President, praised the committee’s action.
“The Committee’s action will finally give researchers, local VA clinicians and military health officials the ability to better understand and address gambling addiction among those who serve,” Longmeier said.
Why Military Gambling Research Became a Priority
Current federal research programs don’t include gambling addiction as an eligible topic. This creates a gap in understanding how gambling disorders affect military communities.
NCPG research shows nearly 20 million US adults experienced problematic gambling behaviour “many times” in the past year. But there’s limited data on how this impacts servicemembers and veterans specifically.
Senator Luján stressed the need for parity with other behavioural health conditions. “Servicemembers and Veterans facing gambling addiction deserve the same level of support and understanding we’ve worked to build around PTSD, depression and other behavioural health challenges,” he said.
The military community faces unique stressors that could increase gambling risks. Yet federal research funding hasn’t addressed these specific challenges.
What the Provision Actually Does
The measure makes gambling addiction an eligible research topic under the Department of Defense’s Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). This marks the first time gambling research would qualify for this federal program.
The provision appears in the FY26 Senate Defense Appropriations Bill. It would establish the first federally recognised research avenue for military gambling addiction studies.
Researchers could now apply for PRMRP grants to study gambling disorders among active duty personnel and veterans. VA clinicians and military health officials would gain access to better research data.
How This Changes Military Behavioural Health Research
The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration. If passed, it creates new opportunities for gambling addiction research within military health systems.
This represents a significant shift in how federal agencies approach gambling disorders. It puts gambling addiction on equal footing with other recognised behavioural health conditions.
Senator Luján described the provision as “a critical step toward recognising the realities our military community faces.” The measure ensures federal investment in foundational research needed to support recovery programs.
The change could influence how other federal agencies view gambling addiction research funding in the future.
