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The National Council on Problem Gambling welcomes the first federal research funding for gambling addiction studies through a Defense Department program.
Mar 9, 2026 · 4 min read
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) announced on February 3, 2026, that federal research funding will become available for gambling addiction studies for the first time, marking a significant shift in congressional recognition of the public health issue.
The funding comes through the Department of Defense's Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP), included in the final bipartisan FY26 Defense Appropriations bill. While limited to military and veteran populations, this represents the first time Congress has made a federal medical research program available to support peer-reviewed research on gambling addiction.
The research funding targets a population facing elevated risks. Veterans seeking treatment for gambling problems report suicide attempt rates of nearly 40 percent, while gambling addiction is associated with dramatically elevated suicide risk across all populations.
Servicemembers and veterans face higher exposure to known risk factors for gambling-related harm, including stress, trauma, and access to high-risk gambling environments. Despite these vulnerabilities, gambling addiction has long been excluded from federal research priorities, leaving critical gaps in evidence needed to guide prevention, early intervention, and treatment approaches.
"This is an important step forward. For the first time, federal research funding is being made available to study gambling addiction. This development is especially critical for servicemembers and veterans who face elevated risk and have historically been underserved by research."
— Heather Maurer, Executive Director of NCPG
The Senate report language accompanying the appropriations bill affirms that gambling addiction is a sanctioned research topic under PRMRP, providing formal recognition of the condition's medical legitimacy within federal research frameworks.
Veterans' Gambling Risk Profile
Veterans seeking treatment for gambling problems report suicide attempt rates of nearly 40 percent, highlighting the critical intersection between gambling addiction and mental health. Servicemembers and veterans face higher exposure to risk factors including stress, trauma, and access to high-risk gambling environments.
Heather Maurer, NCPG's Executive Director, emphasized the broader implications of the funding decision beyond its immediate military focus.
"This inclusion sends a clear signal that gambling addiction is a public health issue, not a stigma. When we invest in research, we reduce stigma, improve care, and build the knowledge needed to protect individuals, families, and readiness."
— Heather Maurer
The final FY26 defense appropriations package now heads to the President, where it is expected to be signed into law.
The NCPG is the only national nonprofit organization that seeks to mitigate gambling-related harm while maintaining neutrality on legalized gambling. The organization runs the National Problem Gambling Helpline™ at 1-800-MY-RESET, with text support available at 800GAM. Help is available 24/7, free and confidential.
This federal recognition builds on NCPG's recent infrastructure expansion, including the launch of 1-800-MY-RESET as their new helpline number, which aims to provide more accessible support resources.
This military-focused funding breakthrough establishes important precedent for recognizing gambling addiction within federal health research priorities. The congressional acknowledgment of gambling addiction as a legitimate medical research topic through an established DOD program could influence future civilian health research funding discussions. For operators and regulators monitoring responsible gambling policy development, this federal recognition signals potential expansion of research-backed harm reduction requirements and evidence-based treatment standards across jurisdictions.
Industry Impact
This federal recognition signals potential expansion of research-backed harm reduction requirements and evidence-based treatment standards across jurisdictions. Operators and regulators should monitor how this precedent may influence future civilian health research funding discussions and responsible gambling policy development.
This marks the first time Congress has made a federal medical research program available to support peer-reviewed research on gambling addiction. The funding comes through the Department of Defense's Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program as part of the FY26 Defense Appropriations bill.
Servicemembers and veterans face elevated risks due to higher exposure to stress, trauma, and high-risk gambling environments. Veterans seeking gambling treatment report suicide attempt rates of nearly 40 percent, making this population a critical priority for research.
The federal recognition establishes precedent for acknowledging gambling addiction as a legitimate medical research topic. This could influence future civilian health research funding and lead to expanded research-backed harm reduction requirements across jurisdictions.
According to National Council on Problem Gambling.
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