The federal government is looking more closely at gambling addiction among military service members, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) told GamblingHarm.org this step could also help the general American public.
In February 2026, gambling addiction became eligible for federal research funding through a Department of Defense medical research program for the first time.
“The VA has led our nation on prosthetic limbs and devices,” Blumenthal said in an interview on Nov. 6. “It should lead on traumatic brain injury because military men and women suffer from it. On gambling addiction, it could do the same. It could be at the lead, at the forefront, at the tip of the spear rather than in the rear.”
Blumenthal’s comments came ahead of Veterans Day 2026, which falls on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
‘End to Denial’
Gambling addiction is a growing problem in the U.S. due, in part, to under-regulated legal online platforms, and stigma remains high, especially among those who serve in the military. The harm can extend to families and friends of those who gamble, known as affected others (AOs).
Despite the growing public health burden, the federal government has historically provided no dedicated funding for gambling addiction treatment and prevention.
A 2025 Government Accountability Office report documented 185 active-duty service members diagnosed with gambling disorder in fiscal year 2024 and highlighted shortcomings in military prevention and treatment policies. The figure reflected documented diagnoses, not the number of service members experiencing gambling problems.
“What it takes is an acknowledgment, an end to denial, looking away,” Blumenthal continued. “I can understand why the military doesn’t want to acknowledge it, just as for a long time they didn’t want to acknowledge any sort of mental health issues.”
Dave Yeager, a veteran in recovery from gambling addiction and an advocate through his podcast Fall In, said individual service members will still need time to feel comfortable coming forward with their gambling addiction.
“There’s still going to be hesitation,” Yeager told GamblingHarm.org. “Not everybody wants to talk about it because it can be embarrassing, to kind of rip off those band-aids and expose those scars to people.”
As awareness grows, Yeager, who calls Pennsylvania home, sees others joining him.
“I don’t want to be the unicorn in the room,” he said of being one of the very few veterans who publicly talk about gambling addiction. “I want to be one of many and a collective voice who are bringing it forward.”
Momentum Growing
Yeager described awareness as a process that can accelerate. The more people who come forward, the more people they, in turn, inspire. He also underscored that a first step involves realizing you’re not alone.
“Years ago, when I was in my addiction, I thought nobody could ever understand the crazy thoughts going through my head and the things that I’m doing,” Yeager said. “I do this [advocacy] so that somebody can feel like somebody would understand. The more voices we have, the more people will feel like they’re not alone. So, it must happen.”
According to Yeager’s own estimation, his gambling addiction adversely impacted around 30 other people in his life. “The mental health impacts are far-reaching, and we need to put more emphasis on the affected others just like we do on the gambler,” he added.
Blumenthal has also sought to address gambling addiction beyond the military. Alongside Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), he introduced the SAFE Bet Act, which would apply nationwide to state-authorized sports betting and extend its proposed consumer protections to military personnel, veterans, and the general public alike.
