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You can't fight back without a plan
What is Gambling Disorder?
Gambling disorder is more than just occasionally betting on sports or playing cards. It’s a condition that affects a person’s ability to control their gambling habits, even when it causes significant harm to themselves or those around them. It can lead to severe financial, emotional, and psychological consequences, and in some cases, it can be life-threatening.
In the military community, gambling can sometimes be used as a coping mechanism to deal with the stress of deployment, combat, or transitioning to civilian life. However, over time, what starts as occasional fun can spiral into a problem.
Why Military Personnel Are Vulnerable to Gambling Disorders
Several factors make veterans and active military personnel more vulnerable to developing gambling problems:
Stress and Trauma
Deployment, combat, and PTSD can lead people to escape painful emotions.
Frequent Relocation
Relocating often can leave you feeling isolated, making gambling a tempting way to fill the gap.
Competitive Environment
The military’s focus on performance, competition, and risk-taking can make gambling seem natural
Access to Gambling
Approximately 90% of service members have access to legal forms of gambling, both on and off duty. Slot machines are still present on many overseas bases, while sports betting, online gambling, and lottery play are widely available stateside.
The Link Between Gambling and Mental Health
When gambling becomes a problem, it’s rarely just about the gambling itself. It’s often linked to other mental health issues, commonly found in the military, such as:
PTSD
- Affects 14-16% of deployed service members.
- Many veterans use gambling to avoid dealing with painful memories, but it’s only a temporary escape.
Suicide
- Rates of suicide in the army are 2.5x civilian population.
- Gambling has the highest suicide rate of any addiction, and veterans are already at a higher risk.
Substance Use Disorder
- Over 1/3 of service members reported binge drinkingin the past 30 days.
- Some veterans turn to alcohol to drugs to cope with gambling-related problems, creating a dangerous cycle.
Depression
- Affects 23% of active duty service members.
- Feeling of hopelessness from financial losses or guilt over gambling can lead to depressive symptoms.
Anxiety
- Affects 7.9% of active duty service members.
- The constant pressure of financial ruin or hiding gambling behavior can cause severe anxiety.
Social Reintegration
- Veterans often find it challenging to reconnect with family, friends, and community, which can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and alienation.
Employment Difficulties
- Adjusting to civilian job markets and workplace cultures can be daunting, leading to stress and a sense of inadequacy.
Access to Care
- While there are resources available, many veterans face barriers to accessing mental health services, including stigma, long wait times, and insufficient support networks.
Educational Initiatives - Coming Soon
You can’t fight back without a plan, so we’re building straightforward, no-jargon lessons for service members, veterans, families, leaders, and clinicians.
Topics include: what gambling disorder really looks like, why military life increases exposure, how stigma and system barriers block help, connections to PTSD, depression, and substance use, the impact of impulsivity and “thinking traps,” and practical recovery path.
You will also find direct links to confidential, evidence-based support.
We’ve got your six
Find support for problem gambling with resources, guidance, and support.
Colorado Services
Free Therapy at Kindbridge
We are able to offer this service for free for all Veterans, Active Military, and their loved ones in Colorado. Call 844-FREE VET to talk to someone about your next steps and arrange your free care or online here. Click here for peer support groups to join one of our no-cost peer support groups in Colorado.
PGCC (Problem Gambling Coalition of Co)
The Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness, providing education, and supporting treatment options for individuals and families affected by problem gambling across the state.
Bet Smart Colorado
Bet Smart Colorado has information and resources to help Coloradans who may have developed a gambling problem, including responsible gaming support groups, registration for the Self-Exclusion List and more.
Homefront Military Network
The mission of the Military Homefront Network is to connect military service members, veterans and their families to resources offered by our trusted community partners and to provide emergency financial assistance.
National Services
Gambling Therapy for Military Personnel
Kindbridge Behavioral Health specializes in providing teletherapy and mental health services with a focus on treating gaming and gambling-related issues, offering accessible care through a network of expert clinicians.
National Problem Gambling Helpline
Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit ncpgambling.org for help finding local resources or talking to a counselor.
Gamblers Anonymous
Visit gamblersanonymous.org to find a local or online support group. Connect with others who are experiencing the same struggles and get peer support.