Bet on Yourself: Gamble Responsibly Have you ever bet on your favorite sports team? Maybe you enjoy going to the casino or getting lottery tickets. Chances are, you’ve been around or engaged with some form of gambling in your lifetime. As a Warfighter, you may engage in social gambling, like a fantasy league with your unit, and/or individual gambling like online betting. Due to the recent rise in virtual gambling platforms, it’s easier to bet from your phone. This, along with unique risk factors for Warfighters, might make you more likely to engage in risky gambling behavior. Remember, it is prohibited to gamble on military installations in the continental United States. If you are OCONUS, gambling options may be available on certain installations. Terms to Know Gambling Harm: Any negative initial or worsened outcome resulting from gambling that leads to decreased health and wellbeing for you, your family, community or population. Problem Gambling: Gambling behavior that is damaging to you and your family and may disrupt your daily life and career. There are 2 key components: 1) you cannot manage previously set limits (e.g., time, money) and 2) gambling causes negative outcomes to you and those around you. Gambling Disorder: Mental health condition characterized by recurrent, negative gambling behavior that causes stress. Typically gambling disorder results in major problems with relationships, work and/or finances. Also known as compulsive gambling or gambling addiction. Two Main Types of Gambling Slot Machines Scratchers Bingo Lottery play Roulette Keno Nonstrategic Gambling involves little or no decision making or skill where those who gamble cannot influence the outcome. Poker Blackjack Dog and horse racing Sports betting Stock market betting Dice games Strategic Gambling allows those who gamble to attempt to use knowledge of the game to influence or predict the outcome. Sports Betting One of the most popular forms of gambling, especially among Warfighters, is sports betting. This is largely due to how easy it is to access and use online sports betting programs. Oftentimes those who participate in sports betting (e.g., fantasy leagues) consider skill, knowledge and analysis when determining gambling outcomes compared to chance or luck. Check out this map to see if you live in a state where sports betting is permitted. Who Is More Likely To Bet? Those who watch more sports than non-betting individuals Younger, male individuals High annual household income Lonely individuals Individuals who feel isolated in their home, work and/or social environments Those who experience increased self-worth when gambling Individuals who attend restaurants and bars more frequently than non-betting individuals Warning Signs of Problem Gambling Unable to control gambling habits Choosing to gamble over other important activities Being dishonest with loved ones about your gambling Having relationship problems because of gambling Taking money from friends or family to use for gambling Spending more time and/or money on gambling than you planned Using gambling as a coping mechanism for other stressors Unable to stop thinking about gambling Irritable or anxious when not gambling Are you unsure if gambling is taking a toll on your wellbeing? Take this quiz to assess your gambling habits. Did You Know? Warfighters are more likely to gamble online compared to civilians and veterans. How Come? Warfighters typically have less access to more traditional forms of gambling, like going to casinos, and online gambling is fairly easy to engage in without leadership oversight. Problem gambling in the military is nearly twice as high as the general population. How Come? Service members are more likely to engage in risky behavior. Warfighters are also less likely to report negative impacts of gambling or seek help. Male Warfighters are more likely to develop gambling disorder than female Warfighters. How Come? Men are more likely to engage in risky behavior, make impulsive decisions and may associate success and skill from gambling as a reflection of their masculinity. Military installations outside the U.S. tend to have higher rates of gambling disorder diagnoses, especially in Japan and Germany. How Come? Certain gambling options are available on military installations OCONUS. Some installations may also be located close to multiple gambling options, like casinos. In areas with little opportunity for recreation, gambling can be an outlet. How to Manage Gambling Habits Gambling can be a fun and exciting activity and it’s important to approach it sensibly. Check out these tips for gambling responsibly: Always set a financial limit and stick to it. Consider setting aside a specific amount of cash to use for gambling. If gambling at a casino or other physical location, avoid taking a credit or debit card if possible. Only gamble with money you are able to lose. Pay all essential expenses before choosing to gamble. This will ensure that if you do experience a loss, you won’t face financial problems. Treat gambling as a risk, because it is. You are not guaranteed to win when gambling. If you understand the odds, it may help you control the amount of money you’re willing to wager. Avoid gambling when you are stressed. Although gambling can be a fun distraction from daily life, it shouldn’t be used as a way to cope with stress or negative feelings. Try to find healthier ways to deal with your emotions, like going to the gym, spending time with friends, walking or journaling. Monitor your gambling habits closely. Make sure you don’t let gambling interfere with other parts of your life, such as work or relationships. Gambling can be addictive, so take regular breaks to help stay in control and keep it from becoming a problem. Impact on Your Health Gambling can have health consequences, especially if you engage in high-risk activities. Risky gambling is associated with sleep deprivation, poor nutrition and substance abuse. High-risk gambling can also increase your risk of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. If you have existing mental health problems, such as substance use issues or post-traumatic stress disorder, risky gambling can worsen these conditions. There is also a connection between gambling and alcohol use, as people who gamble often or in large amounts are more likely to drink heavily. Compared to veterans and civilians, Warfighters who gamble are twice as likely to use tobacco products, 10 times more likely to recognize problems with substance use and have a higher risk of mental health issues. These impacts may be amplified for military personnel who often experience operational stress and high tempo conditions. The more you gamble, the higher your risk of financial difficulties, relationship problems and other stressors. Long-term stress can lead to serious health conditions, including hypertension, heart disease and stroke. Seeking Help If your life is negatively impacted by gambling, it may be time to get help. You can receive confidential support over the phone or through live chat with Military One Source. The National Council on Problem Gambling also has a helpline you can call or text (1-800-GAMBLER), and a Warfighter-focused website with links to free resources. The Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling is another website that provides guidance for military personnel and veterans struggling with unhealthy gambling habits. Additional ResourcesCleveland Clinic - “Gambling Disorder”Mayo Clinic - “Compulsive gambling”ReferencesAddiction Center - “Gambling Addiction Amongst US Military On The Rise”Safe Gambling for Military and Veterans - “What is Problem Gambling?”Van der Mass M and Nower L - “Gambling and military Service: Characteristics, comorbidity, and problem severity in an epidemiological sample”Wong, G. et al - “Examining Gender Differences for Gambling Engagement and Gambling Problems Among Emerging Adults”
