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A shift in federal health policy is opening a new path for gambling addiction research in the United States. For the first time, Congress has approved the use of a federal medical research program to support peer reviewed studies focused on gambling related harm, with an initial emphasis on military and veteran populations.
Good to Know
The National Council on Problem Gambling said it welcomed the decision to include gambling addiction as an approved research topic under the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program. The change was written into the final bipartisan House Senate compromise funding package for fiscal year 2026.
Language included in the accompanying Senate report confirms that gambling addiction qualifies as a sanctioned research area within PRMRP. While the scope is limited to servicemembers and veterans, the move marks the first time a federal medical research program has been formally opened to peer reviewed gambling addiction studies.
NCPG said the decision reflects growing recognition of gambling addiction as a public health issue rather than a fringe concern. Research has consistently linked gambling addiction to elevated suicide risk, particularly among veterans.
Studies show that nearly 40 percent of veterans seeking treatment for a gambling problem report having attempted suicide. Servicemembers and veterans also face higher exposure to known risk factors, including chronic stress, trauma, and access to high risk gambling environments.
Despite those risks, gambling addiction has historically fallen outside federal research priorities. That gap has limited evidence based prevention strategies, early intervention tools, and treatment options.
Heather Maurer, executive director of NCPG, said the funding change begins to address that imbalance:
“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.”
The final fiscal year 2026 defense appropriations package now moves to the President and is widely expected to be signed into law. Once enacted, researchers will be able to seek PRMRP funding for studies examining gambling addiction within military and veteran populations.
Maurer also said that the inclusion sends a broader message about how gambling related harm should be viewed and addressed:
“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.”