U.S. military service members and the gaming industry are on course to receive a major boost if the latest Defense Appropriations Act is signed by President Donald Trump.
The Defense Appropriations Act for FY2026, a bill that provides $838.7 billion in total spending, would establish federal government funding for gambling addiction research for the very first time. It would provide funding for research into gambling addiction in both active and veteran military members through the Department of Defense’s Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP), which gives grants for medical research and treatments.
Congress passed the bill on Tuesday, when the House of Representatives approved it by a vote of 217-214. It had already cleared the Senate.
“This is an important step forward,” said National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) Executive Director Heather Maurer. “For the first time, federal research funding is being made available to study gambling addiction. This development is especially critical for service members and veterans who face elevated risk and have historically been underserved by research.”
Major milestone for responsible gaming efforts
Each year, Congress provides a list of conditions and treatments that are covered under the program. In FY2025, Congress allocated approximately $150 million toward the PRMRP.
Under the Defense Appropriations Act, which allocates $180 million of its spending for nondefense purposes, gambling addiction is a sanctioned research topic. The federal funding for gambling addiction research marks a big shift in the federal government’s approach to gambling addiction and how it relates to public health.
If signed into law, it would provide an opportunity to better understand gambling addiction in the military and for veterans as America’s gaming industry continues to diversify and grow.
“This inclusion sends a clear signal that gambling addiction is a public health issue, not a stigma,” added Maurer. “When we invest in research, we reduce stigma, improve care, and build the knowledge needed to protect individuals, families and readiness.”
Senators make push for military gambling research
The Senate Appropriations Committee included the gambling funding provision in the Defense Appropriations Act last August. Sen. Ben Ray Luján spearheaded the effort with support from the NCPG, which expects the PRMRP to provide up to $7 million in funding to support the research.
FanDuel and DraftKings have also voiced their support for federal research funding.
Last year, the Government Accountability Office published a report recommending that the Department of Defense enhance efforts to protect service members from gambling-related harm. The report indicated that there were 185 active-duty service members who reported a gambling-related diagnosis in FY2024. NCPG research from 2024 also suggested that service members are twice as likely as civilians to have a gambling-related disorder.
