Problem Gambling & Veterans

Veterans Day is a day when we honor the military members who have served our country and kept us safe. An issue that hasn’t had much awareness over the years is the struggle that many veterans have with problem gambling. Addressing the issue starts with understanding the situation and educating ourselves about the resources available to help.

The Situation

As of 2012, approximately 86,500 veterans in Ohio had some form of gambling disorder. That’s about 10% of all veterans in the state. Of those, only around 8,600 will ever seek treatment – less than 10% of those with a problem.

Nationally, the percentage of veterans with gambling issues is double that of the general population. The National Council on Problem Gambling estimates that as many as 56,000 active duty members of the Armed Forces meet the criteria for gambling disorder. The promising news is that many are in the early stages of their disorder – when treatment options have a higher success rate.

The Solution

Before You Bet has earned national recognition for our engaging set of tools that provide education and awareness of responsible gambling practices and treatment resources. Those tools include:

• A free community toolkit with customizable resources appropriate for organizations that work with veterans.
• A free online quiz to help people better understand if they have a potential problem with gambling.
• Free family resources that offer support for family members and help for loved ones coping with a potential problem. 

This Veteran’s Day, let’s honor the men and women who have served by helping to keep them safe from the risks of problem gambling. For more responsible gambling information and resources, visit BeforeYouBet.org.