The U.S. generates more than $100 million per year on slot machines located in bases around the world from soldiers gambling, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling.
There are currently 3,000 slot machines on 800 U.S. military bases around the world, all of which generate revenue for the Defense Department, Casino News reports.
The New York Times reported in 2005 that the machines process about $2 billion each year, and that 94 percent gets paid back through jackpots.
36,000 active soldiers are believed to be problem gamblers. A Pentagon-sanctioned PricewaterhouseCoopers report in 2005 noted “a general lack of accessible treatment for gambling addiction.”
Last week, the Senate approved an amendment to the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act from Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren calling for a Governmental Accountability Office report to assess what can be done to improve or fix problem gambling in the military. (RELATED: Adult Entertainment Paid For With Pentagon Credit Cards)
“If the military is going to operate gambling facilities that bring in tens of millions of dollars in revenue, it also needs to ensure there is adequate prevention, treatment, and financial counseling available for servicemembers struggling with gambling addictions,” Warren said.