Recently conducted studies have shown that each year, approximately $2 billion circulate through slots installed at foreign military bases, and that the military collects as much as $120 million from these slot machines, annually. However, there is one major problem with military slots. In some cases, slot machines may cause grave addiction among soldiers.
Compulsive gambling research demonstrates that at wartime, due to the tremendous psychological and physical pressure inflicted upon them, troops who gamble, are quite vulnerable to addiction. Nevertheless, although almost half a decade ago, Congress ordered the Pentagon to study the impact of military slots on soldiers, the final report did not provide any new, effective information on the issue.
Although gaming addiction among soldiers is a serious problem in need of attention, army officials reportedly do not address it properly. Currently, there is only one program, at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California, which offers treatment to addicted soldiers, and it only handles about 25 cases each year. |
