US Military Bases Overseas Profit from Slots While Troops Battle Addiction, WIRED Reports

The Military’s In-House Casino

As reported by WIRED, the Army Recreation Machine Program (ARMP) brought in $70.9 million in revenue from its slot operations in fiscal year 2024, with $53 million of that being net profit.

The machines are located in 79 different locations in countries like Germany, Japan, and South Korea, providing a constant and easily accessible form of high-stakes gambling for troops stationed abroad.

The money generated by the program is funneled back into the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) funds of each military branch.

These funds are essential for providing on-base entertainment like golf courses, bowling alleys, and libraries. A 2017 government report found that many MWR operations would be unable to function without the revenue from these slot machines.

A “Dangerous” Duality

This creates a dangerous duality for the military. As WIRED notes, “The Defense Department operates slot machines on US military bases overseas, raising millions of dollars to fund recreation for troops—and creating risks for soldiers prone to gambling addiction.”

The risks are not theoretical. The article highlights the story of Dave Yeager, a veteran whose on-base slot machine addiction led him to drain his savings, sell his possessions, and eventually steal from his own unit.

His story is a powerful example of the destructive path that starts with the seemingly harmless allure of the machines. As Yeager remembers of his first win, “In that moment, all the stress, the anxiety, the pain, the hurt, the fear—it washed away.”

A Vulnerable Population with Nowhere to Turn

The problem is compounded by the fact that veterans and active service members are more likely to develop gambling disorders than civilians. At the same time, they are often more hesitant to seek help due to the fear of professional repercussions, such as losing their rank or security clearance.

Despite this increased vulnerability, the military’s responsible gambling policies have been found to be severely lacking. A 2022 review by the Kindbridge Research Institute found that the Department of Defense had the worst responsible gambling policies of any US jurisdiction where slot machines are legal.

Despite his own harrowing experience, Yeager does not advocate for the complete removal of the slot machines. He acknowledges that they “generate money for good causes.” Instead, he and other advocates are calling for a fundamental reform of the program.

Their proposed solution is simple: a portion of the millions in revenue generated by the machines should be dedicated to funding robust prevention, education, and treatment programs for gambling addiction. As Yeager told WIRED, “Rather than just eliminate them, why don’t you mandate a small percentage of that money be turned back over into education, screening, and treatment?”

This call for reform highlights a critical question for the Department of Defense: Can it continue to profit from a program that is causing significant harm to the very people it is supposed to be supporting, or will it finally invest in the resources needed to address the hidden cost of its on-base casinos?