Massachusetts wants to do more to protect veterans, who are one of the most vulnerable demographics in the Bay State when it comes to gambling-related issues. For instance, one in five veterans is a problem gambler, even though this specific group of people represents only 3.7% of the population.
Veterans Suffer Disproportionately from Gambling
Things get even more serious when you consider that 8% of all veterans are, in fact, struggling with gambling-related issues, compared to only 1.4% of the population. In other words, there is a very good argument for why states and treatment specialists looking to reduce gambling harm in the population would do well to target this particular group more thoroughly.
Emma Hersh, director of veterans programs and employee experience for the consulting firm Technical Assent, has commented on the issue already.
“ We were trying to understand the experience behind the numbers,” Hers told the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, with the regulator already funding research into veterans and gambling-related harm, led by Technical Assent.
The research is run through the William Joiner Institute for the Study of War and Social Consequences at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and strengthens state, educational, and private efforts to address what is an overlooked issue.
Veterans Trust Veterans – Willing to Open Up about Their Struggles
Gambling is often an outlet for pent-up feelings that veterans experience. This outlet could be different for every individual. Some people turn to casinos and their fast-paced play; others resort to sports betting and compulsively buying lottery tickets.
According to Hersh, all of these problems can be addressed by deploying the correct strategies. Most veterans would be open to peer-to-peer interactions to address their issues, but insist such interactions should not lead to feelings of remorse or feeling ashamed.
Veterans are more comfortable speaking to other people who have served, and they are willing to open up under such conditions. However, gambling does have a social activity for veterans who throw money into social pools run by vets, just to feel like they belong.