A U.S. Army veteran is encouraging the U.S. military to do more to prevent military members from struggling with gambling addiction as the Army Recreation Machine Program continues to grow and more service members use slot machines on U.S. military bases in foreign countries.
According to Wired, Neil Gumbs, the general manager of the Army Recreation Machine Program (ARMP) Installation Management Command, confirmed that the ARMP currently has 1,889 slot machines in 79 different foreign U.S. base locations. The outlet noted that the ARMP generated $70.9 million from its slot machine games in Fiscal year 2024, resulting in $53 million in net proceeds.
A 2017 report from the Government Accountability Office showed that the ARMP used to generate over $100 million in revenue; however, the revenue generated by the program dropped significantly from 2010 until the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Wired reported that the ARMP has witnessed increased revenue over the past several years since the COVID-19 pandemic. The outlet cited Gumbs, who claimed that the increase in revenue could be attributed to a “renewed investment in new equipment and cost/expense reductions aided in increasing entertainment on offer.”
Dave Yeager, a U.S. Army veteran, told Wired that he first discovered the slot machines at a U.S. military base in Seoul, South Korea, shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. After winning one of the slot machine games, Yeager developed a “devastating obsession” with the slot machines, which eventually resulted in him using up his savings, selling his belongings, and stealing from his military unit. Yeager told Wired that he did not tell anyone about his gambling addiction because he thought no one could help him.
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Asked about Yeager’s story regarding gambling addiction, Gumbs said, “ARMP is affiliated with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). Additionally, we promote responsible gambling, and all gaming areas and machines prominently display the national gambling hotline number.”
Wired reported that the money generated by the ARMP’s slot machines is used to support each military branch’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation. The outlet noted that some of the revenue is used to provide libraries, golf courses, bowling alleys, and other forms of entertainment on U.S. military bases.
Gumbs told Wired, “Proceeds that are returned to MWR are decided and allocated by the garrison commander at each installation.”
While Yeager acknowledged the importance of the Morale, Welfare and Recreation, he warned that the U.S. military needs to make additional investments to help prevent gambling addiction and help military members who suffer from gambling addiction.
“Educating soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen that this is a real addiction and that there’s treatment that could improve readiness and could bring people out of the woodwork who are scared to go to treatment,” Yeager stated. “It would not be difficult to do.”
