The Defense Department runs slot machines on military bases overseas, earning millions to support recreation for troops but exposing them to gambling addiction risks. Veterans and service members often face higher gambling disorder rates than civilians and may hesitate to seek help due to fears about their military standing. Individual experiences, like that of Army officer Dave Yeager, illustrate the addictive pull of these machines, leading to lost savings and personal crises, amplifying concerns about the prevalence of slot machines in military environments.
"As I'm sitting there, the first thing I'm noticing is that my shoulders are relaxing. Then, I won. In that moment, all the stress, the anxiety, the pain, the hurt, the fear—it washed away."
"I thought no one could help me," Yeager says about his gambling issues as he spiraled into a devastating obsession with slot machines.
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