When U.S. troops step into certain overseas recreation halls, they’re met with rows of flashing slot machines. For many, it’s a way to pass time far from home. For others, it’s the start of a costly and sometimes devastating habit.

The Defense Department operates thousands of slot machines on military bases abroad, generating over $100 million in annual revenue, according to the Government Accountability Office. Most are managed by the Army Recreation Machine Program, which oversees machines for the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, while the Air Force runs its own version. Bases in Japan, South Korea, and Germany host the largest numbers.

The U.S. military operates thousands of slot machines on overseas bases.

Young, Isolated, and at Risk

Military personnel are twice as likely as civilians to develop gambling disorders, estimates the National Council on Problem Gambling. Experts cite factors unique to service life: isolation from family, high stress, long stretches of boredom, and a culture that already sees elevated rates of substance use. Slot machines—often just a short walk from barracks—can be played by service members as young as 18, well below the civilian casino minimum in most states, NPR reports.

Some veterans describe harmless limits, but others, like former Army officer Dave Yeager, fell into what he called a “devastating obsession,” draining savings and risking careers. In one tragic case, Army pilot Aaron Walsh lost his family’s savings to base slots and later died by suicide, detailed in Gaming Law Review.

Easy access on base increases the risk of addiction.

A Profitable but Controversial Program

The Pentagon defends the machines as vital to funding morale, welfare, and recreation programs—everything from golf courses to youth centers—without tapping taxpayer dollars. The Army Recreation Machine Program brought in $70.9 million in revenue in fiscal 2024, with $53 million in net proceeds.

But critics argue the gains come at a steep cost. The Department of Veterans Affairs has noted a surge in diagnosed gambling disorders, with more cases in the first half of 2024 than in all of 2022. Advocates say prevention and treatment resources lag far behind those for other addictions, despite the DSM-5 classifying gambling disorder alongside substance use.

Troops are twice as likely as civilians to develop gambling disorders.

Attempts at Reform

Congress has tried—and failed—to address the issue. In 2018, lawmakers mandated annual screening questions for gambling disorder after the GAO found the military wasn’t tracking it. More recently, Rep. Paul Tonko introduced an amendment to ban all military-operated slot machines, calling them a “known addictive product” unfit for military environments, according to Military.com.

Military regulations now call for some safeguards, such as limiting operating hours and winnings, and in the Air Force, suspending privileges for excessive play. But oversight varies, and enforcement often relies on self-reporting—something experts say problem gamblers rarely do.

Annual health screenings now include questions about gambling habits.

The Debate Over Morale Versus Harm

Supporters claim on-base slots keep troops from seeking riskier gambling off-base and provide recreation in remote postings. Critics counter that easy access in a controlled environment doesn’t make the games less addictive—and that the military is effectively profiting from vulnerability.

The debate continues, but one fact is constant: slot machines remain a fixture on many U.S. bases abroad, quietly pulling in millions from the pockets of those sworn to serve.

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