Temptation to Gamble Is Near for Troops Overseas

[Rose Siding]

snip>
Military gambling is a big business. About $2 billion flows through military-owned slot machines at officers' clubs, activities centers and bowling alleys on overseas bases each year. Most flows back out as jackpots, but 6 percent remains with the house, about the same ratio as in Las Vegas.

Each year, the armed forces take in more than $120 million from on-base slot machines and $7 million from Army bingo games at home. These funds help pay for recreational programs for the troops.

But even military researchers have acknowledged that the armed forces are heavily populated by people who, like Aaron Walsh, may be especially vulnerable to gambling addiction: athletic, risk-taking young people who are experiencing severe stress and anxiety.

"And wartime is an environment that is probably creating more vulnerability than usual," said Christine Reilly, executive director of the gambling addiction research institute at Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching institution for the Harvard Medical School.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/19/business/19slots.html

[bullimiami]

1. maybe the military should run brothels and opium dens too.

or outsource them to halliburton more likely.
sure to be big money makers in a war zone.

someone should look into who runs this army gambling concession.

[rickrok66]

2. Military Slot Machines

I'm in the military and I will let you know that a lot of people have heartburn with the presence of these slot machines overseas.

First, it is hypocritical. There is a regulation which forbids gambling sponsored by installations stateside and you cannot gamble between officer and enlisted. But, if you have them overseas, then it is okay.

It is also hypocritical that about ten years ago, the DOD pulled all the porno out of the PX, but left gambling. It is intersting to note that Playboy and Penthouse are still sold in the PX, because there is a board at AAFES that determines what is and what isn't pornography.

Second, many service members, who don't like the gambling, come from all different backgrounds - enlisted, officer, religious, black, white.

Finally, I read the article about the warrant officer. From my experience, most of the people you see playing these slot machines are old Korean wives of the retirees who live in Korea.

Yes, it is true, the DOD'd Moral, Welfare, and Recreation program makes so much money from these machines which fund a lot of good programs. But it comes down to using a bad means to a good end or taking advantage of the suffering of others for your own ends.

I hope this give you a different perspective. I am no prude, but DOD should be consistent in its tolerance of vices.