Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have a tri-service policy that sets out the process to be followed in the event that a serving soldier develops a gambling addiction.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Further to the answer I gave the Noble Lord Bishop on 15 April 2025 to Question HL6578, there is currently a comprehensive Gambling clinical pathway in the Defence Medical Services that assesses and supports Service personnel who come forward with a gambling issue.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether gambling machines of any category as defined in the Gambling Act 2005 are provided by (1) the navy, (2) the army, or (3) the air force, in (a) catering, (b) retail, or (c) leisure facilities, of (i) UK bases, and (ii) UK-run bases abroad.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 15 April 2025, to Question HL6578.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much money was made from fixed-odds betting terminals located on Ministry of Defence property in (1) 2021, (2) 2022, (3) 2023, and (4) 2024; and who was the beneficiary of any such money.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce legislation similar to the Gambling Addiction Prevention Act 2019 in the United States of America, to require the development and implementation of policies and programmes to prevent and treat gambling disorders among members of the armed forces and their dependants.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has no current plans to introduce legislation. The MOD already has a number of policies and programmes in place within the Armed Forces that assist Service personnel with gambling addiction.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce legislation to require (1) annual medical screening questions related to gambling disorder in the military, and (2) the annual assessment of the prevalence of gambling disorder among members of the armed forces.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has no current plans to introduce legislation. The MOD already has a number of policies and programmes in place within the Armed Forces that assist Service personnel with gambling addiction.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce legislation to require that screening questions related to gambling disorders are asked during a soldier's recruitment process.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has no current plans to introduce legislation. The MOD already has a number of policies and programmes in place within the Armed Forces that assist Service personnel with gambling addiction.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the success of existing programmes in the military in reducing gambling-related harm among serving personnel.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave him on 15 April 2025 to Question HL6577.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made, if any, of the number of problem gamblers who are serving in the Armed Forces.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence takes problem-gambling seriously.
While data on gambling rates in the military is not routinely reported, where problem-gambling is identified, Defence healthcare providers ensure that the individual is referred to the appropriate level and type of intervention to meet their gambling issue.
This service sets out the levels of care to be provided by Primary Care and Mental Health clinicians from low-risk gambling up to gambling with negative consequences and a possible loss of control can be aligned to welfare support to those who are adversely affected by problem-gambling and supports referral to specialist support organisations such as the NHS Primary Care Gambling Services.
Defence also draws on support from GambleAware for campaigns to tackle the stigma associated with Gambling, collaborates with the Centre of Military Gambling Research at the University of Swansea, works with cross-Government colleagues including with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities on policy development, and regularly consults with the Armed Forces Gambling Support Network. Gambling websites are also blocked on Defence IT to reduce accessibility, and financial awareness training is available for all personnel.
Veterans are eligible for gambling addiction treatment through the National Health Service. The Office for Veterans' Affairs in the Ministry of Defence regularly works with the third sector and academia to ensure veteran-specific needs are understood.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of gambling-related harm among (1) veterans and (2) people currently serving in the Armed Forces; and what assessment they have made, if any, of gambling participation rate in those groups.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence takes problem-gambling seriously.
While data on gambling rates in the military is not routinely reported, where problem-gambling is identified, Defence healthcare providers ensure that the individual is referred to the appropriate level and type of intervention to meet their gambling issue.
This service sets out the levels of care to be provided by Primary Care and Mental Health clinicians from low-risk gambling up to gambling with negative consequences and a possible loss of control can be aligned to welfare support to those who are adversely affected by problem-gambling and supports referral to specialist support organisations such as the NHS Primary Care Gambling Services.
Defence also draws on support from GambleAware for campaigns to tackle the stigma associated with Gambling, collaborates with the Centre of Military Gambling Research at the University of Swansea, works with cross-Government colleagues including with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities on policy development, and regularly consults with the Armed Forces Gambling Support Network. Gambling websites are also blocked on Defence IT to reduce accessibility, and financial awareness training is available for all personnel.
Veterans are eligible for gambling addiction treatment through the National Health Service. The Office for Veterans' Affairs in the Ministry of Defence regularly works with the third sector and academia to ensure veteran-specific needs are understood.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support is available to problem gamblers who are serving in the Armed Forces.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence takes problem-gambling seriously.
While data on gambling rates in the military is not routinely reported, where problem-gambling is identified, Defence healthcare providers ensure that the individual is referred to the appropriate level and type of intervention to meet their gambling issue.
This service sets out the levels of care to be provided by Primary Care and Mental Health clinicians from low-risk gambling up to gambling with negative consequences and a possible loss of control can be aligned to welfare support to those who are adversely affected by problem-gambling and supports referral to specialist support organisations such as the NHS Primary Care Gambling Services.
Defence also draws on support from GambleAware for campaigns to tackle the stigma associated with Gambling, collaborates with the Centre of Military Gambling Research at the University of Swansea, works with cross-Government colleagues including with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities on policy development, and regularly consults with the Armed Forces Gambling Support Network. Gambling websites are also blocked on Defence IT to reduce accessibility, and financial awareness training is available for all personnel.
Veterans are eligible for gambling addiction treatment through the National Health Service. The Office for Veterans' Affairs in the Ministry of Defence regularly works with the third sector and academia to ensure veteran-specific needs are understood.