II 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2060 

To require policies and programs to prevent and treat gambling disorder 

among members of the Armed Forces and their dependents, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 9, 2019 

Ms. WARREN (for herself and Mr. DAINES) introduced the following bill; which 

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

A BILL 

To require policies and programs to prevent and treat gambling disorder among members of the Armed Forces and 

their dependents, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Gambling Addiction 

5 Prevention Act of 2019’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF POLI2 CIES AND PROGRAMS TO PREVENT AND 

3 TREAT GAMBLING DISORDER AMONG MEM4 BERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR DE5 PENDENTS. 

6 (a) POLICIES AND PROGRAMS.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 

8 shall develop and implement policies and programs 

9 on prevention, education, and treatment of gambling 

10 disorder and integrate gambling disorder into exist11 ing mental health and substance use disorder pro12 grams. 

13 (2) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall de14 velop the policies and programs described in para15 graph (1) in coordination with the Secretary of Vet16 erans Affairs, the Secretary of Homeland Security, 

17 and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 

18 (b) EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND PROMOTION OF

19 RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out policies and 

21 programs developed and implemented under sub22 section (a)(1), if the Secretary hosts or provides 

23 gambling activities at a morale, welfare, and recre24 ation facility of the Department of Defense, the Sec25 retary shall, at that facility— 

26 (A) provide— 


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1 (i) educational materials and a list of 

2 resources to assist and empower members 

3 of the Armed Forces to identify the risks 

4 of gambling; and 

5 (ii) a list of resources and informa6 tional material on where such members can 

7 seek help if they develop gambling dis8 order; and 

9 (B) implement measures that encourage 

10 responsible behavior consistent with measures 

11 authorized and required by commercial and 

12 tribal gaming regulators in the United States. 

13 (2) FUNDING OF MEASURES.—The Secretary 

14 shall fund measures implemented under paragraph 

15 (1)(B) through the use of proceeds generated by 

16 gambling activities at morale, welfare, and recreation 

17 facilities of the Department. 

18 (c) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 

19 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 

20 to the congressional defense committees a report on efforts 

21 undertaken under this section. 

22 (d) CONGRESSIONAL DEFENSE COMMITTEES DE23 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘congressional defense 

24 committees’’ has the meaning given that term in section 

25 101 of title 10, United States Code. 


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1 SEC. 3. UPDATE OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE REGULA2 TIONS, INSTRUCTIONS, AND OTHER GUID3 ANCE TO INCLUDE GAMBLING DISORDER. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

5 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De6 fense, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military 

7 departments, shall update all regulations, instructions, 

8 and other guidance of the Department of Defense and the 

9 military departments with respect to behavioral health to 

10 explicitly include gambling disorder. 

11 (b) MILITARY DEPARTMENTS DEFINED.—In this 

12 section, the term ‘‘military departments’’ has the meaning 

13 given that term in section 101(8) of title 10, United States 

14 Code. 

Æ 


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