Gambling Addiction Prevention Act of 2019

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. Short title This Act may be cited as the Gambling Addiction Prevention Act of 2019 2. Development and implementation of policies and programs to prevent and treat gambling disorder among members of the Armed Forces and their dependents (a) Policies and programs (1) In general The Secretary of Defense shall develop and implement policies and programs on prevention, education, and treatment of gambling disorder and integrate gambling disorder into existing mental health and substance use disorder programs. (2) Consultation The Secretary shall develop the policies and programs described in paragraph (1) in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (b) Educational materials and promotion of responsible behavior (1) In general In carrying out policies and programs developed and implemented under subsection (a)(1), if the Secretary hosts or provides gambling activities at a morale, welfare, and recreation facility of the Department of Defense, the Secretary shall, at that facility— (A) provide— (i) educational materials and a list of resources to assist and empower members of the Armed Forces to identify the risks of gambling; and (ii) a list of resources and informational material on where such members can seek help if they develop gambling disorder; and (B) implement measures that encourage responsible behavior consistent with measures authorized and required by commercial and tribal gaming regulators in the United States. (2) Funding of measures The Secretary shall fund measures implemented under paragraph (1)(B) through the use of proceeds generated by gambling activities at morale, welfare, and recreation facilities of the Department. (c) Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on efforts undertaken under this section. (d) Congressional defense committees defined In this section, the term congressional defense committees 3. Update of Department of Defense regulations, instructions, and other guidance to include gambling disorder (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall update all regulations, instructions, and other guidance of the Department of Defense and the military departments with respect to behavioral health to explicitly include gambling disorder. (b) Military departments defined In this section, the term military departments

Summary: Gambling Addiction Prevention Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to implement policies and programs on prevention, education, and treatment of gambling disorder. It requires integration of gambling disorder into existing mental health and substance use disorder programs. If DOD provides gambling activities at a morale, welfare, and recreation facility, it must (1) provide educational materials and a list of resources to assist service members in identifying the risks of gambling and seeking help, and (2) implement measures that encourage behavior consistent with measures used by commercial and tribal gaming regulators. Funding of measures under this bill shall come from gambling activity proceeds generated at DOD morale, welfare, and recreation facilities.