First Responders Face High Risk of Gambling Problems, New Study Reveals

A new study by Kindbridge Research Institute (KRI) has shed light on the alarming prevalence of gambling-related problems among first responders in the United States. The majority of first responders in the study screened positive for gambling-related problems, and many others fell in the at-risk category.

First responders experience a disproportionate likelihood of developing serious gambling problems if they start engaging with the activity. The report, penned by Anca-Maria Gherghel, a senior research manager at EPIC Global Solutions, and Anneke Stols, a research associate at EPIC Global Solutions, used a sample of 507 professionals from various fields, including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, rescue personnel, police officers, and firefighters.

The research comes just in time for Responsible Gaming Education Month, and its purpose is to draw attention to a long-overlooked issue and how gambling-related harm may be driven by experiencing trauma and psychological distress, not least because of the distinct working conditions first responders find themselves in almost every day. Kindbridge Research Institute’s Mark Lucia said: "Responsible Gaming Education Month is an important opportunity to broaden the conversation and consider whether education, screening, and support are reaching populations whose risks may otherwise remain hidden." The study established that out of the 94.5% of respondents who had gambled in the 12 months leading up to the interview for the research, 44% experienced problem gambling in a way that would qualify them as such, i.e., problem gamblers, while another 39% were put in the "at-risk" category. Another important finding of the study was that 50% of participants were also determined to have possible PTSD-related symptoms, helping flesh out and detail just what the mental health toll on people who work in these professions is. The research was inspired by the personal story of Greg Weber, a serving fighter in New Jersey with 13 years of experience, who has been working with EPIC Global Solutions to recount his struggles with gambling addiction to NCAA student-athletes, in a bid to raise awareness and protect vulnerable individuals. Gambling is normalized and talked about often at the firehouse, and when I spoke at the New Jersey State FMBA Convention in 2024, an anonymous survey showed higher-than-average numbers regarding risk and harm.