While substance abuse issues among veterans have received increasing attention over the years, another concern has emerged: gambling-related harm. Multiple studies suggest that veterans and active-duty military personnelexperience gambling-related problems at rates higher than the general population.

Online sports betting has seen exponential growth due to technological advances, legalization trends, mobile access, and aggressive marketing. Youth—particularly males aged 15–24—are increasingly targeted through gamified interfaces, sports influencer promotions, and social media integration.