i read with interest that the U.S military have slot machines in some?

Question

bases overseas.soldiers are losing up to $20.000 per year and become addictive.some of these soldiers have committed suicide due to their loses.do you think these machines are damaging the U>S> forces

Answer 1

I have read the same article as you have. It's true. There are slot machines in military bases overseas. And yes, it's run by Morale, Welfare and Recreation which still falls under the Dept. of Defense. It's run partly by tax money (from the Defense budget), and partly from money that they raise. The demand is there; there are all sorts of people in the military, including gamblers. The military life is VERY stressful and there are lots of suicides, lots of divorces (higher probability of divorce among military couples than civilian couples), and based on these factors, it is not at all surprising that there are people in the military committing suicide due to gambling. And the military also have their in-house social services program complete with Psychologists and Counselors that; people can voluntarily seek help for gambling addiction, among other things. Superiors/supervisors also have the power to "send" you to counseling if they think there's a problem. Unfortunately, gamblers can work under the radar and supervisors don't always catch a problem until it's too late.

Answer 2

I was in Italy back in the spring and the slot machines they had there were empty. I NEVER saw anyone sitting at them. They basically were sitting there for decoration.

Gambling can be bad if people lack self control, and this can happen in the civilian world just as easy as it can happen in the military. The thing about the military is that they have programs to help out the soldiers and families if they have a problem.

Answer 3

I don't know about now but at the Base in Naples Italy they had a few One armed bandits in the club.. they aren't damaging the US forces.. people that gamble find a way to gamble.. while at sea I saw many a person lose their paychecks in illegal poker games.. Once in 1982 on board the USS Nimitz we did have one legal gambling night with al the "house" proceeds going to charities like the Navy relief society. There are plenty of bases located near real casinos, so you can't blame a base for having having a slot machine and blaming someones woes on that. If a soldier becomes suicidal over a gambling loss he had deeper problems than gambling.. A military person thinks he has nothing to lose by gambling.. if he loses his entire paycheck he still gets fed and has a place to sleep, unless he is married and his wife needs the money to support a home.. It's his paycheck and wether he saves it, spends it at the bar , the casino or ho house that's his decision, you would think after losing one paycheck to gambling he would learn his lesson

Answer 4

We are at a base overseas that has them in the restaurant run by MWR and you know the people I see at them aren't AD military or their families but the DOD workers. There is also countless ads on the AFN channel about gambling being something just as bad as alcoholism and drugs. That is can destroy the family and you need to get help if you do it. The profit from the slots as well as the restaurant go to doing community things like the Youth & Teen Center doing things for free, a New Year's Eve Party, reduced cost at the restaurant, paying for the lifeguards at the pool and so forth.

Answer 5

You're right. There ARE slot machines at bases overseas. At the base I am on right now, there are slot machines in the Bowling Alley. BUT, they are not owned or operated by the U.S. Military. Those are Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) facilities.

If soldiers are losing money by playing the slots, that's THEIR problem. Sorry to sound harsh, but they are losing because they can't control themselves. Lack of self control, understand? Don't put the blame on the military because Private Snuffy is too weak to control his urge to gamble.

I've been stationed in Germany since 1989. During those 19 years, I can count the number of quarters I've dropped in the slot machines on one hand. I have the ability to manage my money and not throw it in those machines. Every soldier over here has been spoken to by their chain of command regarding financial readiness, financial responsibility, and the risks of gambling. Army Community Services (ACS) has counseling for these types of problems if the soldier can't control the sickness.

Also, most of the financial problems as a result of these machines are caused by FAMILY MEMBERS, not the soldiers themselves. And not to try and drop a race card, but you will mostly see women of asian origin in the bowling alley feeding quarters into these machines. That brings up the problem of soldiers not being able to keep their family members from blowing their money away. ACS has classes for that too.

So you see, the military DOES have the agencies in place to battle the sickness. They are not responsible for it, they are doing everything they can to stop it and treat it. Ultimately, it is on the individual soldier.

Answer 6

When I was stationed in Naples, Italy there were slot machines in the base bar/restaurant. I, personally, didn't like them because they were so loud you had to yell to be heard during your lunch. As to if they're damaging the military, I think they're damaging to weak individuals. It's Darwinism, sort of.

Answer 7

the actual rationalization for having the protection rigidity study the enemy their rights has a larger objective than the conflict (that is why it does no longer make experience). it fairly is in basic terms extra propaganda form brainwashing so as that they are in a position to concern the minds of the protection rigidity forces. have you ever observed all the protection rigidity workers getting used at random checkpoints around the states (a clean violation of the Posse Comitatus Act). quite quickly all people is going to be seen in charge in the previous shown harmless. the protection rigidity desires prepare in the previous they circulate in on the native land and police up their very own u . s . and enslave the full inhabitants.

Answer 8

you know I think it's hogwash. every OCONUS base I have been on( and it's been more than one).. the areas where these things are have always been EMPTY..cobwebby empty.

Does it happen, sure I bet it does. Is it widespread? not in the slightest. the fact is, the ones that get into trouble have nobody but themselves to blame. If they were stateside, they';d be gambling on something else. heck, in the area I am at now, it would be Horseracing.

Answer 9

Those slots have been on bases for ever. I have not heard of anyone killing themselves over it, but know a few who dropped their wives for gambling away all their money at them.

Answer 10

What a load of crap, its not even a true question.

If we trust them to carry weapons then we surely should leave it to them to decide if they put cash in the slot!!

What next put Las Vegas off limits to the military??