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Study Links First Responders’ Risk-Taking Duties to Gambling Problems

By jili tutorial · September 2, 2026

Study Highlights Elevated Gambling Risk Among First Responders

New research funded by the Colorado Division of Gaming reveals that first responders face a significantly higher risk of developing gambling problems. The study, conducted by Massachusetts-based Kindbridge Behavioral Health in partnership with EPIC Global Solutions, a UK gambling harm prevention consultancy, raises serious concerns about gambling rates among firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel.

Key Findings: Nearly All First Responders Gamble

Published as Gambling Among First Responders in the United States, the report found that gambling is nearly universal in this group—94.5% of first responders reported gambling within the past 12 months. Of those, 44% met the clinical criteria for problem gambling, while an additional 39% were classified as at-risk.

“The findings indicated that first responders are at a high risk of gambling harm, with firefighters and those with a military background being the most vulnerable. This underscores the importance of designing targeted prevention initiatives and education around potential gambling harms for this group,” the Kindbridge Research Institute concluded.

Firefighters and Military Veterans Most Vulnerable

The survey analyzed responses from 507 current first responders, collected via online questionnaires. The sample was carefully screened—281 of the initial 788 responses were dropped due to reliability concerns.

Researchers identified a strong correlation between the risk-taking inherent in first responders’ daily duties and their willingness to take financial risks through gambling. Firefighters emerged as the highest-risk group: nearly half (49%) met the criteria for problem gambling. This echoes a recent case reported by Casino.org, in which an assistant fire chief stole $1.6 million from his volunteer department to cover gambling losses.

The study suggests that constant exposure to high-stakes situations predisposes first responders to both mental health issues and addictive behaviors. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was identified as a key factor: first responders who reported no PTSD symptoms were 89% less likely to meet or approach problem-gambling thresholds.

“First responders are exposed to high-risk situations, making them vulnerable to a range of mental health problems and addictive behaviors, including PTSD and problem gambling,” the report noted.

Citing a 2022 study in the Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, Kindbridge pointed to the elevated risk of mental health problems among first responders due to their regular exposure to emotional distress and traumatic incidents.

Recommendations for Prevention and Support

Kindbridge concluded that problem gambling among U.S. first responders represents a serious, under-recognized occupational health threat. The study recommends developing and implementing targeted prevention and education initiatives tailored to this workforce. Employers are urged to adopt evidence-based training and intervention programs.

“The goal is to support and protect first responders’ well-being,” the researchers stated.