New Kindbridge initiative aims to reduce gambling-related harm for military members, families

Summary

Kindbridge Research Institute (KRI) has launched “Stigma Stand Down,” a Colorado-wide programme to support active-duty service personnel, veterans and their families facing gambling-related mental health issues. The initiative offers free, confidential therapy via a partnership with Kindbridge Behavioral Health, and an anonymous Gambling Self-Check (BBGS) tool to provide personalised early-intervention feedback.

The rollout targets Colorado’s more than 60,000 service members and coincides with the busy sports-betting period at the start of the football season. KRI cites research suggesting gambling disorders are up to 3.5 times more prevalent in military populations than in civilians and highlights worrying links between problem gambling and suicidal behaviour among veterans.

The programme is backed by grants from the Colorado Division of Gaming and FanDuel and draws on partnerships with universities and industry groups to deliver evidence-based, military-focused care.

Key Points

Stigma Stand Down is a Colorado-wide programme offering free, confidential therapy for service members, veterans and families affected by gambling-related harms.
The initiative includes an anonymous Gambling Self-Check (BBGS) to help with early intervention and personalised feedback.
KRI says gambling disorders can be up to 3.5 times more common among military populations than civilians, citing unique stressors tied to service and transition to civilian life.
The timing targets the busy sports-betting period (start of football season) to normalise conversations about mental health, PTSD, depression, substance use and gambling harms.
Funding and support come from the Colorado Division of Gaming, FanDuel, Kindbridge Behavioural Health and academic partners such as UNLV and the University of New Mexico.
There is a wider push for more military gambling research, including appeals to Congress to include gambling addiction in peer-reviewed medical research funding.

Why should I read this?

Because this isn’t just another charity press release — it’s a targeted, state-backed push that recognises military life brings specific gambling risks. If you work in military health, responsible gambling, policy or veterans’ affairs, this tells you who’s doing what, when and how. Quick read, big implications.

Context and relevance

The initiative arrives as legalised sports betting expands and concerns grow about accessibility and harm among vulnerable groups. Stigma Stand Down aligns with growing industry, academic and political moves to treat gambling addiction as a public health issue and to fund more research into military-specific harms. Its partnerships and funding model show how public, private and academic actors are co‑operating to deliver tailored, evidence-based care.

For operators and policymakers, the programme is a signal that proactive, locally tailored support — combined with screening tools and confidential therapy — is likely to become an expected part of responsible gambling strategies, especially in jurisdictions with large military populations.