Kindbridge Tackles Gambling’s Financial Harm in U.S.
Kindbridge Research Institute (KRI) unveiled the Financial Stability and Responsible Gambling Initiative, the first U.S. effort to treat gambling-related financial harm as a public health and stability issue.
A New Approach to Gambling Harm
“Financial stress connected to gambling is often one of the earliest signs that a person is under serious strain—whether it’s emotional, psychological, or financial,” said Daniel Umfleet, Director of the initiative. The multi-year project unites experts to curb debt and stress from gambling.
The initiative targets early signs like missed payments or mounting debt, often tied to mental health struggles such as anxiety or depression.
By coordinating finance, healthcare, and research, KRI aims to build practical support systems. With 1-2% of U.S. adults facing gambling disorders this effort could help thousands.
Experts Unite for Solutions
A national working group of leaders from finance, healthcare, and research will guide the initiative, sharing insights to develop tools like financial education.
“By bringing together sectors that haven’t traditionally worked in partnership, we have a real chance to step in earlier, coordinate care, and build practical responses,” Umfleet said. The group will explore upstream prevention to stabilize lives.
UCLA researchers, led by Dr. Timothy Fong, will study how gambling and financial instability intersect, identifying risk patterns and effective interventions.
“Financial stress is one of the most common and damaging consequences of harmful gambling,” said Fong, Co-Director of UCLA’s Gambling Studies Program. “This initiative allows us to intervene earlier in that trajectory.”
Addressing a Hidden Crisis
The initiative tackles financial harm as a gateway to deeper issues, with many seeking help for gambling only to uncover mental health challenges.
“As clinicians, we see how financial harm often drives people to seek help, but by the time they do, much of the damage has already been done,” Fong added. K
RI’s focus on early intervention could reduce the $7 billion in annual U.S. gambling-related losses.
By fostering cross-sector collaboration, the initiative aims to create scalable solutions, like integrating financial counseling into gambling support programs. KRI’s work aligns with resources like 1-800-GAMBLER, ensuring players access help early. The initiative could reach 500,000 at-risk gamblers.
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