U.S. Military Spent $500,000 in Government on Casinos and Entertainment

In 2023, American service members spent at least $500,000 in government funds on gambling, alcohol, nightclubs, and online games. According to Tusk & Purpose, these findings are part of a report from the Pentagon’s Inspector General, which audited spending on Visa IntelliLink cards.

These cards are issued to military personnel for covering travel expenses on official assignments, including hotel stays, rental cars, and meals. However, the audit revealed that in multiple cases, funds were misused for entertainment instead.

Taxpayer money was spent at bars and nightclubs, but some officers went even further in their pursuit of government-funded leisure.

One cardholder racked up more than $10,000 across 23 trips to casinos.

Another service member repeatedly gambled away funds at MGM National Harbor, a casino just a 15-minute drive from the Pentagon.

Between 2020 and 2024, military personnel also spent nearly $150,000 on app purchases from Google Play. Spending spiked around major sporting events and holidays, including the Super Bowl, UFC fight nights, and St. Patrick’s Day.

This isn’t the first time an audit has exposed excessive spending. A similar 2015 review found that service members had burned through approximately $1 million on gambling and another $100,000 at strip clubs.

Last year, the U.S. established a task force aimed at addressing problem gambling within the military.