The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) represents approximately 1.3 to 1.4 million active members throughout the United States in addition to Canada, and Puerto Rico. The IBT represents a diverse range of workers across the nation, with representation in key industries and sectors that the country depends upon to thrive. A number of these industries and sectors are associated with elevated risks to the wellbeing of members. Most are well documented, such as workplace injuries that may occur in Trucking & Freight or Warehouse & Distribution, et cetera. Since inception (1903) the IBT has introduced and managed ever-evolving protocols to protect members from workplace injuries through comprehensive safety training, negotiation of strong safety language in contracts, and enforcement of workplace standards. Mental health concerns have also received significantly more attention over the last few years, with the IBT proactively connecting to members to let them know that they can come forward with their struggles and access resources that have been made available to them:
The IBT’s mental health commitment extends to the following 8 pillars:
- Education and Awareness
- Stigma Reduction
- Accessibility
- Collaboration and Partnership
- Prevention and Early Intervention
- Research and Innovation
- Advocacy and Policy Change
- Support and Empowerment
Readers can learn more about the program right here.
While the IBT has made tremendous strides in protecting the mental health of members, emerging threats arrive with the introduction of new technologies and germinate quietly within the membership. One in particular is poisoning the well of workers, with certain industries/sectors and population segments exhibiting greater vulnerabilities to developing problematic behavior to the web-enabled activity. This uprising threat, is online gambling.
Below is a summary of what Teamsters members, and their loved ones, need to know when it comes to navigating a world where online casino gaming and sports betting have become a normalized part of society.
Overview of How Online Gambling is an Emerging Threat to the Mental and Behavioral Health of Teamsters Members (and what to watch out for)
I. Sectors Most Vulnerable to Problem Gambling
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) represents a diverse range of workers across the nation, with representation in key industries and sectors. While anyone in any field of work can become impacted by the harms of gambling, research confirms that workers in certain sectors exhibit greater vulnerabilities to developing an unhealthy relationship with online gambling when compared to the general population. In recognizing one’s position within an industry defined as being more “at risk”, an individual will be armed with mindfulness regarding their existing or future involvement in online gambling. From there, they can take steps to mitigate the threat.
Package & Delivery
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirms that drivers (including those in package delivery) show an increased vulnerability to online gambling, citing social isolation, a lack of visual oversight on their work, monotony of duty, and irregular hours as being among the factors that contribute to habitual online gambling behavior.
Truckers & Freight
This group shares some of the same risk factors as Package & Delivery. Truckers and freight workers are more vulnerable to problem gambling due to long hours of isolation, monotony, easy access to mobile gambling, and high-stress financial pressure.
Warehouse & Distribution
The same NIH analysis referenced above confirms that warehouse and distribution workers are considered to be at a higher risk for developing problem gambling, primarily due to the monotony of tasks, high stress, and unconventional work hours.
Airline Division
This one comes as a surprise to many, as problem gambling is often associated with lower socioeconomic status and lower educational attainment. However, research confirms that there is potential for high-risk financial behavior among airline pilots. Certain personality traits observed in airline pilots, such as high extraversion scores, combined with high disposable income, may potentially serve as a risk factor for engaging in “gamified” investments, those where there is a perception that there may be knowledge, skill, and a winning strategy involved. These perceptions are cognitive distortions (view more) which are observed by those participating in sports betting, and prediction market trading. Moreover, the NIH reports that low neuroticism scores of pilots compared to their non-pilot counterparts, reflect an advanced ability to handle stress, fear, and anxiety, which can amplify a false sense of confidence in high-risk investment products such as online gambling and prediction market trading.
Public Services & Law Enforcement
Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics make up a significant portion of the approximate 250,000 IBT members employed in the public services and law enforcement sector. These first responders face a number of occupational hazards and have certain personality traits that are considered contributing risk factors for problem gambling. Further insight can be found in this feature on Problem Gambling Among Law Enforcement and this feature on Firefighter Mental Health Struggles (which applies to other first responders).
Building Material & Construction
Research shows that workers within the building and construction industry face higher rates of problem gambling due to factors like high-stress, physically demanding work, long hours, isolation, and, for some, high disposable income. Additionally, peer pressure is a prevalent characteristic in the “spread” of online sports betting among this group.
Solid Waste & Recycling
Similar to the workforces in some of the sectors above, research also suggests that those employed in manual labor within recycling and waste management industries are more vulnerable to problem gambling compared to the general population. Studies point to high-stress environments, predominantly male workforces, and lower-routine or shift-based work schedules as being contributing factors. One study also identified that the social stigma of working in waste may be an additional driver for gambling-related harms.
Motion Picture & Theatrical
Those working within entertainment may face higher risks for problem gambling due to industry-specific factors like irregular, high-stress environments, and long, unconventional hours. Further, they rely upon project-based income which can be quite inconsistent. As a result, the look towards securing other less conventional sources of income, falsely believing that online gambling may be a viable resource of this income. These conditions can contribute to mental health challenges and financial instability, which are key risk factors for developing gambling problems. In addition, American Addictions Centers have identified that workers in the entertainment industry have higher rates of alcohol and illicit drug use, which are associated with higher rates of problem gambling.
Industrial Trades
Industry trades rounds out the list of industries/sectors that Teamsters members must be aware of in the context of problem gambling. Workers from within, particularly those involved in manual labor without a fixed location, are more vulnerable due to factors including, but not limited to, shift work, long hours away from home, financial stress, and, in some cases, a workplace culture that normalizes online casino gaming and sports betting.
II. Issues That Cooccur with Problem Gambling
There are relatively common mental health issues among Teamsters members that are often compounded by financial stress, physical demands, long working hours, and the pressure of working in safety-sensitive positions. These issues are also associated with problem gambling. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed, or suspects being afflicted with any of the following, mindfulness of gambling behavior is required.
*Links to learn more about comorbidity with problem gambling are included within each issue/disorder labelled in the following table.
| Anxiety | Depression |
| ADHD | Bipolar Disorder |
| OCD | PTSD |
| Substance Use Disorder | Suicidal ideation |
| Unhealthy Social Media Use | Unhealthy Gaming |
| Unhealthy Porn Use | Unhealthy Sexual Behavior |
III. Signs of Problem Gambling to Watch Out For
In identifying unhealthy behaviors (or signs) related to online casino gaming, sports betting, prediction markets, lottery, and other “real money” games of chance, an individual may come to understand that counseling intervention is needed. If you (or a loved one) exhibits a combination of three or more of the following, it’s time for a conversation:
- You are in debt or are experiencing significant financial strain due to your online gambling activities.
- You spend increasing amounts of money on wagers based upon an irrational belief you will “win back” money that you already lost.
- You frequently ask for loans and/or have resorted to theft/fraud to cover losses and make additional wagers.
- You rationalize online gambling as a reasonable means to compensate for inconsistent income related to project work that is common to certain Teamster member sectors (e.g. construction, film production, etc.).
- You believe that you have strategy that will improve your odds of winning bets over the longterm (e.g. bankroll management).
- You spend increasing amounts of money on online gambling to attain the same rush of excitement that you once felt with lower value and lower volume bets.
- You get irritable, restless, or anxious when you have missed (or nearly miss) an opportunity to make a bet or prediction market trade on a sporting event.
- You get irritable, restless, or anxious when you are not able to get online to make a wager and/or view updates on events being added to your chosen betting platform/s.
- You lie to loved ones about online gambling activity and/or do not follow-through on promises to them that you will quit.
- You participate in online gambling as a means to cope with and escape negative feelings.
- You participate in online gambling as a means to cope with and escape issues with chronic pain associated with workplace injuries.
- You go online and engage with online gambling platforms when not appropriate or safe, such as while driving, operating heavy machinery, or on-site and working in general.
- You have lost interest in other, healthier, activities that you once enjoyed.
- You neglect to spend time with friends and loved ones to instead focus on gambling activities.
- You think about online casino gaming and sports betting/trading frequently throughout the day to the point that it consumes most of your thoughts.
- You have attempted to control, cut down, or stop online gambling without success.
Teamster members seeking support for problem gambling and any cooccurring mental health issues can contact their local union business representative, shop steward, or the Teamster Center Services 800-433-4TCS (4827). Further, the IBT’s Human Rights and Diversity Commission and specialized programs like the Labor Assistance Program-Counseling (LAP-C) offer confidential peer support for stress and crisis situations that may connect to any of the issues that have been discussed here today.
If you remain unsure about approaching someone in the union, you or a loved one can access virtual support services through Kindbridge Behavioral Health. Kindbridge provides powerful, accessible, confidential, and customized treatment for individuals, couples, and families who struggle with gambling harms. Our services are also covered by most insurance plans, which may qualify you for direct billing.
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