The word “disability” is an umbrella term that covers various impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. While there is variation in international classifications, there are essentially three primary categories of disability:
- Mental / Psychological Disability: This category encompasses a broad range of mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and schizophrenia, that without therapeutic intervention and management (possibly with medication) can significantly interfere with daily functioning. People can be born with conditions that are classified as psychological or neurodevelopmental disabilities, as well as with a genetic predisposition to develop mental health conditions later in life.
- Cognitive / Developmental Disability: This category covers below-average intellectual abilities and challenges with daily life skills. Challenges include poor memory, difficulty making plans, difficulty solving problems, trouble finding the right words to communicate, disorientation to time and place, poor judgment, and behavioral changes. People can be born with cognitive disabilities, which are often present at birth, or they may develop shortly after due to genetic conditions, prenatal complications, or birth trauma.
- Longterm/Permanent Physical Disability: This category refers to limitations affecting an individual’s physical capacity, mobility, stamina, or dexterity. It includes conditions that impact the body’s structure or function. People can be born with physical disabilities (e.g. cerebral palsy), develop them due to illness and genetic predisposition (e.g. muscular dystrophy), or have them as a result of an accident or other form of acute physical trauma that may cause a spinal cord injury, amputation, and or longterm musculoskeletal malfunction.
The general population has a cursory understanding of how the first two categories of disability can elevate vulnerabilities to addictive behaviors, including those related to gambling. As gambling has become a growing public health concern (namely with the recent regulation of sports betting), a wide body of research has been released to alert the public about how people with psychological disabilities and mental health conditions are significantly more vulnerable to developing unhealthy relationships with gambling compared to the general populous. The American Psychological Association reports that over 96% of people with gambling problems have at least one other psychiatric disorder, with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and impulse-control disorders being particularly common. Meanwhile, it’s easy for the population to draw a direct connection between a cognitive / developmental disability and an inability to regulate behavior relating to gambling. People with cognitive disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, developmental disorders, and acquired brain injuries, are considered more vulnerable to problem gambling and associated harms because they often lack the cognitive skills to recognize or manage the risks involved. Understanding all of this, there is an emerging collective effort between loved ones, caregivers, public health officials, and regulators to educate vulnerable persons.
Where there is a significant knowledge gap, with respect to gambling with a disability, is the last category listed above. Education about the harms and risks of gambling as they apply to people living with longterm physical disabilities is relatively lacking. To spread awareness and encourage mindfulness, we have put together an overview that we encourage readers to digest, and share.
Overview of How Individuals with Longterm Physical-Mobility Disabilities Must be More Mindful of their Online Gambling Behavior
I. Gambling to Cope with Mental Health Issues Related to Physical Disability
There have been a number of publicized cases where traditional gambling facilities have offered limited accessibility for physically challenged persons. For instance, the U.S. federal government has had to intervene in popular gambling destinations, such as New Jersey (view here). However, the proliferation of online sports betting and gambling-adjacent prediction market trading (view more) has made the activity more accessible than ever before. This can be problematic for people with physical disabilities. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that the group has a significantly higher prevalence of disordered online gambling compared to the general population:
“Online gambling may serve as a more accessible form of gambling compared to gambling at physical gambling venues for those with disabilities affecting movement. Relatedly, a Canadian study found that GD was more strongly associated with physical limitation and use of gambling to regulate mood among those receiving disability benefit compared to those not receiving disability benefit. Another US study found that participants with GD who received disability benefit had stronger GD symptom severity compared to participants with GD who did not receive disability benefit, despite both groups reporting of similar levels of gambling involvement.” (NIH)
As the above snippet infers, problematic gambling behavior within the discussed populous is linked to the use of online gambling to manage negative feelings and emotions associated with physical limitations. Let’s explore this further.
a) Social Isolation
Inaccessible environments and limited access to transportation can isolate individuals with physical limitations. This can lead to social isolation, which is an objective lack of social contact, characterized by few relationships, infrequent social interactions, and an absence of mutually rewarding connections. It fosters a subjective feeling of being alone, often leading to poor physical and mental health outcomes. Research confirms that social isolation is both a major driver and a consequence of problem gambling, creating a vicious cycle where those who feel isolated leverage the dopamine “high” of gambling to escape, leading to further withdrawal from society. Shame, guilt, and distress can cause them to hide their habits, alienating friends and family that they do share a bond with, which perpetuates the vicious cycle.
b) Low Self Esteem
Negative stereotypes and perceptions about pity can cause individuals with physical limitations to feel burdensome or invisible, which can lead to lowered self-worth. Research confirms that low self-esteem is a key psychological driver and consequence of problem gambling, creating a cycle of shame, guilt, and further reduced self-worth.
c) Grief Over Past-Identity
Grief over loss of one’s past identity is particularly common among those who have acquired disabilities due to injury. Those who experience this may use online gambling to numb emotional pain and escape feelings of loss of their previous lifestyle. Online gambling acts as a dangerous coping mechanism that can turn into a compulsive habit, leading to further emotional distress.
d) Post Traumatic Stress
On their own, post-traumatic stress disorder and problem gambling are highly comorbid (view data), as trauma survivors often use gambling to escape, numb emotional pain, or manage arousal symptoms, leading to an addictive cycle often driven by coping motives and distorted cognitions. This can be elevated when post traumatic stress is related to the accident or event that led to longterm or permanent wheelchair confinement, or other severe physical limitation.
e) Depression
Research confirms that depression is a common psychological problem that decreases life satisfaction and quality of life in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and various physical disabilities that compromise mobility. As with anxiety and stress, problematic gambling behavior is closely linked to depression as an unhealthy coping mechanism and ensuing dopamine loop.
In summary, people with physical disabilities experiencing related mental health compromise are highly vulnerable to the harms of gambling. Abstinence from online casino gaming, sports betting, and prediction market trading is strongly recommended.
II. Increased Vulnerability to Financial Strain
Data pulled from Google / Gemini AI uncovers concerning monthly queries occurring within largely populated U.S. cities and states:
These queries presumably come from individuals who qualify for, and receive, government financial assistance to supplement income. Adults with disabilities (who are collecting disability income) in the United States experience poverty rates roughly twice as high as those without disabilities, which is what makes the identified queries troubling.
The queries likely indicate two things. For one, a number of disabled persons desire to use – and do use – limited financial resources to gamble. They then experience compounded financial harm and related anxiety and stress, which leads to a pattern of chasing losses and increased negative outcomes. Secondly, it may be concluded that some consider gambling as a means to supplement disability income. This is an irrational way of thinking, otherwise known as a cognitive distortion among gamblers. When they lose (which they invariably do), they are driven further down a hole of financial despair and continue to gamble to cope with associated feelings of anxiety and stress.
In summary, people with physical disabilities experiencing financial stress are a highly vulnerable population regarding gambling harm. Abstinence from online casino gaming, sports betting, and prediction market trading is strongly recommended.
Do you struggle to maintain a healthy relationship with online gambling? Connect to a care coordinator for a FREE behavioral health assessment and to schedule your first virtual counseling session.
