If gambling has you thinking about ending things, read this first. You are not alone, and the next step is simple.
- Tell one person tonight — a partner, friend, or the helpline counselor. Saying it out loud breaks the isolation that makes gambling losses feel final.
- Put money out of reach: hand your cards to someone you trust, and block gambling sites and apps.
- Talk to the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER — call, text, or chat, 24/7.
What This Gambling Test Measures
Two minutes, nine questions, and a clear read on where your gambling stands. The test above is the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), the screen researchers and clinicians use worldwide to measure gambling harm.
It asks about your last 12 months and produces a score from 0 to 27. The higher the score, the more your gambling resembles the pattern linked to real harm and loss of control.
A Screen, Not a Diagnosis
A high number flags a problem worth checking; it doesn’t hand you a diagnosis. Only a clinician can diagnose gambling disorder. Under the DSM-5, that means meeting at least 4 of 9 specific criteria over a year[1]. What a screen does well is tell you whether it’s worth that conversation.
- Nine questions about your last 12 months, answered in about two minutes, scored 0 to 27, where eight or more signals problem gambling.
- It can’t diagnose you. Only a clinician can do that; a high score means that conversation is worth having.
- Whatever you score, gambling problems are treatable, and most people who get help improve.
What Your Gambling Test Score Means
Your score sorts into four bands, from no problem to a clear signal of loss of control. Eight or more is the threshold for problem gambling.
| Score | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| 0 | No problem indicated |
| 1–2 | Low risk: a few early signs worth watching |
| 3–7 | Moderate risk: gambling is starting to cause real problems |
| 8 or more | Problem gambling: real consequences and possible loss of control |
A high score doesn’t mean you’re beyond help. Recovery is the common outcome. Across national studies, about a third of people who once had a gambling problem had no symptoms in the past year[2].
The Gambling Patterns the Test Checks For
The nine questions map onto the signs that gambling has tipped from a pastime into a problem.
- Chasing losses: going back another day to win back what you lost[3].
- Betting more than you can afford, and needing bigger bets for the same thrill.
- Borrowing or selling things to get money to gamble.
- Hiding it, feeling guilty, or having people close to you raise concerns.
- Stress, anxiety, or money problems that trace back to gambling.
You don’t need to tick every box. The PGSI counts how often these show up, because frequency is what separates a rough patch from a pattern.
The clearest warning sign isn’t how much you’ve lost — it’s chasing it. Going back another day to win back what you lost is the single pattern clinicians treat as a hallmark of gambling addiction[3], and it’s one of the nine questions above.
Go deeper on the warning signs of gambling addiction →
Why A Gambling Problem Is Worth Catching Early
Catching it early matters because gambling hides better than any other addiction. There’s no smell, no slurred speech, no needle marks, which is exactly why it goes unseen for so long and why a self-check like this earns its keep.
It’s also more dangerous than most people realize. People with gambling disorder think about and attempt suicide at far higher rates than the general population[4]. If your score landed high, that’s a reason to reach out, not to panic, because this is treatable.
What to Do with Your Gambling Test Result
Whatever your number, the next step is the same size: one conversation.
- If you scored in the moderate or problem range, the most effective treatment is therapy: cognitive behavioral therapy has the strongest evidence for gambling disorder and helps most people who try it[5]. See what gambling counseling and rehab involve, or lean on a free support group.
- For free, confidential help any time, contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER: call, text, or chat, 24/7.
- If you’ve had thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 now. You’re not alone, and help is immediate.
If any of this lands, the next step doesn’t have to be a big one. For free, confidential help 24/7 — by phone, text, or chat — contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER. If you’ve had thoughts of suicide, which are far more common with gambling problems, call or text 988. Our treatment centers directory can also point you to the right care. Reaching out today is a real step forward — and one you can make right now.
Frequently asked questions
What is this gambling test, and is it accurate?
It’s the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI): nine questions developed for population research and used worldwide to measure gambling-related harm, scored from 0 to 27. It’s well validated as a screening tool, but a screen flags a possible problem; it doesn’t diagnose one. Only a clinician can diagnose gambling disorder, which under the DSM-5 means meeting at least 4 of 9 specific criteria over the past year[1]. A high score is a reliable signal that it’s worth a fuller conversation.
What score means I have a gambling problem?
On the PGSI, a score of 8 or more indicates problem gambling: gambling with real negative consequences and a possible loss of control. A score of 3 to 7 is a moderate level of risk (gambling is starting to cause problems), 1 to 2 is low risk, and 0 indicates no problem. The single most telling item is chasing losses (going back another day to win back what you lost), which clinicians treat as a hallmark of gambling addiction[3]. Wherever you land, the score is a signal, not a verdict.
Is this gambling test private?
Yes. The test runs entirely in your browser, and your answers never leave your device; nothing is stored or sent anywhere. The whole check takes about two minutes, covers your last 12 months of gambling, and shows you your score and what it means right away. Nobody else sees it unless you choose to share it.
Can gambling addiction be treated?
Yes, and it responds well. Cognitive behavioral therapy has the strongest evidence of any treatment for gambling disorder and helps most people who receive it gamble less and recover[5]. Support groups like Gamblers Anonymous and financial counseling round out care, and the free National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-GAMBLER) can point you to local help. Recovery is common: across national studies, about a third of people who once had a gambling problem had no symptoms in the past year[2].
Is gambling addiction a real disorder?
Yes. In 2013 gambling disorder became the first and only behavioral addiction the psychiatric field formally recognized as an addiction, when the DSM-5 moved it alongside drug and alcohol addiction[1]. It’s a real, diagnosable, and treatable medical condition, not a moral failing or a lack of willpower.
I'm worried about a family member, not myself. Can I use this?
This test is built for self-reflection, so the answers work best when the person gambling takes it. If you’re worried about someone else, you don’t need a score to act. Start with the warning signs of gambling addiction, and reach out to the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER, which also helps the people around a gambler. If you’re concerned about their safety, know that suicide risk is markedly higher with gambling problems[4]; if they may be in danger, call or text 988.
Get Treatment Help
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, getting help is just a phone call away, or consider trying therapy online with BetterHelp.
Exclusive offer: 20% Off BetterHelp*Following links to the BetterHelp website may earn us a commission that helps us manage and maintain AddictionHelp.com. *Get 20% off your first month of BetterHelp. Offer valid for new BetterHelp users only. Offer cannot be combined with insurance.
- Fact-Checked
- Editor
