How to Use the Gambling Addiction Self-Check
Gambling often starts as harmless fun, but for some people it becomes progressively harder to control. This self-check draws on the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-5 gambling disorder criteria — 9 behavioral indicators — so you can reflect on your gambling habits over the past year. If you haven't gambled in the last 12 months, your risk shows as low.
The more items you check, the more it may signal reduced control over gambling. Chasing losses (gambling more to win back money already lost), hiding gambling from loved ones, and borrowing money beyond your means to keep gambling are classic warning signs of problem gambling. Clinically, meeting 4 or more of the 9 DSM-5 criteria within a 12-month period raises the possibility of gambling disorder, but confirming that requires an in-person evaluation by a licensed professional.
This tool never issues a diagnosis — it's simply a reference point to help you reflect on your own habits. Even with a low score, if gambling is causing you financial or emotional strain, don't hesitate to reach out for professional help.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's built as a self-check based on the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-5 gambling disorder criteria, which lists 9 indicators. Clinically, meeting 4 or more of the 9 within 12 months suggests possible gambling disorder, but this tool is not a formal diagnostic instrument — it's for self-reflection only.
A high score doesn't automatically mean you have a gambling disorder, but if you feel you can't control your gambling, talking to a mental health professional or a gambling helpline (such as the National Council on Problem Gambling helpline) can help. Getting professional support tends to work better than trying to handle it alone.