Problem Gambling Self-Test
Not sure whether your gambling has become a problem? This quick, confidential self-test can help you take a closer look. Answer each question honestly, based on the past 12 months. There are no right or wrong answers, and nothing you enter is a diagnosis. The self-test is a screening tool that can show whether your gambling may be putting you at risk and whether it’s worth talking to someone. It takes about five minutes. If your results raise concerns, or if you simply want to talk, free and confidential support is available right here.
This self assessment is not a diagnosis and does not replace a formal evaluation with a trained clinical professional.
Do you have a gambling problem?
Question 1
Have there been periods lasting two weeks or longer when you spent lots of time thinking about your gambling experiences, planning out future gambling or thinking about ways to get money to gamble with?
Question 2
Have there ever been periods when you needed to gamble with increasing amounts of money or with larger bets than before in order to get the same feelings of excitement?
Question 3
Have you ever felt restless, depressed, aggravated or irritable when trying to stop, cut down, or control your gambling?
Question 4
Have you tried and not succeeded in stopping, cutting down, or controlling your gambling in three or more occasions that you can recall?
Question 5
Have you ever gambled to escape from personal problems, or to relieve uncomfortable feelings such as guilt, anxiety, helplessness, or depression?
Question 6
Has there ever been a period when, if you lost money gambling one day, you would often return another day to try to get back to even?
Question 7
Have you lied to family members, friends, or others about how much you gamble or about how much money you lost on gambling on at least three occasions?
Question 8
Have you ever written a bad check or taken money that didn’t belong to you from family members, friends, or anyone else in order to pay for your gambling?
Question 9
Has your gambling ever caused serious or repeated problems in your relationships with any of your family members or friends? Or, has your gambling ever caused you problems at work or your studies?
Question 10
Have you ever needed to ask family members, friends, a lending institution, or anyone else to loan you money or otherwise bail you out of a desperate money situation that was largely caused by your gambling?
Understanding Your Results
If you answered 0 questions with a "Yes"
This result does not suggest a risk for a gambling problem at this time. Please consider visiting ResponsiblePlay.org for tips to help you keep gambling fun.
If you answered between 1 and 2 questions with “Yes”
This result is consistent with a mild risk for a gambling problem, but does not meet a clinical diagnosis of gambling addiction. For additional information on problem gambling, consider exploring the resources we've included here on ProblemGambling.com.
If you answered between 3 and 4 questions with a “Yes”
This result is consistent with past or present problem gambling, which is generally less serious than a clinical diagnosis of gambling addiction. For additional information on problem gambling or ways to get some support, consider exploring the resources here on our site.
If you answered 5 or more questions with a “Yes”
This result is consistent with a likely diagnosis of gambling addiction. For additional information on problem gambling, or to seek support in dealing with gambling problems, please explore the resources below and throughout our site. We are here to help.