Gambling addiction self-test: 9 warning signs from DSM-5 criteria

Gambling disorder develops gradually. Most affected players gamble for years before recognising their behaviour as problematic — often only when financial or social consequences appear. This self-test uses the 9 DSM-5 criteria for 'Gambling Disorder' (the clinical classification used by health agencies worldwide). Answer honestly.

1. Are you preoccupied with gambling above average (planning strategies, analysing past sessions, anticipating the next)? Several times per week, unprompted? Yes or no.

2. Do you need increasing stakes to feel the same 'kick'? Are €5 stakes that used to be exciting now boring?

3. Have you repeatedly tried — and failed — to gamble less, cut sessions shorter, or stop entirely?

4. Do you become restless, irritable or low when you cannot gamble (exclusion, no money, no internet)?

5. Do you gamble to escape negative moods — anger, frustration, depression, loneliness, guilt?

6. Do you try to win back losses by gambling more ('chasing losses')? Have you raised stakes after a loss to recover faster?

7. Do you lie to family, friends, therapists or employers about the extent of your gambling? Hide deposits, losses, sessions?

8. Has your gambling jeopardised or damaged important relationships, your job, education, or career chances?

9. Do you rely on financial support from others to solve problems caused by gambling (borrowed money, debts, covered accounts)?

Scoring — clinical criteria: 0–3 Yes = unproblematic to risky gambling. Keep risks in view, set stake limits. 4–5 Yes = problematic gambling. Clear warning signs — counselling advisable. 6+ Yes = probable gambling disorder (pathological gambling) per DSM-5 criteria. Professional help strongly recommended.

Important: This self-test is not a diagnosis. Gambling disorder is diagnosed clinically — usually after a detailed interview at an addiction counselling centre or with a psychotherapist. But: anyone who honestly affirms 4+ items has a gambling problem — clinical diagnosis or not.

What to do now (helplines): Germany — BZgA hotline 0800 1 372 700 (free, anonymous, 24/7) and check-dein-spiel.de. UK — GamCare 0808 8020 133. Ireland — Problem Gambling Ireland 089 241 5401. Austria — Spielsuchthilfe 01 544 13 57. National Council on Problem Gambling (US) — 1-800-GAMBLER. All are free and confidential.

Immediate steps if 4+ Yes: Apply self-exclusion (OASIS in Germany, GAMSTOP in the UK, Spelpaus in Sweden, etc.), delete gambling apps and bookmarks, temporarily block or limit credit cards, inform a trusted person. These four steps break the addiction cycle within a day.

What gambling addiction does NOT mean: It does not mean 'weak' or 'stupid'. It is a recognised addiction disorder with a neurobiological basis (dopamine reward system). Roughly 0.5–1% of adults in Western countries meet criteria for pathological gambling. Seeking help is strength, not failure.

Bottom line: Anyone honestly answering 4+ Yes should act today — not next week. Gambling disorder is treatable; specialist programmes report 50–70% long-term abstinence or controlled gambling. But every delay worsens financial and social consequences. The first step is always the same: pick up the phone.