Responsible Gambling Terms: Self-Exclusion, Chasing Defined
Plain definitions of 12 responsible gambling terms, including problem gambling, chasing losses, self-exclusion, cooling-off periods and PGSI, with sources.
On this page
These terms come up in conversations about gambling harm: with a doctor, a counsellor, a family member or a support group. They are collected here so the words are easy to find and clear. This page is a vocabulary list. It is not medical advice and it is not a test of whether you have a problem.
Definitions follow the wording used by the National Council on Problem Gambling and the American Psychiatric Association where they define a term, and are listed in the sources below. Where a term describes a tool rather than a diagnosis, such as self-exclusion or blocking software, the entry says how it is meant to be used.
Where to read next
Longer pages on Signs of Problem Gambling: What to Look For, Gambling Self-Exclusion: How It Works and How to Sign Up and Gambling Urges: How to Cope Until They Pass explain how these ideas work in practice. Cashout Arcade is a free-to-play casino-style app. It is not a treatment, and playing casino-style games is not recommended while you are recovering from gambling problems.
Terms
Problem gambling
Gambling behaviour that is damaging to a person or their family, often disrupting work, money, relationships or health. The National Council on Problem Gambling uses this phrase and notes it is also called gambling addiction or gambling disorder. Read the full Problem gambling entry
Gambling disorder
A recognised mental health diagnosis for a repeated pattern of gambling that continues despite serious harm to the person, their family or their life. Only a qualified professional can diagnose it.
Chasing losses
Gambling again, often with bigger stakes, to win back money that was just lost. It is widely treated as a warning sign because it turns one loss into a chain of them, and the next round is not owed anything. Read the full Chasing losses entry
Self-exclusion
A formal request to be barred from a gambling service for a set period, which the operator or a scheme then enforces. It is a recovery tool the person chooses for themselves, and it usually cannot be reversed early. Read the full Self-exclusion entry
Cooling-off period
A short, self-chosen break from gambling, from a day to a few weeks, after which play may resume. It is lighter than self-exclusion and is meant to interrupt a run of play or a strong urge, not to treat a problem. Read the full Cooling-off period entry
Reality check
A reminder that appears during play and shows how long you have been playing, and sometimes how much you have spent, so you can decide whether to carry on. It works only if you act on it.
Gambling urge
A strong pull to gamble, often triggered by stress, boredom, money worries or cues such as an advert or a payday. Urges rise and fall, and most pass within a short time if you wait and do something else.
Relapse
A return to gambling after a period of stopping or cutting down. It is common in recovery, is not a failure of character, and is usually a signal to get support again rather than to give up.
Blocking software
A tool installed on a phone, tablet or computer that stops gambling sites and apps from loading. It adds friction at the moment of an urge. It helps most when someone else sets it up or holds the password.
Harm minimisation
An approach that focuses on reducing the damage gambling can cause, through limits, accurate information and easy access to help, rather than expecting everyone to stop entirely. Responsible-play tools are examples.
PGSI
The Problem Gambling Severity Index, a nine-question screening scale developed by Ferris and Wynne in 2001. Scores run from 0 to 27 and fall into four bands from no risk to problem gambling. It is a screen, not a diagnosis.
Support group
A group of people with shared experience who meet to help one another. Gamblers Anonymous is a free peer fellowship. GamCare, in the UK, runs the National Gambling Helpline. Both are separate from any gambling business.
Sources
- National Council on Problem Gambling, Gambling Help FAQ (accessed October 27, 2026)
- American Psychiatric Association, What is gambling disorder? (accessed October 27, 2026)
- NovoPsych, Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) scoring summary (accessed October 27, 2026)