Am I Addicted to Gambling? Self-Check Tools
Free self-checks from GA, GambleAware, the NHS and the Responsible Gambling Council: what they can and cannot tell you, and what to do with a result.
On this page
No quiz can tell you whether you are addicted to gambling. A self-check can show whether your gambling looks like the patterns that other people have found harmful, and it can give you a reason to talk to someone. If any of the checks below makes you uneasy, take that seriously, whatever the score says.
What a self-check can and cannot do
It can:
- Put words to things you have noticed, such as chasing losses or hiding how much you gamble.
- Give you a rough sense of whether your gambling is low-risk or causing harm.
- Give you a first step toward a conversation with a helpline, a doctor or someone you trust.
It cannot:
- Diagnose. The American Psychiatric Association says a diagnosis of gambling disorder requires at least four of a defined set of criteria within a year, assessed by a professional. See Signs of Problem Gambling: What to Look For for the criteria in plain words.
- Know your whole situation: your finances, mood, history or what is going on at home.
- Rule you in or out. A low score does not mean you are fine if gambling is causing you harm, and a high score does not label you.
The Responsible Gambling Council states plainly that its quiz is not meant for diagnosis, treatment or referral. Treat every check the same way: as a prompt, not a verdict.
Free checks from other organisations
These are run by their publishers and open on their own sites. We opened each on 2026-10-27. Whether a given tool keeps your answers is up to that site, so check its privacy information before you start, and use a private browser window if you prefer.
| Tool | Run by | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Questions | Gamblers Anonymous | A 20-question yes/no check. GA says most compulsive gamblers answer yes to at least seven. It then points you to a hotline or a local meeting. |
| Gambling harms self-assessment | GambleAware (Great Britain) | Seven questions on how gambling may be affecting you or someone you care about, with tailored advice. The wider service is for residents of Great Britain. |
| NHS nine-question check | NHS (England) | Nine questions scored 0 to 3. The NHS says a total of 8 or more suggests you, or those close to you, are likely experiencing gambling-related harms, and that a score of 1 to 7 may still mean gambling is having a negative effect. |
| Self-assessment quiz | Responsible Gambling Council (Canada) | Nine questions based on the Canadian Problem Gambling Index; takes about two minutes. A higher score means a greater risk. |
If you are in Great Britain, GambleAware also offers a spend calculator, which shows how much time and money you are putting into gambling.
How to read your result
- Low score. Gambling may be low risk for you right now. If you are still uneasy, trust that and keep watching for the signs above. It is also worth asking yourself how you would feel if you could no longer gamble.
- Middle score. Gambling may be causing you some harm. This is a good point to cut down, set limits and talk to someone, before the pattern deepens. The NHS says a score of 1 to 7 on its check may still mean negative effects.
- High score. Speak to a professional or a helpline soon. High scores do not mean something is wrong with you as a person. They mean the checks found enough of the known signs that support is worth having.
Whatever you scored, also consider the questions a quiz does not ask: Is gambling keeping you awake? Are you lying about it? Would you be worried if someone you loved gambled the way you do?
What to do next
- Talk to someone. A helpline will listen without judgement. See Gambling Helplines by Country (Checked Oct 2026).
- Read the practical steps. How to Stop Gambling: Practical, Evidence-Based Steps describes treatment, barriers, urges and money.
- Tell one person. How to Tell Someone About a Gambling Problem gives examples of what to say.
- If you are not sure you want to stop, that is common. You can still call a helpline to talk it through.
About our own quiz
We have chosen not to build a quiz or scorecard. Published tools are made by organisations that specialise in gambling harm, and a home-made one could be wrong in ways that matter. We also do not want to store answers about something this personal.
Sources
- Gamblers Anonymous: 20 Questions (accessed October 27, 2026)
- GambleAware: gambling harms self-assessment (seven questions) (accessed October 27, 2026)
- NHS: Gambling addiction (nine-question check and scoring) (accessed October 27, 2026)
- Responsible Gambling Council (Canada): self-assessment quiz (accessed October 27, 2026)
- American Psychiatric Association: What is gambling disorder? (accessed October 27, 2026)