Quick answer: this free problem gambling test uses the nine questions of the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), the screen Great Britain’s Gambling Commission uses in its national gambling survey. A score of 0 means no signs of problem gambling, 1 to 2 low risk, 3 to 7 moderate risk and 8 or more problem gambling. It takes about two minutes, and nothing you tick leaves your browser.
Last checked: 16 October 2026, when we checked the nine questions and the scoring against the GambleAware PGSI report and the NCPG screening manual, and ran this tool at scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 27 to confirm each result.
Need to talk to someone now? You don’t need to finish the test first. Our responsible gambling page lists free, confidential helplines by country. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, contact your local emergency services straight away.
Nothing you tick is saved or sent anywhere: the score is worked out in your browser. This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
What does my PGSI score mean?
Each answer scores 0 (never), 1 (sometimes), 2 (most of the time) or 3 (almost always), so the total runs from 0 to 27. These are the four bands set by the test’s developers and used by the Gambling Commission and GambleAware:
| PGSI score | Category | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No risk (non-problem gambling) | No signs of problem gambling in the last 12 months |
| 1 to 2 | Low risk | A low level of problems, with few or no harms |
| 3 to 7 | Moderate risk | A moderate level of problems, with some harms |
| 8 to 27 | Problem gambling | Gambling with harms and a possible loss of control |
The PGSI was built to measure gambling problems across a whole population, not to diagnose one person. A high score is a strong reason to talk to someone, but only a qualified professional can diagnose a gambling disorder. A low score does not mean gambling is risk-free either.
Do I have a gambling problem?
If you scored 8 or more, your answers match the developers’ threshold for problem gambling, and it is worth getting support now rather than later. A score of 3 to 7 is a warning sign too. The questions are built around the most common warning signs:
- Chasing losses: going back another day to win back money you lost (question 3).
- Needing bigger bets: raising stakes to feel the same excitement (question 2).
- Money harm: betting more than you can afford, borrowing or selling things to gamble, or money problems at home (questions 1, 4 and 9).
- Health and guilt: stress, anxiety or guilt about gambling, or people around you raising it (questions 6, 7 and 8).
Fast games make these signs appear sooner: see our guides to Aviator and crash game addiction and whether gambling addiction can be controlled. Thinking that a win is “due” after a losing run is a common trap too; our gambler’s fallacy guide explains why it isn’t.
Where can I get free help?
Free, confidential help exists in most countries, and you can use it whatever your score. These options work wherever you live:
- National helplines: our responsible gambling page lists helplines by country, plus national self-exclusion schemes.
- Gambling Therapy: free online advice and support forums from the charity Gordon Moody, open to anyone in the world, in many languages.
- Gamblers Anonymous: peer support meetings in person, online or by phone, with no dues or fees.
- BetBlocker: free software from a charity that blocks gambling sites on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS.
- Your bank and your casino account: many banks let you block gambling payments in their app, and licensed casinos offer deposit limits and self-exclusion in your account settings.
If you still want to play while you cut down, decide a budget and a time limit first with our gambling budget calculator, and stop when either runs out.
Where do the questions come from?
The nine questions are the Problem Gambling Severity Index, the scored part of the Canadian Problem Gambling Index developed by Ferris and Wynne for the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (final report, 2001). Great Britain’s Gambling Commission uses it in its Gambling Survey for Great Britain, and the US National Council on Problem Gambling lists it among the screens that are free to use and copy. We use the standard wording, answer scale and score bands.
Researchers keep testing other cut-offs. A 2023 report for GambleAware, for example, suggested grouping scores as 1 to 4, 5 to 10 and 11 or more, but said this needs more testing. Until that changes, we use the original bands that the Gambling Commission still reports.
How we checked this
- The nine questions, the four answers scored 0 to 3 and the 12-month time frame: the PGSI final report by Ipsos for GambleAware (2023) and the Carepatron PGSI form, which cites Ferris and Wynne (2001).
- The score bands (0, 1 to 2, 3 to 7, 8 or more): the Gambling Commission, the GambleAware report above and the NCPG Screening Standards Manual (2023), which also calls 8 “the threshold recommended by the developers”.
- Help services: each organisation’s own website, plus Gordon Moody for Gambling Therapy and GamCare for BetBlocker.
- Our own check: we ran the tool on 16 October 2026 at scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 27 and confirmed each one lands in the right band.
Figures last checked: 16 October 2026.
Problem gambling test FAQ
Is this problem gambling test a diagnosis?
No. The PGSI is a screening tool designed for population surveys. It shows your level of risk, but only a doctor or a gambling treatment specialist can diagnose a gambling disorder.
Are my answers saved?
No. The score is worked out in your browser and nothing you tick is saved or sent to us. Close or reload the page and your answers are gone.
What does PGSI stand for?
Problem Gambling Severity Index. It is the nine-question scored part of the Canadian Problem Gambling Index, published by Ferris and Wynne in 2001.
What is a high PGSI score?
A score of 8 or more out of 27 is the developers’ threshold for problem gambling. Scores of 3 to 7 count as moderate risk.
Can I take the test for someone else?
The questions are written for the person who gambles, so their own answers count. If you are worried about someone, most gambling helplines also support family and friends; see our responsible gambling page.
