Self-Assessment Tool

This page is a plain-language self-check. It is not a medical diagnosis, and it is not a substitute for professional help. Its job is simpler than that: help you notice whether gambling is staying inside your limits or starting to run your decisions.

Answer the questions honestly. That matters more than getting a “good” result.

How to use this self-check

Read each statement and answer yes or no based on the last 6 to 12 months.

A single “yes” does not always mean there is a serious gambling problem. But several “yes” answers, especially around money, secrecy, chasing, or emotional dependence, should be taken seriously.

The questions

Ask yourself:

Do you gamble longer than you planned?
Do you spend more than you planned?
Have you chased losses by trying to win money back the same day or soon after?
Have you hidden gambling, losses, or gambling-related spending from someone close to you?
Have you borrowed money, sold something, or used money meant for bills to keep gambling?
Do you feel restless, irritated, or low when you try to cut back?
Do you think about gambling a lot when you are not gambling?
Have you used gambling as an escape from stress, sadness, anger, loneliness, or pressure?
Have you broken promises to yourself about limits, breaks, or quitting?
Have you used credit, payday money, or emergency money for gambling?
Has gambling caused tension at home, at work, or in relationships?
Do you feel strong urges to return quickly after a loss?
Do wins make you stay longer instead of cashing out and leaving?
Have you felt ashamed, panicked, or out of control because of gambling?
Have other people shown concern about your gambling?
Do you feel that gambling is one of the few things that gives you relief or excitement?
Have you tried to stop before and then gone back faster than expected?
Are you gambling to solve money problems?

How to read your answers

This is not a formal scorecard, but the pattern matters.

0 to 1 yes answers:
That does not automatically mean everything is fine, but there may be no strong warning signs at the moment. Keep limits clear anyway. Problems often grow slowly, not suddenly.

2 to 4 yes answers:
This is a caution zone. It suggests that gambling may already be pushing past healthy boundaries. Review your time limits, loss limits, emotional triggers, and how easy it is for you to access more money during a session.

5 or more yes answers:
This is a serious warning sign. Gambling may be causing more harm than you are comfortable admitting. At this stage, “being more careful” is often not enough by itself. A stronger step such as outside support, account limits, or self-exclusion may be necessary.

Red flags that matter more than the total

Some answers carry more weight than others.

Take the situation seriously if you answered yes to any of these:

borrowing or using essential money
hiding gambling from others
chasing losses
gambling to solve financial problems
gambling mainly for emotional relief
feeling unable to stop once you start

A person with three heavy warning signs may be at greater risk than someone with five mild ones.

What these questions are really looking for

The self-check is not about whether you enjoy gambling. Many people enjoy some form of risk or entertainment.

The real issue is whether gambling is starting to do one or more of these things:

distort your judgment
damage your finances
create secrecy
take over your time and attention
become your main emotional escape
break trust with people around you

That is the line between a controlled activity and a harmful pattern.

What to do next

If your answers worry you, do something practical today instead of waiting for a worse session.

A few next steps:

set a hard loss limit before your next session
set a time limit
remove easy access to extra money while gambling
tell one trusted person the truth about what is happening
take a break from gambling for a fixed period
look at self-exclusion options if you repeatedly break limits
seek outside support if debt, lying, panic, or family conflict are already involved

The more honest the next step is, the more useful it will be.

When to seek help immediately

Get support quickly if any of this is true:

you are using rent, food, school, family, or debt money for gambling
you are hiding the situation and it is getting worse
you feel trapped in a cycle of loss and return
you are panicking about debt or consequences
gambling is affecting your sleep, work, mental health, or safety

If the situation feels urgent, go straight to Get Help Now or Self Exclusion Guide.