What is gambling disorder?

Gambling disorder is persistent, recurring gambling that causes significant problems or distress. It is listed in the DSM-5, the diagnostic manual used by clinicians in the United States, in the same category as substance use disorders. It applies to every form of betting: sportsbooks, online casinos, slots, poker, lottery, daily fantasy and prediction markets.

The 9 DSM-5 criteria

A clinician looks for four or more of the following within a 12-month period:

1. Needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money to get the same excitement
2. Feels restless or irritable when trying to cut back or stop
3. Has made repeated, unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop
4. Is often preoccupied with gambling, such as reliving past bets or planning the next one
5. Often gambles when feeling distressed, anxious or down
6. After losing money, often returns to try to get even ("chasing" losses)
7. Lies to conceal how much they gamble
8. Has jeopardized or lost a relationship, job or educational opportunity because of gambling
9. Relies on others for money to relieve a financial crisis caused by gambling

How severity is measured

• Mild: 4 to 5 criteria
• Moderate: 6 to 7 criteria
• Severe: 8 to 9 criteria

Severity helps clinicians recommend a level of care. Many people with moderate or severe gambling disorder benefit from residential treatment, while others do well in outpatient care.

Warning signs in daily life

• Checking odds, lines or apps first thing in the morning and last thing at night
• Money missing from accounts, new credit cards or unexplained loans
• Deleting betting apps and reinstalling them days later
• Mood swings tied to wins and losses
• Pulling away from family, friends or work

Only a licensed clinician can diagnose gambling disorder. If several of these sound familiar, a confidential assessment is the right next step.

Frequently asked questions