Gambling Problem Self-Test — Free 9-Question Screening
- Free
- 9 questions
- No sign-up
- Instant result
A free 9-question self-check of your betting habits over the past 12 months — from sports betting and lotteries to short-term crypto and stock trading. It takes about 2 minutes and gives a 0-27 score, four interpretation bands and change over time when you retake it.
What's included
- Questions
- 9 items
- Price
- Free
- Areas measured
- Gambling Problem Tendency
How the 9 SGPS questions work
The Soundary Gambling Problem Screen (SGPS) asks 9 questions about times you put money on the line over the past 12 months. It looks at casinos, sports betting, lotteries, card games and online betting sites, and also at short-term crypto or stock trading aimed at a single big win. For each statement you pick one of four options, from “not at all” to “almost always”, scored 0 to 3. There are no right or wrong answers.
The questions follow four kinds of signals: stakes that grow beyond what you planned or get raised to chase the same thrill; chasing, meaning betting again soon to win back losses; trouble with control, such as failing to cut back, being preoccupied with the next bet, or betting to escape a bad mood; and traces in daily life, such as hiding how much you bet, using money meant for living costs or loans, and strained relationships. The answers to all nine questions are added into one total from 0 to 27.
Reading your 0–27 total
A total of 0–6 means betting is not shaking the balance of your life; 7–13 is mild caution, with stakes creeping up or an urge to win money back; 14–20 calls for considerable caution, as chasing, secrecy or money strain is already affecting daily life; 21–27 is a high-risk signal. This is a screening result, not a diagnosis. Beyond the total, look at which questions you answered “often” or higher: chasing losses and betting to escape feelings are worth noticing even when the total is modest.
Your answers can shift right after a big win or loss, or during a stressful stretch at work or at home. The result is only useful if you answer about what actually happened, not about how you think you should be. The more honestly you respond, the more clearly you see where you stand right now, and the questions where your points piled up also hint at what to change first.
Soundary’s own items, built on the PGSI framework
The SGPS questions were written by Soundary with reference to the framework of the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) described by Ferris and Wynne (2001). It is not an official version of the PGSI, so its score bands should not be read as PGSI scores. Instead, the items were designed so that newer forms such as online betting and rapid-fire trading can be looked at in the same check as traditional gambling.
If your total falls in the upper bands, if repeated attempts to stop have not worked, or if betting has led to debt, lies or arguments, consider talking to a gambling-help service or a mental health professional in your country rather than carrying it alone. If you save your result, you can compare it side by side with your previous score next time, which helps you see which way things moved after you put safeguards in place.
How scores are interpreted
Gambling Problem Tendency
This scale examines your tendency toward gambling problems by looking at trends of increasing stakes, chasing losses, difficulty controlling behavior, hiding, and the impact on your finances and relationships. A higher score indicates clearer signs that require attention. It is not a score that defines you, but a reference indicator reflecting your current state.
0–6pts · Stable
Your betting behavior is not significantly disrupting your life balance. It is good to maintain your current habit of setting your own limits on time and money.
7–13pts · Mild Caution
There are signs of gradually increasing stakes or an urge to chase losses. It would be helpful to record your monthly spending and mood changes, and take the test again after a while to track your progress.
14–20pts · Moderate Caution Needed
Signs such as chasing bets, hiding, and financial burden have appeared clearly enough to affect your daily life. We recommend setting up practical safeguards, like reducing access to betting apps or accounts, and talking to a gambling problem counseling center or a mental health professional.
21–27pts · High Risk Signs
High risk signs related to gambling problems have appeared. It may feel difficult to stop on your own, but this does not mean you lack willpower; it means you are in a state where you deserve help. We recommend contacting a gambling-addiction counselling service in your own country, or a psychiatrist or other mental health professional. This result is for reference, not a diagnosis, and with proper help, you can fully recover.
Sample questions
- 1. I ended up betting a larger amount of money than I originally intended.
- 2. I gradually increased the stakes or investment size to feel the same excitement as before.
- 3. I bet or traded again shortly after to win back the money I lost.
- 4. I tried to cut down or stop betting, but I couldn't control it as well as I wanted.
Thinking about your experiences with wagering money over the past 12 months (casinos, sports betting, lotteries, card games, online betting sites, crypto, or day trading), please comfortably select how often each statement applied to you. There are no right or wrong answers.
FAQ
How do I interpret my gambling self-test score?
Each of the 9 items scores 0-3, for a total of 0-27. A score of 0-6 reads as stable, 7-13 as mild caution, 14-20 as needing significant attention, and 21-27 as a high-risk signal. The score gathers signs such as rising stakes, chasing losses, concealment and effects on finances and relationships. It is a reference gauge of your current state, not a label on you as a person, and not a diagnosis.
At what score should I seek professional help?
From 14 points, talking with a gambling counselling service or mental health professional is recommended; from 21 points, please seek help without delay. A gambling-addiction counselling service in your own country, or a psychiatrist, can help you plan the next step. Even with a lower score, hiding your gambling or new debts is itself a signal. Struggling to stop alone is not weak willpower — it means the situation deserves support, and recovery with proper help is very possible.
Do day trading and crypto count as gambling?
Investing itself is not gambling, but rapid-fire trades chasing a big win, buying to quickly recover losses, and hiding trades or losses can run on the same psychological pattern as gambling. That is why this test looks not only at casinos, sports betting and lotteries but also at crypto and stock trading done that way. Whatever the vehicle, the key questions are whether control is slipping and whether it is leaving marks on your life.
How often should I retake this test?
Because the items cover the past 12 months, daily retesting is unnecessary — every 1-2 months is enough to read recent change. If you have tried steps like deleting betting apps or capping spending, retake after 4-8 weeks and save the results to watch which way the score moves. An upward trend is a good moment to talk with a professional.
Source
The items in this test are a self-check adaptation based on the original instrument and literature below: These items were written by Soundary with reference to the framework of the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI, the core scale of the Canadian Problem Gambling Index) by Ferris, J., & Wynne, H. (2001). This is not an official edition of the PGSI or any standardized instrument; it is a screening tool for reference only.
Related tests
This is a self-screening tool, not a medical diagnosis. If the result concerns you, please consult a mental health professional.