Do you have a gambling problem? Take the PGSI self-assessment
Last updated: April 2026
The Problem Gambling Severity Index is a confidential 9-question screening tool used by researchers worldwide. It takes about two minutes. Your answers are not stored or shared.
Question 1 of 9
Thinking about the last 12 months, please answer the following 9 questions. Be as honest as you can — there are no right or wrong answers.
In the last 12 months…
Have you bet more than you could really afford to lose?
How the PGSI works
The PGSI was developed by Ferris and Wynne in 2001 as part of the Canadian Problem Gambling Index. It measures both behavioural symptoms (like chasing losses and betting beyond your means) and the consequences of gambling (like financial problems and guilt).
Each of the 9 questions is scored from 0 (never) to 3 (almost always), giving a total score between 0 and 27. The four risk categories — non-problem, low risk, moderate risk, and problem gambling — are based on validated research showing that higher scores correspond with increasingly severe gambling-related harm.
The PGSI is the screening tool used by the UK Gambling Commission in the Gambling Survey for Great Britain. It's also used by GamCare, the NHS National Problem Gambling Service, and treatment providers worldwide. When you see UK statistics reporting that 2.7% of adults are problem gamblers, that figure comes from the PGSI.