Responsible Gambling & Harm
Addiction and gambling
Addiction and gambling is a behavioural condition in which a person repeatedly gambles despite serious harm to their health, money, or personal life.
Key points
- It is a recognised behavioural addiction, not a lack of willpower, and can disrupt family, work, and personal life.48
- Symptoms include preoccupation, tolerance, unsuccessful attempts to stop, restlessness when stopping, chasing losses, and relying on others for money.67
- The term covers repetitive, compulsive gambling across all contexts, from casino games to sports betting.39
- Gambling addiction is distinct from occasional gambling: the act of gambling itself is not harmful, but addiction involves harmful, compulsive involvement.39
DSM-5 symptoms of gambling disorder
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Preoccupation | Frequent thoughts about gambling or planning the next session |
| Tolerance | Needing to gamble with larger amounts to feel the same excitement |
| Loss of control | Unsuccessful attempts to cut back or stop gambling |
| Withdrawal | Restlessness or irritability when trying to stop |
| Escape | Gambling to relieve distress or escape problems |
| Chasing losses | Returning to gambling to win back lost money |
| Lying | Lying to hide the extent of gambling involvement |
| Risking relationships | Jeopardising a job, relationship, or education because of gambling |
| Bailout | Relying on others for money to relieve gambling debts |
Getting help for gambling addiction
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, free and confidential support is available. In the UK, the National Gambling Helpline is open 24/7 on 0808 8020 133. Other organisations such as GamCare, BeGambleAware, and the NHS offer online chat, self-help tools, and counselling services. Help is also available through local NHS gambling clinics and the charity Gamblers Anonymous.
Common questions
What is gambling disorder?
Gambling disorder is the clinical name for gambling addiction, listed in the DSM-5 as a behavioural addiction. It is diagnosed when a person meets 4 or more of 9 specific symptoms within 12 months, such as loss of control, chasing losses, and lying about gambling.5
What is the gambling addiction hotline number?
The National Gambling Helpline in the UK is 0808 8020 133, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is free, confidential, and provides support for anyone affected by gambling, including friends and family.
Where this term is used
Not the same as
- Gambling addiction signs — signs are symptoms or indicators of the condition, whereas addiction and gambling is the condition itself
Related terms
Sources
- FAQs: What is Problem Gambling? ncpgambling.org Provides the definition and alternative names for problem gambling.
- Gambling disorder rcpsych.ac.uk Defines gambling disorder and its core features of loss of control and continuation despite harm.
- Gambling who.int Defines addiction and gambling as a behavioural addiction with harmful consequences.
- Problem gambling, gambling disorder and addiction ucl.ac.uk Lists the alternative names for gambling addiction.
- A review of gambling disorder and substance use disorders pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Provides the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria requiring 4 of 9 symptoms within 12 months.
- Gambling Disorder and Other Behavioral Addictions - PMC - NIH pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Lists the detailed symptoms of gambling disorder such as preoccupation, tolerance, and chasing losses.
- Gambling Concepts and Nomenclature - NCBI - NIH ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Describes the features and nomenclature of gambling addiction.
- The Psychology of Addictive Behaviour - NTU > IRep irep.ntu.ac.uk Explains how addiction disrupts family, work, and personal life.
- Disordered gambling: the evolving concept of behavioral addiction pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Distinguishes gambling addiction from general gambling as a harmful, compulsive behaviour.
Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.