10/27/2025
What Is a Gambling Disorder?
According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), it is a psychiatric disorder. A gambling disorder diagnosis requires that mental health professionals observe at least four out of nine symptoms within a year:
Gambling behavior leads to spending increasing amounts of money to achieve excitement (tolerance).
The gambler is restless when trying to quit gambling (withdrawal).
Problem gamblers have tried to quit but were unsuccessful in controlling, cutting back, or stopping altogether in the past.
Brain chemistry changes mean the person has become preoccupied with gambling, reliving past wins, planning the next turn at the slot machines or gaming tables, or considering how to get more money to spend on gambling.
Problem gamblers may have an addiction if they use games of chance to cope with stress or trauma.
Returning to win back money (chasing losses), even with the risk of negative consequences.
Concealing their addictive behaviors from trusted friends or loved ones.
Gambling problems may be an addiction when the person has lost jobs, relationships, or financial stability.
The person may rely on others to help them out of financial difficulties.
In earlier versions, such as the DSM IV, pathological gambling was considered an impulse control disorder; this changed in the latest update to better align with the latest research suggesting that it’s closer to substance abuse disorders.