Gambling Addiction Screening Test - Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI)
A private, self-administered gambling screening tool, available as a free, confidential online assessment from Executive Addiction Recovery Services.
What Is the PGSI Assessment?
The PGSI is a brief, 9-item questionnaire that asks you to reflect on your gambling behavior over the past 12 months. It assesses two main areas of concern:
Gambling Behavior and Urges: Needing to bet larger amounts for the same excitement, chasing losses (going back another day to win back money), or betting more than you can afford to lose.
Personal and Social Consequences: Borrowing or selling items to fund gambling, feeling guilty about betting, experiencing stress or anxiety related to gambling, or facing financial problems at home.
Each question is answered on a four-point scale: Never (0), Sometimes (1), Most of the time (2), and Almost always (3). Total scores range from 0 to 27.
Problem Gambling Severity Index
This private self-assessment from Executive Addiction Recovery Services is designed to help you reflect on your gambling behaviors and the impact they may be having on your personal, financial, or professional life over the past 12 months.
Completely Private
No data is saved or transmitted.
2–3 Minutes
9 frequency-based questions.
Instant Results
Immediate scoring and insights.
What to Do With Your PGSI Results
Your PGSI score is a reflection tool, not a formal medical diagnosis. Here is how to interpret your next steps based on your results:
Low Risk (1–2): Your score suggests minimal negative impact. However, if gambling is taking up more mental space than you’d like, it is helpful to set strict limits on time and money moving forward.
Moderate Risk (3–7): Patterns are emerging that warrant attention. You may be experiencing early signs of stress, guilt, or financial friction. A confidential consultation can help you evaluate these triggers before they escalate.
Problem Gambling (8+): Your responses align with behaviors that create significant disruption. You do not have to manage this alone. Acting now, while you still have choices, is a position of strength.
Regardless of your score, your privacy is protected. No data from this assessment has been saved.
Why Business Professionals Often Hide Gambling
For high-performing professionals and executives, gambling addiction can often stay hidden longer than other struggles. Unlike alcohol or substance use, there are no physical signs like the smell of alcohol or slurred speech. A professional can run board meetings, manage teams, and appear completely in control while privately dealing with severe financial or emotional distress due to sports betting, online casinos, or market speculation.
High performers often fall into gambling as an escape from high-stress environments or as a way to chase the adrenaline that their day-to-day work no longer provides. The isolation of leadership can make it incredibly difficult to ask for help.
Executive Addiction Recovery Services was built on the belief that asking for help shouldn’t mean risking your reputation or career. This confidential tool provides a private starting point to assess where you stand
A Clear Path to Gambling Addiction Recovery That Supports Your Life
Gambling Addiction recovery does not need to remove you from your life or put your career at risk. This approach provides clear structure, practical support, and a defined path forward for professionals seeking real help without public exposure.
Understand the Problem
Identify patterns, triggers, and impact.
Build a Recovery Plan
Create a realistic, professional-aligned plan.
Move Forward With Support
Optional one-to-one counseling for accountability.
Professional Guidance Built on Real-World Experience
Executive Addiction Recovery was created to support professionals who are struggling privately while continuing to carry significant responsibility.
The process is led by Brian James, a registered psychotherapist with extensive experience in addiction recovery and a background in high-performance professional environments. This combination allows the recovery process to address addiction realistically, without ignoring the pressures, expectations, and identities that often make seeking help feel complicated.
The focus is not on removing you from your life, but on helping you regain clarity, control, and alignment within it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the PGSI test accurate?
Yes. The Problem Gambling Severity Index is considered the gold standard for measuring gambling issues in the general population. It has been heavily researched and validated by clinical studies worldwide for its accuracy in identifying gambling harm.
Are my answers truly anonymous?
Yes, completely. The assessment runs entirely within your web browser. Nothing you click or answer is stored on a server, tracked, or sent to anyone.
Does this test cover online gambling and sports betting?
Yes. The PGSI measures the underlying behaviors and consequences of gambling (such as chasing losses or feeling guilty), regardless of whether the betting occurs in a casino, on a sports betting app, or through high-risk stock/crypto trading.
What if I only scored a 4, but I feel like I have a problem?
The test is a guide, but your personal experience matters most. If gambling is causing you distress, distracting you from work, or violating your personal values, that is reason enough to seek support. You do not need to hit the highest score to justify asking for help.