Online gambling addiction test

Why online gambling is different

Mobile gambling apps changed the shape of gambling harm in Ireland over the last decade. Three features in particular make online gambling easier to drift into addiction with than traditional forms.

• Always available — there is no closing time, no need to travel, and no friction to opening another session at 2am.
• Private — gambling on a phone leaves no visible trail. It is possible to gamble heavily for years without anyone close to you knowing.
• Designed to retain — operators use bonuses, free-bet offers, push notifications and personalised odds to bring users back. The session length, not the bet, is the product.

The forms of online gambling that are most likely to cause harm

Not all online gambling carries the same risk. The forms most consistently associated with rapid harm in the research are the ones with the fastest event-to-result cycle and the most immersive design.

• In-play sports betting — many bets per match, often impulsive.
• Online slots and casino — short cycle, high engagement, designed for long sessions.
• Online bingo combined with side games — often used privately at home, often underestimated.
• Esports and virtual sports — 24/7 availability and constant events.

An honest test for online gambling

The screening tool used for an honest gambling test — including for online gambling — is the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). It is the 9-question tool behind the private check on this site, and it works as well for online gambling as for any other form. The point is to answer honestly about the gambling you actually do.

• Have I bet more online than I could really afford to lose?
• Have I gone back the next day, online, to try to win back losses?
• Have I needed to increase stake sizes in the app to get the same feeling?
• Have I deposited from a credit card, used overdrafts, or borrowed to gamble online?
• Have I hidden online betting accounts, apps or emails from someone close to me?
• Has my online gambling caused stress, anxiety or sleep problems?
• Has anyone close to me said the online betting has become too much?
• Has online gambling caused financial pressure on me or my household?
• Have I felt guilty after a long online session?

Signs that are specific to online gambling harm

Some signs of harm show up most clearly in the online context and are easy to miss with traditional gambling questionnaires.

• Multiple operator accounts across different sites and apps.
• Push notifications managed and read carefully — promotions, odds changes, in-play prompts.
• Apps moved to a second screen, hidden folder, or replaced with private-browser shortcuts.
• Use of VPNs, second email addresses, or secondary phones for gambling.
• Gambling sessions during work hours, family events or in bed at night.

Practical blocks that work specifically for online gambling

Online gambling addiction responds well to structural blocks because the harm depends on access. Removing the access — or adding friction — does a lot of the heavy lifting.

• Self-exclude from every operator account you currently use, online and in-person.
• Ask your bank about gambling transaction blocks — most Irish banks offer some form of this.
• Use a device-level blocking app (such as Gamban or BetBlocker) on your phone and laptop.
• Delete saved card details from gambling sites and remove the cards from your digital wallet.
• Tell one trusted person you have done these things — accountability matters.

How to take the free online gambling test

The private 3-minute check on this site is the PGSI. It works for online gambling, sports betting, casino, slots and any combination of the above. It is anonymous, takes about three minutes and is not stored. The link is below.

When to skip the test and reach for support

If online gambling has already caused significant financial damage, hidden debt, relationship strain or mental health difficulties, you do not need a test to know it is a problem. Call Gambling Care on 1800 936 725. If you feel unsafe, call 999 or 112, or Samaritans on 116 123.