The 9-question gambling self-check (PGSI)
Short answer: These nine questions are the Problem Gambling Severity Index, the standard screener from the Canadian Problem Gambling Index (Ferris & Wynne, 2001). Score 0–27. A score of 8 or more puts you in the highest-risk band. It runs in your browser — nothing is stored, nothing is sent anywhere, and there is no email box at the end.
The PGSI asks about the last 12 months. Answer for that window, not for your worst month ever and not for last week. Being honest with a page that can't remember your answers is the easiest honesty available.
How the scoring works
Each of the nine items scores 0 for never, 1 for sometimes, 2 for most of the time and 3 for almost always, giving a total from 0 to 27. The bands come from the Canadian Problem Gambling Index:
| Score | Standard band | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Non-problem gambling | No indicators reported in the last 12 months. |
| 1–2 | Low risk | Early signs most casual bettors don't report — worth watching. |
| 3–7 | Moderate risk | A heavier pattern, often with some financial or social consequence already. |
| 8–27 | Problem gambling | The highest band on the screener. Most people here benefit from structured help, not willpower alone. |
Instrument: Ferris, J. & Wynne, H. (2001), The Canadian Problem Gambling Index: Final Report, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. The PGSI is a screening instrument; clinical diagnosis of gambling disorder uses the DSM-5 criteria and requires a qualified clinician.
Whatever your score, the next step is the same
A number doesn't change anything by itself. Two things do, and both work at any score:
- Put distance between you and the bet. Not willpower — friction. Block gambling on your phone, then add the two layers you can't undo in a craving: self-exclusion and a bank gambling block.
- Learn what the urge actually is. Urges rise, crest and fall, typically within about 20–30 minutes, whether or not you bet. That pattern is the thing to lean on.
Quit for good. Keep the money.
Silex blocks gambling across your iPhone and walks you through 90 days, one at a time.
Silex is in App Store review. This link goes live at launch.
Common questions
What score means I have a gambling problem?
On the PGSI, 0 is non-problem gambling, 1–2 is low risk, 3–7 is moderate risk, and 8 or above is the band usually described as problem gambling. But the PGSI is a screener, not a diagnosis — only a qualified clinician can diagnose gambling disorder, using the DSM-5 criteria.
Is this test stored or shared?
No. The scoring happens in JavaScript inside your own browser. There is no form submission, no cookie, no analytics event, and no email capture. Closing the tab erases it.
Can I take it about someone else?
The PGSI is written in the first person and validated as a self-report, so answering it for a partner or family member gives you a rough impression at best. If you're worried about someone else, the helplines below take calls from family members too.
What if I score low but still feel out of control?
Trust that feeling over the number. The PGSI weights financial and social consequences heavily, so someone early in a heavy pattern — or someone gambling money they can technically afford — can score low and still be in trouble.