People who suffer from a gambling addiction may hide or deny their behavior. They are often reluctant to seek help. Thus, pathological gambling is often undiagnosed or overlooked. It may take the efforts of friends or family members to encourage a person with a gambling addiction to seek help.

The first step in diagnosing a gambling addiction is to visit a psychiatrist. A physical examination can rule out any underlying disorders or help to identify any other mental health disorders that may also be present. A thorough mental health evaluation can help identify the extent of the gambling behavior.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) classifies pathological gambling as an impulse control disorder with very specific criteria. To obtain a diagnosis of pathological gambling, the behavior must not be caused by a manic episode (mania may include symptoms of excessive gambling and loss of judgment).  In addition, a patient must meet at least five or more of the following criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:

• Preoccupation with gambling
  
  
• More and more money is needed to achieve desired excitement
  
  
• Continues gambling despite repeated efforts to control behavior
  
  
• Restless or irritable when trying to stop gambling
  
  
• Uses gambling to feel better
  
  
• Gambles to win back losses
  
  
• Lies to family members, therapist to conceal gambling behavior
  
  
• Steals money in order to continue gambling
  
  
• Puts relationships, job in danger
  
  
• Seeks money from others to pay debts related to gambling

Other screening methods for gambling addiction include:

• South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS). A 20-item scale questionnaire used to identify pathological gambling. However, its accuracy has been questioned and parts may be outdated.
  
  
• NORC DSM Screen for Gambling Problems (NODS). Developed by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) and based on APA criteria.
  
  
• Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI). A 31-item measure of problem gambling and gambling involvement that can be used to produce gambling profiles.