Gambling Risk Score Calculator
This comprehensive risk assessment tool calculates a personalized gambling risk score based on three key dimensions: financial exposure, betting patterns, and behavioral indicators. Unlike standardized screening questionnaires, this calculator provides a detailed breakdown of risk factors and actionable recommendations tailored to your specific situation.
The methodology draws from research published by the Responsible Gambling Council and frameworks developed by the GambleAware research initiative in the UK, which identify key risk factors associated with problematic gambling behaviors.
Financial Exposure Assessment
This section evaluates how gambling affects your financial situation. Answer honestly for accurate results.
Betting Patterns Assessment
This section evaluates your gambling frequency, types, and patterns.
Behavioral Indicators Assessment
This section evaluates behavioral and psychological patterns associated with gambling.
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Financial Exposure Score
Betting Patterns Score
Behavioral Indicators Score
Personalized Recommendations
Understanding the Risk Score Methodology
This calculator uses a multi-factor risk assessment model that evaluates gambling risk across three dimensions, each weighted according to their predictive value for problematic gambling outcomes. The methodology is informed by peer-reviewed research from the National Institutes of Health on gambling disorder risk factors.
Risk Score Categories
| Score Range | Risk Level | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 - 20 | Low Risk | Gambling appears to be recreational with minimal risk factors present |
| 21 - 40 | Moderate Risk | Some risk factors present; monitoring and awareness recommended |
| 41 - 60 | Elevated Risk | Multiple risk factors indicate potential for problems; consider reducing gambling |
| 61 - 80 | High Risk | Significant risk factors present; professional consultation recommended |
| 81 - 100 | Severe Risk | Critical risk level; immediate professional help strongly recommended |
Dimension Weights
Each dimension contributes to the total score as follows:
- Financial Exposure (35%): Measures the financial impact and vulnerability related to gambling, including income-to-gambling ratio, debt levels, and missed financial obligations.
- Betting Patterns (35%): Evaluates gambling frequency, session duration, bet sizing, and high-risk behaviors like chasing losses.
- Behavioral Indicators (30%): Assesses psychological patterns including preoccupation, tolerance, control difficulties, deception, and relationship impacts.
Important Distinction
This tool differs from the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) screening. While the PGSI is a validated clinical screening tool, this calculator provides a more detailed breakdown of specific risk factors and practical recommendations. For clinical assessment, we recommend completing both tools.
How This Tool Differs from Clinical Assessments
Clinical tools like the PGSI and DSM-5 criteria for gambling disorder are designed for diagnostic screening by healthcare professionals. This risk score calculator is an educational tool that:
- Provides detailed breakdowns of specific risk factors
- Offers personalized recommendations based on your responses
- Helps identify which areas contribute most to gambling-related risk
- Serves as a starting point for reflection and conversation, not diagnosis
Research published by the Gambling Research Exchange Ontario (GREO) emphasizes that self-assessment tools serve an important role in increasing awareness and promoting help-seeking behavior, even when they are not intended for clinical diagnosis.
Financial Risk Factors Explained
Financial exposure is a critical dimension of gambling risk. Research consistently shows that financial problems are both a consequence and an accelerator of problematic gambling:
- Income-to-Gambling Ratio: Spending more than 5% of discretionary income on gambling is associated with increased risk. Spending more than 10% significantly elevates risk.
- Gambling Debt: Borrowing money to gamble or accumulating debt due to gambling is one of the strongest predictors of gambling disorder.
- Missed Financial Obligations: Prioritizing gambling over essential bills indicates advanced financial harm.
- Emergency Savings: Lack of savings increases vulnerability to gambling-related financial crises.
For more information about the financial consequences of gambling in South Korea, including debt collection and legal implications, see our article on Gambling Debt in Korea.
Behavioral Risk Factors
The behavioral indicators assessed in this tool align with criteria used in clinical settings to identify gambling disorder:
- Preoccupation: Persistent thoughts about gambling experiences, planning future sessions, or ways to obtain money for gambling.
- Tolerance: Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money to achieve the desired excitement—a hallmark of addiction.
- Control Difficulties: Repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling.
- Chasing Losses: Returning to gamble to recover money lost—one of the most dangerous gambling behaviors.
- Escape Gambling: Using gambling to escape problems or relieve negative moods.
- Deception: Lying to family members or others about the extent of gambling involvement.
For comprehensive support resources, visit our Responsible Gambling Resources page or the Treatment Centers directory.
Limitations of This Tool
While this calculator provides valuable insights, it has important limitations:
- It is not a diagnostic tool and cannot determine whether someone has a gambling disorder
- Self-reported data may be affected by denial or inaccurate recall
- Risk scores should be interpreted as indicators, not definitive assessments
- Cultural and individual factors may affect how risk manifests
- This tool cannot replace professional evaluation
When to Seek Professional Help
If your risk score is in the elevated, high, or severe range—or if gambling is causing distress regardless of your score—consider speaking with a mental health professional or contacting a gambling helpline. In South Korea, you can contact the Korea Center on Gambling Problems at 1336 for confidential support.
For additional resources, see our Gambling and Mental Health article and our directory of Treatment Centers in South Korea.
Related Tools
Complete your gambling education with these related tools:
- Problem Gambling Self-Assessment (PGSI) - Validated clinical screening tool
- Budget Calculator - Plan responsible gambling entertainment budgets
- Compound Loss Calculator - See long-term impact of gambling losses
- Cooling-Off Timer - Implement waiting periods to control impulses
- Loss Recovery Calculator - Understand why chasing losses fails
Educational Purpose
This tool is provided for educational purposes to help individuals understand risk factors associated with gambling behavior. It is not intended to promote gambling or serve as a substitute for professional advice. All forms of gambling carry inherent financial risk.
In South Korea, most forms of gambling are illegal for citizens as detailed in our Korean Gambling Law article. This tool serves an educational function for research, academic study, and awareness purposes.