Victorian Gambling Screen (VGS) Test

Understand gambling’s impact on you and your relationships in about 4 minutes. This 21 item screen quickly pinpoints partner harm, self damage, and the pull of gambling to guide next steps.

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Questions: 214 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

29,197 views

1,816 completions

1,453 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

10/15

Self-Harm Scale (SHS)

Measures the degree of personal negative consequences and self-damaging impacts associated with gambling (e.g., financial, emotional, and social losses).

Low impact

Moderate impact

High impact

0 – 5: Low impact | 6 – 10: Moderate impact | 11 – 15: High impact

A score of 10 falls in the Moderate impact range, suggesting notable personal harms related to gambling with emerging difficulties in self-control.

example score

1/3

Partner Harm Scale (PHS)

Measures the extent to which the respondent’s gambling is associated with negative impacts on their partner and the relationship.

Low harm

Some harm

High harm

0: Low harm | 1 – 2: Some harm | 3: High harm

A score of 1 falls in the “Some harm” range, suggesting occasional or limited partner-related negative effects linked to gambling.

example score

2/3

Gambling Enjoyment (GE)

Measures how strongly a person experiences positive emotions and satisfaction from gambling activities.

Low pleasure

High pleasure

0 – 1: Low pleasure | 2 – 3: High pleasure

A score of 2 indicates relatively strong enjoyment from gambling, suggesting it may be a meaningful source of positive feelings.

example score

10/21

Total Score (TS)

The Integral scale measures the overall severity of gambling-related problems and potential negative consequences.

Low / minimal issues

Moderate issues

High issues

0 – 8: Low / minimal issues | 9 – 14: Moderate issues | 15 – 21: High issues

A score of 10 falls in the Moderate issues range, suggesting noticeable gambling-related difficulties that may be affecting functioning or wellbeing.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Concerned gamblers

41%OF USERS

People who suspect their gambling is getting out of control take it to gauge personal harm, lost control, and how much the thrill is driving them.

Partners and family members

34%OF USERS

Loved ones use it to understand how gambling is affecting the relationship, finances, and day-to-day stability at home.

Clinicians and researchers

25%OF USERS

Counselors, psychologists, and study teams use it for quick screening and to pinpoint which areas need deeper assessment or support.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

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Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Self-Harm Scale (SS)

Average

Normal range

8.9 — 13

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Scale of Harm Caused to a Partner (SoHCtaP)

Average

1.7

Normal range

1.2 — 2.1

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Gambling Pleasure Scale (GPS)

Average

1.1

Normal range

0.7 — 1.6

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Integral scale (Is)

Average

13.5

Normal range

10.2 — 16.9

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It screens for gambling-related problems and estimates severity. It covers impacts on a partner, the rewarding aspects of gambling, and harm to the respondent.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

Completion time is about 4 minutes. The questionnaire contains 21 items.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It is intended for adults in clinical, counseling, or research settings where gambling behavior is being assessed. It can be used for initial screening or for tracking change over time.

How should responses be selected?

Select the response that best matches typical behavior and consequences over the recent period. Answer all items to support accurate scoring.

How should results be interpreted?

Higher scores indicate greater gambling-related harm and greater risk of a gambling disorder. Results should be interpreted alongside clinical history and, when relevant, collateral information.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Victorian Gambling Screen (VGS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

addiction gaming addiction

This brief self-report screening measure is designed to assess gambling-related problems and their impact. The Victorian Gambling Screen (VGS) can be used in clinical or research contexts to support an initial appraisal of symptom burden and associated harms. It was developed by Lia Nower and Alex Blaszczynski.

The instrument consists of 21 items and typically takes about 4 minutes to complete. Items query experiences commonly associated with gambling involvement, including negative consequences and functional impairment, to help characterize the severity and profile of concerns. The Victorian Gambling Screen (VGS) is intended to inform further evaluation and clinical decision-making rather than serve as a standalone diagnostic tool.

Author: Alex Blaszczynski, Lia Nower

Literature: Petry, N. M. Pathological gambling: Etiology, comorbidity, and treatment. American Psychological Association. 2005.

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