This document provides information on several screening tools that can be used to assess gambling behavior and identify potential gambling disorders. It summarizes the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), which is a 20-item self-report measure that classifies responses as indicative of no problem, possible problem, or probable pathological gambling. It also describes the Massachusetts Gambling Screen (MAGS), which is a brief 14-item survey that classifies individuals into categories of non-problem, in transition, or pathological gamblers. Additionally, it mentions the Gamblers Anonymous 20 Questions tool and a 2-question rule out tool to screen for problem gambling.

1. Leigh Falls Holman, Ph.D., LPCS, RPTS, NCC, CSC
AMHCA Diplomate & CMHS Substance Abuse & Co-
Occurring Disorders

2.  Choice:
◦ How easily it can be used with a client
◦ The type of info the assessment provides
◦ Appropriateness for use with a client
 WASTE-Time Quick Screen:
◦ Paper and pencil or verbal
◦ Can be used in a general counseling setting if a client
endorses behaviors consistent with problem gambling.

3.  Withdrawal
◦ “What happens to you when you are unable to engage in _______?”
 Adverse Consequences
◦ “What negative consequences resulted from _______?”
 Inability to Stop
◦ “Have you attempted to cut back or stop ______ without success?”
 Tolerance
◦ “Have you found it necessary to increase the amount or intensity of ______ to
achieve the same effect?”
 Escape
◦ “Do you _____ to escape from negative moods?”
 Time Spent
◦ “Do you find yourself spending a lot of time preparing, engaging, and recovering
from ______?”
 Time Wasted
◦ “Have you spent more time and/or resources on _____ than you intended?”

4.  Screening instrument
 20 item
 Self-report
 Lifetime gambling activity or Last 3 months
 Score ≥ 5 indicates possible problem & need for further
assessment
 http://www.addictionrecov.org/southoak.aspx
 SOGS-R for Adolescents:
 http://www.southwestern.org/rc/wp-content/uploads/South-Oaks- Spanish Version
 http://www.ipgap.indiana.edu/images/documents/SOGS_spanishversion.

5.  Brief clinical screening instrument
 5-10 minute survey or interview – self-report
 14 items (only 7 scored & weighted score)
 Classifies Adults & Adolescents into 3 categories:
◦ Non-problem
◦ In Transition
◦ Pathological Gamblers
 MAGS (published by Springer)
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF02104901#page-2
 MAGS copy:
http://www.ncrg.org/sites/default/files/uploads/docs/monographs/mags.p
df
 Pathological gambling among adolescents: MAGS (n = 856 suburban
Boston HS students) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24234969
 Correctly classified 96% of adolescent problem gamblers

6.  Can be accessed online:
 http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/content/20
-questions
 Score of ≥ 7 indicates problem gambling behavior
 Don’t know specificity or sensitivity

7.  2 Question Rule Out Tool:
http://www.ncpgambling.org/files/NPGAW/Lie_Bet
_Tool.PDF
 Self-report

8.  Screening instrument designed for use by general
practitioner setting
 Score ≥ 4 indicates possible problem gambling
 NIH article:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC307
6109/
 PDF version of instrument:
http://www.bpac.org.nz/BPJ/2010/June/docs/addic
tion_eight_gambling_screen.pdf