Chasing losses
Chasing losses means continuing to gamble, often with bigger stakes, in an attempt to win back money you have already lost. It can happen inside one session or when you come back another day to get even. In the DSM-5 criteria for gambling disorder it is listed as returning after a loss to get even, and clinicians treat it as one of the clearest warning signs.
How chasing losses shows up in practice
You lose €50 on slots and raise your stake so that one win clears the deficit. That raised stake is the chase, and it usually comes with abandoning whatever plan you started with.
The DSM-5 notes that many gamblers chase for short periods, and that it is the frequent, long-term chase that marks a disorder. One chase on its own is not a diagnosis, because the criteria require four or more symptoms within a 12-month period.
Watch the deposit screen.
Chasing losses compared with a set loss limit
A loss limit is the tool most often mentioned alongside chasing, and the two pull in opposite directions. The rows below set the chase against a limit you fix before you play.
Chasing losses | Set loss limit |
|---|---|
| Stake rises after each loss | Stake stays as planned |
| Decision made mid-session, under pressure | Decision made before the first bet |
| Treats a loss as temporary | Treats a loss as the cost of play |
| No natural stopping point | Play ends when the limit is reached |
| Can feel like a strategy | Setting and timing vary by operator |
| Often leads to extra deposits | Blocks further loss once reached |
What to do if you notice the chase
Stop at the point you notice it, and set a deposit or loss limit in your account settings before your next session. How long a reduced limit takes to apply differs from one operator to the next, so read the responsible gambling page of the site you use.
If it keeps happening, a time-out or self-exclusion with the operator is the firmer step.
The Gambling Care national helpline is 1800 936 725, open 24 hours a day, and Extern Problem Gambling offers free counselling on 089 241 5401.
