Long shrouded in conceptual and nosological ambiguity, gambling addiction is set to be classified under addictive disorders in DSM-5. Gambling addiction has a general population prevalence of approximately 1%. It cuts across age, gender, class and culture, and has a negative impact on the person's physical and psychological health, finances and family. Despite high comorbidity among those with psychiatric disorders, professionals' limited awareness leads to it going undetected. Simple screening tools aid early detection and brief psychological interventions are effective. Cognitive–behavioural therapies are the treatment of choice and although no drug is licensed for use, opioid antagonists show promise.