"Pathological gambler" → person with a gambling disorder

Stigma-preferred language

Definition

The pre-2013 DSM term, retired with the DSM-5. Still appears in older literature; it should not appear in new writing.

Preferred phrasing

person with a gambling disorder.

Source

Primary source for this whole section: https://www.recoveryanswers.org/addiction-ary/ Supporting: https://pttcnetwork.org/non-stigmatizing-language/ · https://www.recoveryanswers.org/research-post/person-first-language-heroin-use-disorder/

Cite this

Betttr. ""Pathological gambler" → person with a gambling disorder." The Gambling Recovery Glossary. https://betttr.net/glossary/pathological-gambler/ (accessed 2026-09-20).

Last updated: 2026-09-20.

Corrections: support@betttr.net