Although both main psychiatric diagnostic and classification systems define pathological gambling as a disorder of impulse control, diagnostic criteria, characteristics of course and outcome and methods of treatment are more similar to psychoactive substance dependencies. Neurobiological studies also confirm the close similarity of pathological gambling (and other so-called non-substance addictions) to substance dependencies with all theoretical and therapeutical consequences. A logical conclusion of ongoing conceptualization of pathological gambling can be the suggested concept of a common category of addiction disorders including both substance and non-substance addictions, which should be implemented in the upcoming revisions of psychiatric classification systems.

Key words: pathological gambling – reward system – serotonergic dysregulation – neurobehavioral model of addictions – diagnostic and classification systems