Abstract Background This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of problematic gaming among Chinese adolescents and young adults (CAYAs) and identify potential gender-specific risk variables. Methods 6,014 CAYAs were selected for this cross-sectional study using online convenience sampling. To evaluate their sociodemographic qualities, gaming practices, problematic gaming (as measured by the Video Game Dependency Scale), gaming motivations, and personality traits (as measured by the Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory abbreviated version), participants filled out a self-report questionnaire. To identify the common and distinct variables associated with problematic gaming, stepwise logistic regression analyses were conducted independently for males and females. Results The study comprised 5,593 CAYAs in all (3326 males and 2267 females). Males were more likely than females to have problematic gaming (21.5% vs. 14.1%, p