Gambling blocking software explained

Gamban publishes the most detail of the options covered here and is recommended by Ohio's casino regulator for blocking unregulated online casinos. It costs $6.99 a month or $41.99 a year after a 7-day trial, according to its pricing page. BetBlocker is another option, but its current features and price couldn't be verified here. The best choice is the one you install on every device you use. Read how to block gambling sites for the basics.

Gamban's pricing page lists $6.99 per month billed monthly, or $41.99 per year billed annually, with a 7-day trial before payment. Over a year, the annual plan costs about $41.89 less than paying monthly. That's roughly the price of one small casino deposit, which many people find a useful way to think about it. Our gambling budget guide helps you see where that money goes otherwise.

Gambling blockers are designed to block gambling sites generally, not just state-licensed ones, and Ohio's regulator recommends GamBan specifically for unregulated online casinos. That matters because state self-exclusion lists don't reach offshore sites. No blocker can promise to catch every new address, so report any that load and pair the software with casino self-exclusion. See our self-exclusion guide.

Yes, Gamban's pricing page lists app blocking as well as site blocking, with apps for Apple and Android devices. Most offshore casinos run in a phone browser rather than a store app, so the website block is usually the part that matters. Install the blocker on each device and check that your browser is covered. Our guide on playing on Android explains how casino sites run on phones.

Some banks can block card payments coded MCC 7995, the category for gambling, but there isn't a published feature from a named US bank we can confirm, so ask your issuer. A bank block covers payments, not access, so it works best alongside software. It also won't stop crypto bought elsewhere. Our page on whether banks can block gambling covers the details.

Ohio's regulator says GamBan can block social casinos as well as unregulated online casinos and online poker, which covers many sweepstakes-style sites. Coverage of any single site isn't something we can confirm, so check that the ones you used no longer load after installing. Several states have banned dual-currency sweepstakes casinos. Our guide on sweepstakes vs real-money casinos explains the model.

Reinstall it and ask someone you trust to help lock its settings, if the software allows. Repeatedly removing a blocker is a sign that self-help alone isn't enough, which is common and nothing to be ashamed of. Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) for confidential support any time. Gamblers Anonymous meetings are another option; see what Gamblers Anonymous is.

For some people it is, but most get better results by layering it with bank blocks, casino self-exclusion and support. Software covers devices, a bank block covers card payments, and self-exclusion covers accounts you already hold. Talking to someone covers the urges behind it all. Our cool-off periods guide explains a short break you can add while the software is new.

Yes, the commission's 2024 annual report recommends GamBan for blocking unregulated online casinos, social casinos and online poker. The same report notes that illegal sites have no consumer protections, which is the main reason a device-level block helps. Ohio doesn't license online casinos, so any real-money casino site an Ohio player sees is outside state oversight. Players in Columbus, Cleveland or Cincinnati can also call the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966. Our Ohio gambling overview covers the rest of the state's rules.

Gamban offers a 7-day trial at no charge before its paid plans of $6.99 a month or $41.99 a year, according to its pricing page. BetBlocker is often described as an alternative, but its current price and features couldn't be verified, so check its own site. Some layers cost nothing: casino self-exclusion is free, deleting bookmarks and saved logins is free, and your bank may block gambling card payments if you ask. A year of Gamban costs about what one small deposit does. Our BetBlocker page tracks what's known about that tool.

Yes, Gamban lists an app on the Apple App Store that blocks gambling sites and apps on the device. That matters because offshore casinos usually run in Safari or another browser rather than as store apps, so a web block is the part that does the work. Install it, then try opening a casino you used to visit to confirm the block holds, and remove saved casino logins and home-screen shortcuts. If you also use an iPad or laptop, cover those too. Our guide to playing on iPhone explains how casino sites load on Apple devices.

Longer than feels necessary, because urges often return months later around a big game, a payday or a stressful week. As a rough guide, run it for at least a month for a short reset, six months or more if you're cutting back, and indefinitely if you want to stop altogether. On the annual plan, a full year costs $41.99. Choose the length in advance and review it with someone you trust rather than deciding alone during an urge. Pair it with self-exclusion if you're stopping. Our self-exclusion guide shows how to request one.

A blocker treats crypto casinos like any other gambling site, so it should stop them loading on devices where it's installed, but it can't stop you buying coins. Crypto deposits clear fast and generally can't be reversed, and a card block won't catch coins bought at an exchange and sent on. Keep exchange and wallet balances small, remove saved wallet addresses for casinos, and consider closing exchange accounts you only use for gambling. Our page on crypto and problem gambling covers the extra risks crypto brings.

It's designed to cover many sites at once, including new addresses and unofficial mirror sites that copy a casino's look, which is a big advantage over asking each site to exclude you. No blocker can promise to catch every new address the day it appears, though. If a gambling site loads while the blocker is active, report it to the provider's support so it can be added, and close the tab. Mirror sites carry their own risks, such as fake cashiers. Our guide to casino mirror sites explains how to recognize them.

The blocker still keeps the site from loading on your devices, which is why it's worth having even after you self-exclude. If an offshore casino reopens your account or keeps sending offers, save the messages, email support asking it to honor the exclusion and stop contact, and keep the reply. There's no US state regulator to escalate to for offshore sites, so your records are your main tool. Unsubscribe from marketing too, because promotions are a common trigger. Our self-exclusion at offshore casinos page covers the next steps.