Gambling blocking software compared: BetBlocker, Gamban, GamBlock and bank blocks

Last reviewed: 02 June 2026

A smartphone showing a blocked gambling app, representing blocking software

A blocker stops gambling sites and apps from loading on your devices, so a moment of temptation cannot turn into a bet. Blockers work best alongside self-exclusion, because they also catch sites a national register does not cover. This page compares the best-known options — including a genuinely free, charity-run one — and explains the different layers a block can sit on.

The main options at a glance

Tool	Cost	Works on	Run by
BetBlocker	Free	Phones, tablets and computers	Registered charity
Gamban	Paid (free in the UK via TalkBanStop)	Phones, tablets and computers	Commercial
GamBlock	Paid	Windows, macOS, Android	Commercial
Bank gambling block	Free	Debit and credit cards	Your bank

BetBlocker

Free

A free blocker that restricts access to thousands of gambling sites and apps for a period you choose.

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Gamban

Paid (free in the UK via TalkBanStop)

Device-level software that blocks gambling sites and apps. UK residents can get it free through the TalkBanStop partnership.

Visit official site →

GamBlock

Paid

Long-established device-level blocking software aimed at preventing access to online gambling.

Visit official site →

Bank gambling block

Free

Many banks let you switch on a block that declines gambling transactions, often with a cooling-off delay before it can be turned off.

Visit official site →

Device, bank and network blocks — use more than one

Blocks sit on different layers, and the strongest setup combines them. A device block stops gambling apps and sites on a specific phone or computer. A bank block declines gambling payments no matter which device you use, and often adds a deliberate delay before it can be switched off. Some routers and family-safety settings add a network block that covers every device on your home Wi-Fi. Layering them means that getting around one barrier still leaves the others in place.

Choosing the right blocker

If cost is a concern, start with a free option — BetBlocker is free for everyone, and in the UK Gamban is free through TalkBanStop. Make sure you install the block on every device you own, set the longest duration you are comfortable with, and pair it with a bank block. The point is not to find one perfect tool, but to remove easy access from as many directions as possible.

Setting a blocker up so it sticks

A block only helps on the devices it is actually installed on, so the first task is to cover every phone, tablet and computer you use — including a work device or an old handset still lying in a drawer. When you set it up, choose the longest duration the tool offers; a block you can switch off in five minutes does little when a craving hits. It also helps to let someone you trust set or hold the password, so undoing the block is never a quiet, solo decision. Finally, treat the blocker as one layer rather than the whole solution: combined with self-exclusion and a bank block, it closes the routes back to gambling from several directions at once, which is what makes the setup hold over time.

Want to talk it through? The UK National Gambling Helpline is free, 24/7, on 0808 8020 133. For the full plan, see how to stop gambling online.

Common questions

Is there genuinely free gambling blocking software?

Yes. BetBlocker is free for everyone — it is run by a registered charity and blocks tens of thousands of gambling sites and apps across phones, tablets and computers at no cost. In the UK, the paid app Gamban is also available free of charge through the TalkBanStop partnership, so cost does not have to be a barrier to getting a block in place.

Can a gambling block be removed easily once it is set up?

Good blockers are designed to be hard to switch off in a moment of temptation. Many let you set a fixed period that cannot be shortened, and some require a waiting time before a block can be lifted. To make removal harder still, install the block on every device, choose the longest duration offered, and ask someone you trust to hold any password.

What is the difference between a device block and a bank block?

A device block stops gambling sites and apps loading on a particular phone or computer. A bank block works at the payment level — it declines gambling transactions regardless of which device or site you use, and often adds a deliberate delay before it can be turned off. They cover different gaps, so using both at once is far stronger than either alone.

Will a blocker stop every gambling site, including unlicensed ones?

A good blocker maintains a large, regularly updated list and will catch the vast majority of gambling sites, including many unlicensed and offshore ones that a national self-exclusion register does not reach. No list is ever completely exhaustive, which is why pairing a blocker with self-exclusion and a bank block gives the most complete coverage.