Gambling Blocking Software UK: Gamban, BetBlocker and Bank Blocks Explained

Gambling blocking software: Gamban, BetBlocker and bank blocks explained

If you're looking for a way to put a barrier between yourself and gambling sites, you're already doing the right thing. This guide covers the three tools most widely used in the UK: BetBlocker, Gamban, and the gambling payment blocks now built into most major bank apps. All of them are quick to set up.

If you'd like to talk to someone while you're reading, the National Gambling Helpline is free and confidential on 0808 8020 133, open 24/7.

These tools work best alongside self-exclusion from UK-licensed sites, not instead of it. GamStop is the national self-exclusion scheme that blocks access to every UK-licensed operator at once. Our guide to GamStop and self-exclusion explains how to register in a few minutes, and it's the first step most people take. Blocking software picks up where GamStop leaves off: it runs on your devices and can reach sites GamStop doesn't cover, including offshore operators that hold no UK licence.

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What blocking software actually does

Blocking software installs on your device and intercepts any attempt to reach a gambling website or app. Better tools work at the operating system or network level, which means they can't be bypassed by switching browsers or clearing cookies.

The key design principle is friction. Neither Gamban nor BetBlocker can be removed instantly while active. That matters because the point of a block is to slow you down long enough for the urge to pass, not just to stop you when you're already calm and committed.

No software is completely indestructible. A sufficiently determined and technically capable person can sometimes find a workaround. But the consistent finding from research into blocking tools is that using multiple overlapping barriers significantly improves outcomes, so using more than one, where you can, is the recommended approach.

BetBlocker

BetBlocker is a free gambling blocking tool run by a charity registered in Scotland. It costs nothing, requires no registration, and asks for no personal information at all. That last point matters for people who aren't ready to put a name to a form.

Setting BetBlocker up takes under two minutes. You download the app, choose how long you want the block to run, and activate it. Once it's on, it can't be removed until your chosen period ends.

Coverage and platforms. BetBlocker blocks over 90,000 gambling websites and thousands of apps. It runs on Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire OS, and can be installed on as many devices as you need.

Duration. You can set a block from a few hours all the way up to five years. There's also a calendar feature, which lets you schedule blocks in advance for periods when you know you're most at risk, such as evenings, weekends, or the days around payday.

Staying up to date. BetBlocker adds new sites to its blocklist daily. If you find a site that's slipped through, you can report it directly via the app, and it's typically added within days.

To download BetBlocker, visit betblocker.org or search for it on the App Store or Google Play. There's no subscription, no in-app purchase, and no catch.

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Gamban

Gamban takes a different approach. It runs quietly in the background and aims to be as difficult to remove as possible while active, which makes it harder to disable in a moment of weakness.

Gamban blocks access to nearly half a million gambling websites and apps, including unlicensed and offshore sites. It covers Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, and a single subscription covers all your devices.

Until 31 March 2026, Gamban was available free in England and Scotland through a partnership called TalkBanStop, jointly run with GamCare and GamStop. That scheme has now ended because the funding source, the charity GambleAware, ceased operations and the OHID, the government body that replaced it for commissioning purposes, chose not to fund Gamban going forward. Gamban is still free in Wales, where separate funding arrangements remain in place.

In England and Scotland, Gamban now runs on a paid subscription: £4.99 a month or £29.99 a year. A seven-day free trial is available, which is worth using to test how well it works on your devices before committing.

The GamCare helpline team can advise on the best tools for your situation, including whether Gamban is right for you. Call free on 0808 8020 133 or use live chat at gamcare.org.uk.

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Bank gambling blocks

Most major UK banks now offer a built-in block that prevents debit and credit card payments to gambling merchants. Activating it takes a few minutes in your banking app, costs nothing, and has no effect on your credit score.

How it works. You go into your banking app, find the card controls or merchant controls section, and toggle gambling off. The block then applies to any transaction that's categorised as a gambling payment. Some banks, such as Barclays and HSBC, have a cooling-off period before you can remove it, typically 24 to 72 hours, which adds an extra layer of friction between the urge and the action.

Cooling-off periods. Barclays applies a 72-hour wait before the block can be removed; HSBC uses 24 hours. That buffer is deliberate. It separates the moment of decision from the moment of action.

How to activate it. For Barclays, open the app, tap Cards from Quick Links, select your debit card, go to Merchant Control, and toggle Gambling off. For HSBC, go to Manage Cards under your account and select Gambling restrictions. For Lloyds and Halifax, tap Manage Card and look under Card Freezes and Limits. Other banks follow a similar pattern. The GamCare website at gamcare.org.uk/self-help/blocking-software has direct links to each bank's guidance.

The banks that currently offer some form of gambling block include Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, NatWest, RBS, Santander, Monzo, and Starling. If yours isn't on that list, it's worth calling your bank to ask.

The e-wallet limitation. Bank blocks apply to card and direct bank transfers only. Payments made via e-wallets like PayPal, Skrill, or Neteller go out of your account as a transfer to the digital wallet, not as a gambling transaction. The bank has no visibility into what happens after that. If you use e-wallets for gambling, a bank block alone won't be enough: blocking software on your device is the more reliable barrier for that route.

Device-level controls as a supplement

If you use an iPhone or iPad, the built-in Screen Time feature (under Settings) includes a content restriction for gambling websites. Get someone else to set the passcode so you don't know it. On Android, Google's Family Link or Digital Wellbeing settings offer a similar option, though coverage varies by device.

These aren't as comprehensive as dedicated blocking software, but they're free, require no download, and add another layer. They're particularly useful for tablets or shared family devices.

Using them together

The strongest approach is to stack the layers. GamStop closes down access at UK-licensed operators. Blocking software intercepts device-level access to gambling sites, including offshore ones. A bank block covers the payment route. Each plugs a gap the others don't fully cover.

A practical starting point: register with GamStop if you haven't already, install BetBlocker or Gamban on every device you use, turn on the gambling block in your banking app, and - if you've been using deposit limits as a softer control - consider whether resetting those limits more firmly makes sense as a next step.

The best moment to set these up is now, while you're calm and resolved. The tools themselves take minutes to activate. The harder part is remembering that they're most valuable precisely when you feel least like using them.

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If someone else is struggling

If you're reading this for someone you're worried about, the tools above can help. GamStop can only be registered by the person themselves. BetBlocker and Gamban can in principle be installed on a shared device, though both work most reliably when the person using the device has set them up themselves.

Often the most useful step is a conversation, not a technical fix. GamCare supports family members and friends as well as people gambling directly. Call 0808 8020 133 or use the live chat at gamcare.org.uk.

Our guide to signs of problem gambling covers what to look out for and how to approach the subject if you're unsure how to start.

Frequently asked questions

Does blocking software replace GamStop? No. GamStop registers you for self-exclusion at UK-licensed operators, which is a different mechanism. Blocking software runs on your devices and blocks access to sites, including offshore ones outside GamStop's reach. They complement each other rather than duplicate.

Is BetBlocker really free? Yes. BetBlocker is run by a registered charity and is entirely funded by donations. There's no subscription, no trial period, and no cost at any point.

How much does Gamban cost? Gamban moved to a paid subscription in England and Scotland after TalkBanStop ended on 31 March 2026: £4.99 a month or £29.99 a year. A seven-day free trial is available. Gamban remains free for Wales residents.

Will turning on a bank block affect my credit score? No. A gambling spending block on your debit or credit card is a feature you control, not a credit event. It doesn't show on your credit file.

Can someone remove BetBlocker or Gamban themselves? BetBlocker can't be removed until the chosen period ends. Gamban is designed to make removal as difficult as possible while a subscription is active, though no software is completely indestructible. Both work best as part of a wider commitment to stopping.

Does a bank block cover PayPal or Skrill deposits? No. E-wallet deposits are processed as transfers to the wallet provider, not as gambling transactions, so they bypass the block. Blocking software installed on your device is more effective against that route.

Safer gambling: if gambling is causing harm to you or someone close to you, help is available right now. The National Gambling Helpline is free and open round the clock on 0808 8020 133.