Blocking gambling websites: 4 tools that work across every device

You can block access to gambling sites on phones, tablets, computers and your entire home network using free software, device settings or network-level filters. The right choice depends on who needs protection, which devices they use and whether you want blocking across all connections or just at home. This guide covers the tools available in the UK, how to install them and what each one stops.

Choosing between device blocking and network blocking

Device-level blocking installs on a single phone, tablet or computer and travels with that device wherever it goes. Network-level blocking sits on your home router and applies to every device that connects to your wifi, but stops working when someone leaves the house or switches to mobile data.

If you share a household with someone whose gambling is causing harm, network blocking protects shared devices and children's tablets without needing to install anything on each one. If the person at risk uses their phone outside the home, add device-level blocking to their mobile as well.

What device blocking covers

Software installed on a phone or computer blocks gambling sites in every browser and every app on that device. It works on mobile data, public wifi and home networks. Two established options are Gamban and BetBlocker, both designed specifically for gambling sites.

What network blocking covers

A filter applied at router level blocks gambling sites for every device connected to your home wifi: laptops, phones, tablets, smart TVs and games consoles. It does not follow someone when they leave the house or switch to mobile data. Most home routers include parental controls that can be configured to block gambling categories.

Installing BetBlocker on a phone or computer

BetBlocker is free, open-source software that blocks access to gambling sites across browsers and apps. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. The charity behind it maintains a regularly updated list of gambling domains.

1. Go to betblocker.org and download the version for your device.
2. Run the installer and follow the on-screen steps — no account or payment required.
3. Choose whether to block all gambling sites or only certain types, such as sports betting or online casinos.
4. Set a password that only you know, then write it down somewhere safe away from the device — you will need it to uninstall the software later.

Once installed, BetBlocker runs quietly in the background. Anyone trying to visit a blocked site sees a plain message that the page cannot be displayed. The software does not track what someone browses or send data anywhere — it simply checks each web address against its block list.

Using Gamban for subscription-based blocking

Gamban is a paid service that blocks gambling sites and apps across devices. A single subscription covers up to three devices and costs a monthly fee. It works on the same platforms as BetBlocker and uses similar blocking technology, with additional features such as remote management if you are helping someone else set up their device.

Installation follows the same general steps: download from gamban.com, run the installer, set a password. The main difference is that Gamban requires an active subscription to keep working, whereas BetBlocker remains free indefinitely. Both tools update their block lists automatically to catch new gambling domains.

Applying router-level blocking at home

Most broadband routers include parental controls that can block categories of website, including gambling. The exact steps vary by manufacturer, but the general approach is the same.

Log in to your router's admin panel by typing its IP address into a browser — often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, printed on a label on the router itself. Find the parental controls or content filtering section, enable it and select gambling or betting from the list of categories. Save the settings and restart the router if prompted.

Some internet service providers offer their own filtering services that work at network level without needing to access the router. BT, Sky and TalkTalk all provide options to block gambling sites across your home connection. Check your provider's website or call their support line to activate it.

Limits of router-level blocking

Router filters only apply to devices connected to your home wifi. A phone on mobile data, or a laptop connected to a cafe's wifi, bypasses them entirely. If someone in your household switches to mobile data to access gambling sites, combine router blocking with device-level software on their phone.

Blocking on shared or family devices

Parental-control software such as Net Nanny or Qustodio can block gambling sites on shared tablets or computers used by children and adults. These tools let you set different rules for different user profiles — blocking gambling for some family members while leaving it accessible for others.

Install the software on the shared device, create a profile for each person who uses it and apply the gambling block to the relevant profiles. Most parental-control services also let you set time limits, track what someone browses and receive alerts if they try to visit blocked sites, though these features require a paid subscription.

Combining blocking with self-exclusion

Device and network blocking stop you or someone else from reaching gambling sites through browsers and apps, but they do not prevent gambling accounts from being opened in the first place. Self-exclusion closes existing accounts and prevents new ones from being created with your details.

GAMSTOP is a free national self-exclusion scheme that covers all gambling sites licensed in Great Britain. Registering with it blocks your access for a minimum period you choose — six months, one year or five years — and gambling operators are required to close your accounts and refuse any new applications. Combine GAMSTOP with device blocking to cover both licensed and unlicensed sites.

What blocking tools do not cover

Blocking software and network filters rely on lists of known gambling domains. They catch the vast majority of gambling sites, including all the major brands, but a newly launched site may not appear on the block list immediately. The providers update their lists regularly, often daily, to close these gaps.

Blocking tools also do not prevent someone from gambling in person at a bookmaker, a casino or a betting shop. If physical venues are part of the pattern, self-exclusion schemes such as GAMSTOP can include high-street premises, and some operators allow you to self-exclude from their physical locations separately.

Removing or bypassing blocking tools

Most blocking software requires a password to uninstall, which is why writing it down and keeping it somewhere other than the device matters. If you forget the password, the software provider can help you recover access, though this may take several days — a deliberate delay to prevent impulsive uninstalls.

Someone determined to bypass blocking can uninstall the software if they know the password, switch to a device that does not have it installed, or use mobile data to avoid router-level filters. No technical measure is completely unbreakable, which is why blocking tools work best alongside other steps such as talking to someone you trust, setting up alerts on your bank account and getting support from a professional service.

Getting help with gambling harm

Blocking tools reduce access, but they do not address the reasons someone gambles or the harm it has already caused. If gambling is affecting your finances, your relationships or your mental health, speaking to someone who understands the issue can help you regain control.

GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, free and available every hour of every day. You can also visit gamcare.org.uk for online chat and self-help resources. BeGambleAware provides information and support at begambleaware.org, and Gordon Moody offers residential and online treatment programmes at gordonmoody.org.uk.

Gambling is for people aged 18 and over. If someone in your household is under 18, parental-control software can block gambling sites on their devices and help prevent early exposure.

#Blocking tools #Self-exclusion #GAMSTOP #Families

Download PDF: Blocking Gambling Sites — Your First Steps PDF, 28 KB