It’s quite clear that we here at Casino Bloke adore online gambling – that’s why we do what we do. However, the importance of responsible gambling cannot be understated. Besides expressing our love for the hobby, we’ll always be the first to tell you to stay safe while gambling. Do not permit minors to access online casinos, and try to identify problem gambling before it becomes a big problem.
Blocking gambling sites can help prevent both of these issues. And you’re not alone in preventing problem gambling.
It’s the 21st century, and anti-gambling apps have been developed to help everyone stay safe. These handy pieces of software can help you gamble safely in a variety of ways. From self-exclusion plans to deposit limits and spending trackers, good anti-gambling software can do a lot of things to help you out.
What Is Anti-Gambling Software?
The purpose of these programs is fairly self-explanatory. In short, it’s apps to block gambling sites or limit your exposure to gambling content. Alternatively, such software can help you control your gambling activity through a variety of features.
At their most basic, anti-gambling apps work as a sort of all-encompassing self-exclusion method. They identify and restrict your access to gambling sites, including both online casinos and services such as sports betting. You can use these apps to block gambling sites for free, or simply to limit your bets in one way or another.
If you don’t want to completely cut off access to online caisnos, no worries. Most of these apps have features such as password protection and parental controls. These options only allow access to online gambling after a user-set password has been provided. It’s a great way to prevent your children from accessing any gambling sites you may be using. Moreover, you can use such methods to selectively prevent household members from gambling online.
Now that we’ve covered how gambling blocking apps and software work, let’s see some suggestions. These are the top anti-gambling software services online, as curated by the Casino Bloke team.
Top Apps for Blocking Gambling Sites
Our ranking of the best software for blocking gambling sites was based on several things, including:
- Features and functionality.
- Regional coverage.
- Gambling site coverage.
- Price (where applicable)
- Available platforms.
1. Bet Blocker
One of the most well-known gambling site blocking apps out there, and probably the one you should look at first. Why? It’s completely free, for starters. The full functionality of this app is available to everyone, and will remain free forever. The people behind the app don’t believe in profiting from problem gambling, which is a moral stance we have nothing but admiration for.
Bet Blocker is not only free anti-gambling software. It’s also strict, tough, and downright unforgiving. If you decide to exclude yourself from gambling online, the decision is irreversible. You can set it to be temporary, of course, but once gambling sites are blocked, they remain so until the specified period is over. Self-exclusion can last anywhere from 5 days to 5 years. The same goes for Parental Control password protection. You set a time period, and it cannot be lifted until the time period is over.
Bet Blocker is also adamant about collecting as little data about users as possible. This is a good stance to have for multiple reasons, but it comes at a price. If you forget your password for Parental Control, there is no way to reset it.
When it comes to gambling safely, there is no such thing as being “too strict.” However, some people may not appreciate the lengths Bet Blocker goes to, which is arguably its only downside.
Bet Blocker is available on all major platforms and operating systems.
2. Gamban
Gamban is a premium anti-gambling app, meaning there’s a monthly subscription involved. Moreover, it’s not all that pricey for what it is, though, and there’s an option for a free trial.
So what does Gamban offer for the monthly £2.49? Gamban blocks access to gambling applications and websites across multiple devices. That much is pretty standard, and you also get 24/7 live support – which is a distinct advantage over the subscription-free competition.
However, software for blocking gambling sites usually runs into the issue of not being able to stop third-party access. For example, many users report being able to access casinos through Gmail despite self-exclusion blockers. The reasoning is simple – your email is kept private even from apps blocking gambling sites.
Gamban has an interesting solution to this issue. Even if you manage to access a gambling site, you won’t be able to make deposits. The anti-gambling app also comes with resources to help you battle addiction. The only downside is that there are no password protection options – total self-exclusion is the only route.
3. Freedom
Freedom is not exactly specialsed anti-gambling software. The scope of its features is much bigger, but it can serve our purposes just as well. It’s an all-encompassing service designed to block all sorts of online distractions. From messaging and social media to online gambling and other time-wasters.
The great thing about that is that you can customize what you want to be blocked. You can tell Freedom to block anything you want, from specific sites to promotional e-mails and ads. A yearly subscription will cost you just £3.33 per month, or you can purchase it forever for about £100.
Moreover, Freedom can offer insight into how much time and money you’re spending gambling online. Beyond being used as anti-gambling software, Freedom can also help block distractions and limit procrastination.
The downside is that you may have to manually block casino sites. By that, we mean that not all gambling sites are covered by a simple click of a button. Also, it’s relatively easy to get around any limits you set for yourself. As such, some willpower may also be needed, which can be tricky for those struggling with addiction. Freedom is an infinitely more versatile app than anything else on this list, though.