There’s no two ways about it: As smartphones have become more widespread, they’ve completely revolutionized online gambling, opening the door to faster banking methods and, ultimately, more accessibility for players on the go. However, it also means gambling is far more convenient for those who struggle with responsibly sticking to a budget.
Self-exclusion isn’t the answer to this problem because you can find lots of casinos not on GamStop at CasinoGam, and that’s overkill, anyway. Instead, installing reliable gambling blocking software on your Android device curbs your access to casino sites, ensuring you can continue to enjoy your favorite games in limited windows at a computer.
What content can you block on Android?
Restricting access is the best way that you can block your online activities on smartphones, and there are several ways to do so. Using third-party apps or activating built-in restrictions in mobile browsers like Google Chrome are an excellent first step, but you can take it even further – Android devices also support router-level restrictions.
With the right tools in place, you can take back control of your gambling. The best gambling blocking software will:
– Block sites on Android – Setting up filters lets you block unwanted casino sites.
– Set time limits – You can also set daily limits to ensure you don’t spend too much time gambling.
– Help protect you – Blocks at the device level prevent circumvention by creating a new account.
So what are the best gambling blocking apps for Android players?
GamBan
An intuitive support system, GamBan specifically blocks online casinos on installed devices, offering a reliable and affordable way to curb spending. It takes a stratified approach by blocking access to all forms of online gambling, including sportsbooks, trading sites, cryptocurrencies, and others. Sometimes, members may be able to continue visiting the casino but will find transactions are blocked instead.
The official website provides all the details on how everything works, and it will install on any Android device, including tablets. Importantly, it won’t impact anyone else on the network, so you won’t have to worry that an entire household will suffer the side-effects. And if they should, GamBan also provides members with live chat, ensuring you can get help for any problems they may have, day or night.
There are two ways to subscribe to GamBan: The Cool Off monthly subscription is ideal for short-term cooling off, whilst the Exclusion annual subscription is best for long-term protection.
BetBlocker
Founded in 2017, BetBlocker is another program designed to help users detach from gambling by blocking their ability to play at casinos. The UK-registered charity’s app is a popular tool for Android users eager to limit their mobile gambling access.
Installing the Android app doesn’t take long, though that hasn’t always been the case. Previously, you would need to add specific settings to ensure you were protected. Now, it’s as easy as installing the software and letting BetBlocker handle the rest; it instantly blocks over 83,000 sites and prevents gambling apps from working if installed.
OpenDNS
Router-based gambling blocking is an effective way to take away the ability to play at an online casino, but it’s a strong response; altering the router and the connection itself will impact anyone on the network – so nobody in the household will be able to gamble online, either.
While it’s possible to block websites on your router itself, you can more directly target an Android device by implementing OpenDNS:
– Create an account with OpenDNS
– Configure your router to work with the servers
– Login to your account and choose the Web Content Filtering option
– Choose your preferred filtering level (Moderate, High, or Custom can restrict casinos)
– Save your settings, clear the cache, and restart the router
You can also manage individual domain blocks; a Basic account supports management of 25 domains, and a VIP plan bumps it up to 100. In most cases, a Basic account should suffice as Moderate filtering will automatically block the vast majority of online casinos.
Does gambling blocking software actually work?
Gambling blocking apps can be downloaded to your Android to limit access to different services on the internet. But it’s important to be mindful that blocking software isn’t a foolproof solution that will work all on its own; for example, it’s possible to bypass restrictions by using another device or a VPN.
These apps can help reduce the immediate temptation to gamble, but the underlying cause will still remain and must be addressed. Professional counseling can help identify the source of the behavior and develop strategies to overcome it.
All in all, gambling blocking apps are effective because they do restrict access to a wealth of casino sites. However, no software can guarantee absolute protection from opportunities to gamble online, which is why it’s essential to make limitations part of a larger plan to overcome problematic behaviors.