Self-Exclusion and Blocking: How to Cut Off Access
Cutting off access is the most effective single step in stopping gambling. Here are the tools — self-exclusion programs, blocking apps, and bank blocks — and how to set them up.
Why access control works so well
Most gambling happens in a moment of impulse, and the easier it is to act on that impulse, the harder it is to resist. Cutting off access removes the in-the-moment decision entirely — you can’t act on an urge you can’t easily reach. That’s why blocking tools consistently outperform willpower: they work even on the days your resolve doesn’t. Stacking several together closes the gaps.
Self-exclusion programs
Self-exclusion is a formal request to be barred from gambling. In the US, many states and individual casinos run self-exclusion lists that legally bar you from the premises, and licensed online operators offer their own self-exclusion settings. In the UK, GAMSTOP blocks you from all Great Britain–licensed gambling sites at once (more in the UK guide). Enrolling is free, and it adds a real barrier between you and the next session.
Blocking software
Blocking apps stop gambling sites and apps from loading across your devices. Well-known options include Gamban, GamBlock, and the free BetBlocker. They’re designed to be hard to remove on impulse, which is the point. Install one on every device you own — phone, tablet, laptop — not just the one you usually gamble on.
Bank and card gambling blocks
Many banks now let you switch on a block that declines gambling transactions, often with a deliberate delay (24–48 hours) before it can be turned off. If your bank offers one, turn it on. It adds friction exactly where it matters — at the moment money would move — and the cooling-off delay defuses impulsive attempts to disable it.
Stack them, and tell someone
No single tool is perfect, but several together are formidable: self-exclusion plus a blocking app plus a bank block covers most routes. Telling a trusted person adds an accountability layer that software can’t. The more friction between you and gambling, the more the urges fade on their own.
Plan for the gaps
Be honest about the loopholes: a new account on an unblocked site, cash, a device you forgot, or borrowing from someone. Closing these in advance — rather than discovering them mid-urge — is what makes the system hold. If a gap appears, treat it as something to patch, not a reason to give up.
What to do today
Set up at least one block right now — ideally a blocking app on your phone and your bank’s gambling block. It takes minutes and it’s the highest-leverage thing you can do today. Then see how to stop gambling for the rest of the plan.
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After the Bet is a self-help content resource, not a financial advisor, therapist, or crisis service. Nothing here is legal or financial advice. If you are in crisis, please contact the NCPG Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or dial/text 988. For free financial counseling, visit GamFin. See our full disclaimer.