Blocking tools add friction between an urge to gamble and the ability to act on it. They matter most for offshore online casinos, which BetStop does not cover and which can appear under new domain names at any time. No single tool blocks everything, so the most effective setup combines a device blocker, a bank gambling block and self-exclusion.

This page explains each type of tool, what it covers and misses, and a step-by-step setup.

Types of Blocking Tools

Tool	What it blocks	Covers offshore casinos?	Cost
Gambling blocking software (for example Gamban, BetBlocker)	Gambling websites and apps on the devices where it is installed	Yes, sites on the tool’s list	Gamban is a paid subscription; BetBlocker is free
Bank gambling block	Card payments to merchants coded as gambling	Card payments, yes; crypto and some processors, no	Free
Family-friendly filter	Websites at the network or ISP level, including URLs ACMA has blocked	Listed sites	Varies by provider
Phone settings (Screen Time, Family Link)	Apps and websites you choose; time limits	Only what you add	Free
Self-exclusion (BetStop, casino tools)	Accounts, bets and marketing	BetStop no; casino tools only that casino	Free

Blocking Software

Blocking apps maintain lists of gambling websites and apps and stop them from loading on the device.

• Gamban runs on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android and blocks gambling sites and apps across all devices on one account. It is a paid subscription with a free trial.
• BetBlocker is a free tool run by a charity. You choose a block duration, and the block cannot be removed until it ends.

When choosing, check: which platforms it supports, whether it can be uninstalled during the block period, how often its list is updated, and whether it blocks gambling apps as well as websites.

Limits: blockers work only on devices where they are installed, and a list can miss a new mirror domain for a short time.

Bank Gambling Blocks

All four major Australian banks offer a block that declines card transactions with gambling merchants:

Bank	Name of the feature	How to turn it on
ANZ	Gambling block	ANZ App; removal takes 48 hours
CommBank	Gambling lock	CommBank app or the Community Wellbeing team on 1800 222 387
NAB	Gambling restriction	NAB app or customer support
Westpac	Gambling block	Online banking card services or customer care

Many smaller banks and credit unions offer similar controls; ask yours. Bank blocks rely on merchant category codes, so payments routed through processors that do not use the gambling code, crypto purchases and some bank transfers can get through. Combine a bank block with a device blocker.

Family-Friendly Filters

ACMA passes the URLs of illegal gambling websites it blocks to accredited family-friendly filter providers. In April–June 2026 alone it reported 187 URLs. An accredited filter applied at home covers every device on that network, which is useful for households with young people. See ACMA blocked sites.

Phone Settings

Platform	Setting	Use
iPhone and iPad	Screen Time: content restrictions and app limits	Block specific websites; limit browser use; protect settings with a passcode someone else holds
Android	Digital Wellbeing app timers; Google Family Link for supervised accounts	Limit app time; block apps

Asking a trusted person to set and hold the Screen Time passcode turns a soft limit into a firm one.

Setting Up a Layered Block

1. Self-exclude with BetStop for licensed Australian betting.
2. Self-exclude or close accounts at each offshore casino; see closing a casino account.
3. Turn on your bank’s gambling block on every card.
4. Install blocking software on your phone, tablet and computer.
5. Remove VPN apps you do not need; they can bypass network-level filters. See VPNs and online casinos.
6. Unsubscribe from gambling emails and SMS, and block the senders.
7. Delete saved cards from browsers and wallets.
8. Tell a support person what you have set up and when blocks end.

What Blockers Do Not Cover

• Crypto exchanges and wallets: a blocker does not stop you buying crypto. Consider removing exchange apps.
• Other people’s devices and shared computers.
• Land-based venues: use your state’s venue self-exclusion; see self-exclusion.
• Social casino and simulated gambling games in app stores, unless added to the block list.

Choosing Block Lengths

Situation	Suggested setting
Short break after a bad week	Blocker for at least 30 days; bank block on
Repeated overspending	Blocker for 6 to 12 months; BetStop for at least the same period; bank block on
Decided to stop gambling	Longest blocker period available; BetStop lifetime or long period; bank block on; casino accounts closed

Match the lengths: if BetStop runs for 12 months but the device blocker ends after one, offshore sites become reachable again long before the rest of your plan ends.

Keeping Blocks in Place

The moment you want to remove a block is usually the moment it is doing its job. Built-in delays help: ANZ takes 48 hours to remove its block, and BetBlocker blocks cannot be lifted before the end date you chose. If you find yourself trying to get around a block, contact Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858; see help services and cooling-off periods.

This guide is part of our responsible gambling section, which lists every tool and support service in one place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Blocking tools work best with support. Free, confidential counselling is available 24/7 from Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858. Gambling is for adults 18+ only.