GamBan vs BetBlocker

What each tool is trying to do

Gambling-blocking software like GamBan and BetBlocker are simple: The real decision is how much friction you want on access.

GamBan is a paid tool that offers stronger removal friction, meaning it's harder to uninstall until your subscription lapses. BetBlocker, on the other hand, is free to use and places less emphasis on friction: once installed, it can be removed if you can gather the right tools.

Cost and access

The very first distinction between GamBan and BetBlocker is the price and ease of entry: one is paid, one is free. There's no getting around that.

GamBan seems to cover unlimited devices for £24.99 annually, based on its Google Play Store listing, though an official source for the current UK price was not yet found. BetBlocker, however, is free to access and will not ask for a credit card or have an account behind it. No registration or personal details are required to block, according to its own pages.

Devices covered

Most people will want to restrict gambling across their phone, laptop and possibly more. Both GamBan and BetBlocker offer some sort of all-device promise, but they are not the same.

GamBan publishes compatibility details for iPhone handsets and multiple Android manufacturers on its own help pages, including Samsung, Huawei, LG, Sony and HTC. Third-party publications have listed BetBlocker as working across Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, Huawei, and Fire OS. As is common, however, the official BetBlocker site is quiet on exactly which models and OS versions this applies to, beyond trouble-

For most people, that probably means both will cover your everyday devices. For the hard detail on exactly which models each will lock, an official compatibility page from BetBlocker would help.

Removal and friction

If you're blocking in the first place, you may not want uninstalling to be too easy down the line. Access and exit friction are points of difference for both tools, too.

As of April 2021, GamBan said it would not unblock your phone until you complete your subscription. It's not clear whether it will later expire of its own accord, but the implication is that you can't just waltz in and restore access. BetBlocker doesn't make removing so hard. A help path confirms an instruction document exists, but it's not clear whether reinstall is separate to reinstall access to gambling, or how hard that is if you manage a reset. In contrast, unlike GamStop, GamBan will not prevent removable/installable access.

The message here is that GamBan will give you the two-device lock and extra friction when you are trying to get online, while BetBlocker will be easier to switch off if you later decide you don't need it at that level.

How GamStop fits with blocking software

GamStop is designed for account-level planning. If you're self-excluding, GamBan or BetBlocker is the phone/tablet block. If you exclude via GamStop, you're saying,”The deal is already signed and done.” On this, sorry -

GamBan or BetBlocker? The right move for you

It's a choice on how much you want to stop; for the person who wants a little extra friction on their phone to get online, GamBan is built for that, while BetBlocker offers a simple entry point for people who don't want to pay.

In either case, you're excluding at the device level – and that's different to self-excluding in the UK using GamStop, the national scheme for online gambling. For people eligible for GamStop, that's a third tool.

For people looking to exclude themselves today, that would be a good starting decision.