Gambling blocks on banking apps
Gambling blocks on banking apps stop your debit card being used to pay gambling companies, and most big UK banks now offer one as a switch in their app. Turning it on takes seconds; turning it off usually means waiting out a cooling-off delay. This guide covers each bank, the steps and the gaps to close.
By the BestApps editorial team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- Banks including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Halifax, Monzo, NatWest, Santander and Starling offer gambling blocks.
- Blocks switch on instantly, but switching off usually involves a delay, from 48 hours to a year at Monzo if you choose.
- Card blocks rely on merchant codes, so bank transfers and some wallet or voucher payments can slip through.
- A bank block stops payments; GAMSTOP stops accounts; a device blocker stops apps. Use them together.
- Credit cards can’t be used to gamble in Great Britain anyway, since 14 April 2020.
- What it blocks
- Card payments to gambling merchants
- Cost
- Free
- Banks on the Commission’s list
- 11, including MBNA (tracking only)
- Typical off delay
- 48 hours to 3 days
- List last updated
- 16 October 2026
- Helpline
- 0808 8020 133 (24/7)
How gambling blocks on banking apps work
A gambling block tells your bank to decline card payments to businesses that are registered as gambling merchants. When a casino app tries to take a deposit from your debit card, the bank sees the merchant’s gambling code and refuses the payment before any money moves. The casino simply shows a declined deposit.
The Gambling Commission’s page on how to block gambling transactions (opens in a new tab) explains that a block stops your bank account or debit card being used for gambling, and that it can help if you feel you’re spending too much. Our short answer to whether your bank can block casino app payments covers the basics.
The strength of a bank block is that it follows the money rather than the device. It works whether you try to deposit from a phone, a laptop or a friend’s tablet, because the card itself is blocked.
Which UK banking apps offer a gambling block
The Commission’s list was last updated on 16 October 2026. It names Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Monzo, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander and Starling as offering gambling blocks, plus MBNA for spending tracking only. The table adds what each bank publishes about switching the block off.
| Bank | What the block does | Turning it off |
|---|---|---|
| Barclays | Merchant control in the app blocks debit card payments to gambling merchants | Toggle in the app; no delay published |
| HSBC | Debit card restriction covers payments known or suspected to be gambling, including digital wallets and the Pay by Bank app | Payments still declined for 3 days |
| Lloyds Bank | Gambling freeze on debit card payments to gambling merchants; access to Gamban | Removed 48 hours after you turn it off |
| Halifax | Gambling support tools, including spending tracking and access to Gamban | Check with the bank |
| Monzo | Blocks card payments to merchants with the gambling code | Wait out a cooldown you choose, from 2 days to 1 year |
| Starling | Blocks card payments to most gambling merchants, set on each card | 48-hour delay |
| NatWest, RBS, Bank of Scotland | Card locking feature for gambling transactions | Check with the bank |
| Santander | Block specific transaction types without freezing the whole Mastercard | Check with the bank |
| MBNA | Spending tracking only, no gambling block described | Not applicable |
Revolut isn’t on the Commission’s list, but it has its own gambling block: off by default, found under Profile, Security and Payments, effective immediately when switched on and taking up to 48 hours to switch off. Our pages on Monzo and casino apps, Starling and casino apps and Revolut and casino apps cover each bank in more depth.
How to turn on a gambling block in your banking app
Each bank words it differently, so search the app’s help for gambling, or look in card settings or controls. The pattern is broadly the same everywhere.
- Open your banking app and sign in.
- Go to your card settings, card controls or security settings. Searching the app for gambling is often the quickest route.
- Find the gambling block, freeze, restriction or merchant control option.
- Switch it on. At Monzo, choose a cooldown length; at Starling, repeat for each card you hold.
- Read the confirmation so you know how long switching it off would take.
- Repeat in every banking app you use, including joint accounts and any second bank.
- Try a small deposit in a casino app only if you need to confirm it works; a decline means the block is active.
Cooling-off delays on bank gambling blocks
The delay before a block lifts is the most useful part. Urges to gamble tend to peak and fade, and a wait of two or three days gives that time to pass. Our cool-off glossary entry explains the idea more broadly.
- HSBC: transactions are still declined for 3 days after you remove the restriction, according to HSBC’s gambling restrictions page (opens in a new tab).
- Lloyds: the freeze is removed 48 hours after you turn it off, per Lloyds’ gambling support page (opens in a new tab).
- Starling: a 48-hour delay applies to switching the block off, according to its gambling help and support page (opens in a new tab).
- Monzo: you pick a cooldown of 2 days to 1 year when you switch it on and must wait it out to switch off. Monzo’s gambling block page (opens in a new tab) says people who have spoken to support about gambling before must message support instead.
The Commission’s summary says Monzo customers must contact support to turn the block off, while Monzo’s own page limits that to people who have discussed gambling with them before. If you bank with Monzo, check the app for what applies to you.
What a banking app gambling block can miss
Card blocks depend on how a payment is labelled. Monzo notes that mis-tagged transactions can bypass its block, and Starling says its block may not cover every gambling-related payment. The table shows where the common gaps lie.
| Payment route | Usually blocked? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Debit card deposit | Yes | The main thing every block targets |
| Apple Pay or Google Pay | Often | HSBC says its restriction covers digital wallets; check with other banks |
| Bank transfer | Often not | Lloyds and Revolut say transfers aren’t covered |
| Pay by Bank (open banking) | Varies | HSBC includes its Pay by Bank app; others don’t say |
| Direct debits | Often not | Lloyds says its freeze doesn’t cover them |
| Prepaid vouchers or e-wallet balances | Not by your bank | Money already moved out of the account isn’t checked again |
| Credit card | Banned for gambling | Licensed operators can’t accept credit cards in Great Britain |
This matters because UK casino apps offer several ways to pay. The Coral and Ladbrokes help centres, for example, list Pay by Bank, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and paysafecard alongside debit cards. Our guides to pay by bank casino payments and Apple Pay casino apps explain how those routes work.
Credit cards and gambling: already blocked by law
Since 14 April 2020, licensed operators in Great Britain can’t accept credit cards for gambling, and that includes e-wallets topped up with a credit card. HSBC also blocks credit card gambling payments automatically. Our page on the credit card ban sets out the rule.
So a bank block mainly protects your debit card and current account. If you’ve ever topped up an e-wallet or prepaid card to gamble, consider closing those accounts or asking the provider about its own controls.
Bank blocks, GAMSTOP and device blockers together
A bank block stops the money. It doesn’t stop you opening a casino app or keeping an account. Combining it with other layers closes those gaps:
- GAMSTOP excludes you from every online gambling company licensed in Great Britain for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years.
- Gamban blocks gambling sites and apps on your devices; Halifax and Lloyds customers can get it through their bank.
- Built-in phone controls can hide casino apps: see blocking casino apps with Screen Time or with Digital Wellbeing.
- Casino deposit limits cap spending at account level; our guide to setting deposit limits in a casino app explains how.
Our bank gambling blocks overview in the safer gambling hub brings these together.
What you’ll see in a casino app when a block is on
When a block is active, a card deposit to a casino should be declined by your bank. The casino app may only show that the payment failed, without saying why. Our guide to a casino app payment declined lists other reasons deposits fail.
Bank blocks are aimed at payments going out to gambling firms, so money coming back from a casino isn’t what they target. If you’re stopping, it’s worth withdrawing any balance you have left, and asking your bank if a payout doesn’t arrive. If you’re closing accounts, our guide on how to withdraw from a casino app covers that step.
Joint accounts and helping someone else
A block on a joint account card protects that card only; the other holder’s card may need its own block. If you’re worried about a partner’s gambling, you can’t set a block on their personal account, but you can talk to them about it and look after your own finances. Our page for people affected by someone else’s gambling covers practical steps.
Budgeting can help too. Our guide to budgeting for casino apps explains how to set a spending ceiling if you still gamble, and the net deposits glossary entry explains the figure casino apps must show you.
Bank gambling block not working? What to check
- Check the block is on for every card, not just one. Starling sets it per card.
- Look at your statement for any gambling payment that went through, and note the merchant name.
- Report it to your bank so it can review how that merchant is coded.
- Check whether the payment used a transfer, Pay by Bank or a wallet that your bank’s block doesn’t cover.
- Add a device blocker and GAMSTOP so a single gap doesn’t undo your plan.
Free support alongside your bank block
Ask your bank what gambling support it offers as well as the block; the Commission notes that Halifax, for example, offers personal support and advice. The National Gambling Helpline is free and open 24/7 on 0808 8020 133, with chat and WhatsApp through GamCare (opens in a new tab), and Wales has its own line on 0808 2819 265.
Our help and support page lists NHS gambling clinics and peer groups. More practical walkthroughs are in our casino app guides.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
Can my bank block gambling payments?
Yes, most large UK banks can block your debit card from paying gambling companies, usually with a switch in the banking app. The Gambling Commission lists Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds, Monzo, NatWest, RBS, Santander and Starling. Revolut has its own block too. The block is free, and switching it off normally involves a delay. Our bank gambling blocks page gives an overview.
How long does it take to remove a gambling block?
It depends on the bank, and the delay is deliberate. HSBC keeps declining gambling payments for 3 days after you remove the restriction. Lloyds removes its freeze 48 hours after you switch it off, and Starling has a 48-hour delay. Monzo asks you to choose a cooldown from 2 days to 1 year when you turn it on. Our cool-off glossary entry explains why delays help.
Does a bank gambling block stop bank transfers?
Usually not. Most blocks target card payments to merchants coded as gambling, and Lloyds and Revolut both say transfers aren’t covered. Lloyds’ freeze also doesn’t cover direct debits. HSBC says its restriction includes its Pay by Bank app. If you’ve paid a casino by transfer or Pay by Bank before, ask your bank what its block covers. Our pay by bank page explains that route.
Does a gambling block work on Apple Pay?
It can, but check with your bank. HSBC says its debit card gambling restriction covers digital wallets such as Apple Pay, because the wallet uses your underlying card. Other banks don’t always spell this out, so look in the help pages or ask. Apple Pay itself doesn’t mention gambling controls. Our guide to Apple Pay casino apps explains how wallet payments work in casino apps.
Will a gambling block stop me withdrawing winnings?
Bank gambling blocks are designed to stop payments going out to gambling firms rather than money coming in, so withdrawing a casino balance to your bank should still be possible. If a payout doesn’t arrive, ask your bank to check. That matters if you’re closing accounts after deciding to stop. Withdrawal times depend on the casino and method. Our guide on how to withdraw from a casino app explains the process.
Does Monzo’s gambling block need me to contact support?
It depends on your history with Monzo. Monzo’s own page says you choose a cooldown from 2 days to 1 year when you switch the block on and must wait it out to switch it off. It adds that if you’ve spoken to support about gambling before, you’ll need to message them to turn it off. The Commission’s summary simply says to contact support. Our Monzo casino payments page has more.
Is a bank block better than GAMSTOP?
They do different jobs, so the best approach is to use both. A bank block stops your card paying gambling companies. GAMSTOP stops you gambling with any online operator licensed in Great Britain, for 6 months to 5 years, and can’t be cancelled early. GAMSTOP is free, and so are bank blocks. Our GAMSTOP page explains how to register and what happens next.
My bank isn’t on the list. What can I do?
Ask your bank directly, because blocks are spreading and the Commission’s list may not include every provider. Revolut, for example, has a block but isn’t on that list. If your bank has none, you could move your everyday spending to one that does, and add GAMSTOP and a device blocker such as Gamban. The National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 can talk through options.