What is Gamban?
What is Gamban? It's a paid gambling-blocking app that stops online gambling sites and apps working on the devices you install it on, across iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows. One licence can cover all your devices, there's a free trial, and it's designed to sit alongside GAMSTOP rather than replace it.
By the BestApps editorial team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- Gamban blocks gambling websites and apps on every device it's installed on.
- It runs on iOS, Android, Mac and Windows, with one licence covering all your devices.
- It's a paid product with a free trial; Halifax and Lloyds customers can get access through their bank.
- It doesn't close gambling accounts, so pair it with GAMSTOP, which Gamban itself recommends.
- It's a tool, not treatment: free support is on 0808 8020 133, 24/7.
- What it is
- Gambling-blocking software
- Devices
- iOS, Android, Mac, Windows
- Licence
- One licence can cover all devices
- Cost
- Paid, with a free trial
- Bank access
- Offered through Halifax and Lloyds
- Works with
- GAMSTOP (recommended by Gamban)
Gamban explained in plain English
Gamban is a blocker for gambling content. Once it's on a phone, tablet or computer, gambling websites and apps on that device stop working, according to Gamban's own description (opens in a new tab). It's a separate product you choose to install, not a setting inside any casino app.
Think of it as the device-level partner to self-exclusion. GAMSTOP stops licensed operators letting you gamble; Gamban stops your device reaching gambling in the first place. For a short definition, see the Gamban glossary entry, and for related answers visit the questions hub.
How Gamban works on your phone and computer
Gamban describes itself as an application that blocks online gambling sites and apps on all the devices where it's installed. It covers Mac, Windows, Android and iOS, and a single licence can be used across all of them, so your phone, tablet and laptop can share one subscription.
Because it works on the device rather than on your accounts, it can block gambling sites that aren't licensed in Great Britain too. That's a gap GAMSTOP doesn't cover, since unlicensed offshore sites sit outside the UK system and offer none of its protections. Our guide to spotting an unlicensed casino app explains why those sites are risky.
Gamban's claims about how it works and how effective it is come from Gamban itself. Its own help pages are the best place to check current details, including how setup and removal work on each device.
Is Gamban free? Cost and how to get it
Gamban is a paid product, but it offers a free trial so you can see how it works before paying. Prices aren't something we track, so check Gamban's website for the current cost.
Some people can get it through their bank. The Gambling Commission's page on blocking gambling transactions (opens in a new tab) notes that Halifax and Lloyds give customers access to Gamban, and Lloyds Bank's gambling support page (opens in a new tab) covers its gambling help more widely. If you bank elsewhere, ask whether your bank offers anything similar.
| Route | What to know |
|---|---|
| Free trial | Offered by Gamban so you can try it first |
| Paid licence | One licence can cover all your devices; check Gamban's site for the price |
| Through Halifax | Halifax gives customers access to Gamban (Gambling Commission list) |
| Through Lloyds Bank | Lloyds gives customers access to Gamban (Gambling Commission list) |
How to set up Gamban on your devices
Setup is done through Gamban's own website and instructions, which differ a little between iPhone, Android and computers. The order below keeps things simple and avoids gaps.
- Delete any gambling apps from your phone first.
- Go to Gamban's official website and start the free trial or buy a licence (or use your bank's route if you're with Halifax or Lloyds).
- Install it on your phone, following Gamban's instructions for iOS or Android.
- Install it on every other device you could gamble on, such as a tablet or laptop, using the same licence.
- Check that a gambling website you used to visit no longer opens.
- Register with GAMSTOP and consider a bank gambling block for full coverage.
Our step-by-step guide to blocking gambling apps with Gamban goes further, and the device answers for iPhone and Android show how Gamban fits with each phone's own settings.
Gamban vs GAMSTOP: what's the difference?
People often confuse the two, but they block different things. Gamban recommends using them together, and the table shows why.
| Point | Gamban | GAMSTOP | Bank gambling block |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it blocks | Gambling sites and apps on your devices | Your accounts with all GB-licensed online operators | Card payments to gambling companies |
| Unlicensed sites | Can block them | Not covered | Can stop card payments |
| Where it works | Devices where it's installed | Any device | Any device, for that bank card |
| Cost | Paid, with a free trial | Free | Free at participating banks |
| Length | While installed and licensed | 6 months, 1 year or 5 years | Until you remove it, after any waiting period |
Read does GAMSTOP block casino apps? for the self-exclusion side, and our bank gambling blocks guide for payments.
What Gamban doesn't do
- It doesn't close your gambling accounts. Money and accounts stay with the operators until you self-exclude or close them. Our guide on how to close a casino account explains that step.
- It only protects devices it's installed on. A friend's phone or a work computer won't be covered.
- It doesn't stop marketing. Emails and texts from operators keep arriving until you opt out or self-exclude. See how to stop casino marketing texts.
- It doesn't cover betting shops or land-based casinos. Those have their own self-exclusion schemes.
Who Gamban suits
Gamban suits anyone who wants a barrier between themselves and gambling on their own devices, especially if the urge tends to arrive late at night on a phone. It's also useful for people who worry about drifting onto unlicensed sites after joining GAMSTOP.
It can help families too, though for children the built-in age rating controls on iPhone and Android do much of the work. Our page on phone habits and gambling looks at other ways to reduce triggers.
Using Gamban alongside proper support
A blocker deals with access, not with the reasons you want to gamble. The National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare (opens in a new tab), is free on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day, with live chat and WhatsApp. In England, NHS gambling clinics take self-referrals, and in Wales the NHS Wales Helpline is on 0808 2819 265.
Our safer gambling hub and the guide to Gamban as a gambling blocker bring the tools and services together.
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
What does Gamban block?
Gamban says it blocks online gambling websites and apps on every device where it's installed. That includes iPhone and iPad, Android, Mac and Windows. Because it works at device level, it can block unlicensed gambling sites that GAMSTOP doesn't reach. It doesn't close your accounts or stop marketing messages. See blocking gambling apps with Gamban for setup.
Is Gamban free?
No, Gamban is a paid product, but it offers a free trial. One licence can cover all your devices. Halifax and Lloyds customers can get access through their bank, according to the Gambling Commission's list of bank gambling tools. Check Gamban's website for current prices. Our bank gambling blocks guide covers what banks offer more widely.
Does Gamban work on iPhone?
Yes, Gamban says it works on iOS as well as Android, Mac and Windows. On an iPhone, you can combine it with Screen Time restrictions, which can block app installs or keep 18+ apps off the phone. Together they cover apps, websites and reinstalls. See can I block gambling apps on iPhone? for the Screen Time steps.
Is Gamban the same as GAMSTOP?
No. Gamban blocks gambling content on your devices, while GAMSTOP is the free national self-exclusion scheme that blocks your accounts with every online operator licensed in Great Britain. Gamban recommends using both. One works on the device, the other works on you, whichever device you use. See our GAMSTOP guide for how the scheme works.
Can I use Gamban on more than one device?
Yes. Gamban says one licence can cover all your devices, across Mac, Windows, Android and iOS. You need to install it on each device separately, so make a list of every phone, tablet and computer you might gamble on. Our devices hub covers casino apps on each type of device if you want to check what's on them.
Does Gamban stop gambling emails and texts?
No, Gamban blocks sites and apps, not messages. To stop marketing, opt out with each operator or self-exclude with GAMSTOP, after which operators must remove you from marketing within two days. You can also switch off notifications on your phone. Our answer on stopping casino marketing texts has the steps.
Should I use Gamban if I've already joined GAMSTOP?
Many people find it a sensible addition. GAMSTOP doesn't cover unlicensed offshore sites, and Gamban can block those on your devices. It also removes the temptation of an app or site loading at all. Gamban itself recommends using the two together. See how to self-exclude from all casino apps for the GAMSTOP steps.
Where can I get help as well as blocking?
The National Gambling Helpline is free on 0808 8020 133, open 24/7 and run by GamCare, with live chat and WhatsApp too. NHS gambling clinics in England accept self-referrals, and Gamblers Anonymous runs peer support meetings. See help and support and GamCare for more.