GamStop vs Gamban vs GamBlock
GamStop, Gamban and GamBlock get mentioned together constantly, and they are frequently confused — sometimes by the people recommending them. They are not three versions of the same thing. They do three different jobs, they cover different things, and the one that actually blocks an offshore casino is not the one most people name first.
This page sets out what each one does, where each one fails, and how they fit together. It is written for someone who wants to stop or limit their gambling, not to sell anyone a casino. If you are in difficulty right now, the support page lists the services to contact, and you can go there without reading the rest of this.
If gambling is causing you harm, start with the help services, not the tools. Blocking software is useful, but it is a fence, not a cure. The organisations on the responsible gambling page — GamCare, the National Gambling Helpline and others — offer free, confidential support, and that is the place to start.
The short version: which one does what
| Tool | What it is | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| GamStop | A national self-exclusion register for the UK. | Only operators holding a UK Gambling Commission licence. Not offshore casinos. |
| Gamban | Blocking software you install on your devices. | Blocks gambling sites and apps at the device level, including offshore sites, across multiple devices. |
| GamBlock | Blocking software, similar purpose to Gamban. | Device-level blocking, sold and priced per device or per household. Also covers offshore sites. |
The key distinction is in the third column. GamStop is a register — it tells licensed operators to refuse you. Gamban and GamBlock are software — they stop the sites loading on your own devices. A register can be sidestepped by using an operator that is not on it; software cannot, as long as it is installed and working.
GamStop — the self-exclusion register
GamStop is a free UK service that lets you exclude yourself from every gambling operator licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Once you register, those operators are required to refuse you an account and to close any existing one, and the exclusion lasts for a minimum period that you choose.
It is powerful precisely because it is a legal requirement on the operator rather than a setting on your device. You cannot switch it off in a moment of weakness the way you might uninstall an app. That is the point of it, and it is why GamStop is usually the first thing to set up.
What GamStop cannot do is cover operators that do not hold a UK licence. That is not a flaw in GamStop — it is a boundary of what it has jurisdiction over. An offshore casino is not signed up to the scheme and has no way to check the register, so a GamStop exclusion simply does not apply to it. This is the single most important limitation to understand, and it is the reason the next two tools exist.
Gamban — blocking software
Gamban is software that blocks gambling websites and apps on your devices. It works at the device level rather than the operator level, which means it blocks a site whether or not that site holds a UK licence. It covers a very large and continuously updated list of gambling domains, including the offshore casinos that GamStop does not reach.
It is cross-platform, so one subscription can cover your phone, tablet and computer together — which matters, because a block on one device and not another is barely a block at all. It is a paid service, with pricing that varies by device and by how many you cover.
GamBlock — the paid alternative
GamBlock does the same job as Gamban — device-level blocking of gambling sites — and the two are the main cross-platform options in the UK, alongside the free, charity-run BetBlocker. GamBlock is sold and priced per device or for a household, and its pitch is depth of blocking and support for a wide range of devices.
The honest comparison between Gamban and GamBlock is not one this page can settle, and we would be making it up if we tried. Both block offshore sites, both are paid, and which one suits you depends on your devices and how each one is priced for your situation. The point is that either of them does the job GamStop cannot.
Blocking software is not perfect, and pretending otherwise would be dishonest. A determined person can remove it, use a different device, or use a device that was never covered. The value of it is that it makes the impulsive decision harder — it buys you the few minutes in which the urge passes. Used alongside GamStop and a bank block, it is far stronger than any one of them alone.
Using them together
These tools are complementary, not alternatives, and the strongest setup uses several at once. Each covers a gap the others leave.
- GamStop The foundation. Free, legally binding on UK-licensed operators, and hard to undo. Set it up first.
- Blocking software (Gamban or GamBlock) Closes the offshore gap GamStop leaves. Install it on every device you use, including work devices and any old phone in a drawer.
- A bank or card block Many UK banks let you block gambling transactions on your card or account. This stops the money moving even if you reach a site — a different layer from blocking the site itself.
- Support Tools manage access; they do not address the reason. GamCare and the National Gambling Helpline offer free, confidential help, and for many people that is the part that actually changes things.
Why GamStop alone is not enough
This is the part that matters most for anyone who has found their way to a site like this one. GamStop covers UK-licensed operators. The casinos reviewed on this site are not UK-licensed — that is what makes them non-GamStop casinos in the first place. So a GamStop exclusion does not stop you reaching them, and relying on GamStop alone leaves the door open.
That is not a reason to skip GamStop — it is a reason to add to it. The combination of GamStop, device-level blocking software and a bank block covers the licensed market, the offshore market and the money, in that order. Each one alone has a hole; together they do not.
If you are reading this because you self-excluded and are now looking for a way around it, the honest thing to say is that the sites on this page are not the answer. Working around an exclusion you chose deliberately undermines the whole point of it. The help page sets out what to do instead, and the support services are free.
Where to get help
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between GamStop and Gamban?
GamStop is a self-exclusion register that UK-licensed operators must honour; it covers only operators with a UK Gambling Commission licence. Gamban is blocking software you install on your devices, which blocks gambling sites at the device level — including offshore casinos that GamStop does not reach.
Does GamStop block offshore casinos?
No. GamStop only covers operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Offshore casinos are not part of the scheme and cannot check the register, so a GamStop exclusion does not apply to them. That gap is why blocking software exists.
Is Gamban or GamBlock better?
Both do the same core job — device-level blocking of gambling sites, including offshore ones. Both are paid and priced per device or household. Which suits you depends on your devices and the pricing for your situation; we are not going to pretend to settle that from the outside.
What is BetBlocker?
A free, charity-run blocking tool that does the same job as Gamban and GamBlock. It is one of the main cross-platform options in the UK and, unlike the other two, it costs nothing to use.
Can blocking software be removed?
It can, which is why it is best used alongside other measures rather than on its own. Its value is that it makes the impulsive decision harder and buys time for the urge to pass. Combined with GamStop and a bank block, it is far stronger than any single tool.
What should I do if I want to stop gambling?
Start with the support services — GamCare and the National Gambling Helpline offer free, confidential help. Then put the practical blocks in place: GamStop for UK-licensed operators, blocking software for the rest, and a bank block on your cards. The responsible gambling page lists the contacts.