How to block gambling websites on every device
There are four ways to block gambling websites. They don't cover the same things, and only one covers everything you own.
Short on time? See how to block gambling on your phone in minutes with BetClear.
Updated July 21, 2026 · 3 min read
Short answer
- DNS filtering blocks gambling sites across every browser and app on a device, and is the strongest everyday option.
- Browser extensions and parental controls cover one browser or one device and are easy to bypass in a craving.
- Router-level blocking covers your home network but stops working the moment you're on mobile data.
- Pick one method per device, then add friction: a passcode someone else holds, and a bank gambling block.
The four ways to block gambling websites
Most advice lists tools without saying what each one leaves open. The difference is the layer the block sits on.
- Browser extension: easiest to install, covers one browser, and can be disabled or sidestepped by opening a different one.
- Built-in parental controls (Screen Time, Google Family Link): free, but you usually have to add betting sites one at a time.
- Router or home Wi-Fi DNS: covers every device at home, nothing outside it.
- Device-level DNS filtering: covers every browser and app on that device, at home and on mobile data.
Why DNS filtering holds up best
A website or app has to look up an address before it can load. A filtering DNS service refuses that lookup for known gambling domains, so the page, the app or the embedded betting widget fails to load wherever it appears.
BetClear uses this approach with a maintained list of 500,000+ gambling domains, so new betting sites and mirror domains are covered without you updating anything.
Pick the setup for each device
You need a block wherever you have placed a bet. Work through the devices you actually use.
- iPhone and iPad: a configuration profile, or Screen Time web restrictions.
- Android: Private DNS in network settings.
- Mac and Windows 11: encrypted DNS in system settings, or a profile on macOS.
- Home Wi-Fi: optional, as a second layer for smart TVs and consoles.
Add friction, or it won't last
Any block you can turn off in the middle of an urge is a speed bump. Urges tend to pass in 15 to 30 minutes, so the goal is to make the block take longer than that to remove.
Give the passcode to someone you trust, delete saved cards from betting accounts, and add your bank's gambling block. If you also want to ban yourself from licensed operators, self-exclusion registers cover that part.
Block gambling websites on all your devices
BetClear blocks 500,000+ gambling websites with encrypted DNS on iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows 11. One account, a few minutes to set up.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best way to block gambling websites?
- DNS filtering on each device. It covers every browser and app, stays on without a session to start, and keeps up with new gambling domains. Browser extensions only cover one browser.
- Can I block gambling websites for free?
- Yes, partly. Screen Time on iPhone and Google Family Link on Android are free but need each site added by hand and are easy to switch off. A maintained blocklist is what a paid blocker adds.
- Does blocking gambling websites stop gambling apps?
- Mostly. Betting apps need to reach their servers, so blocking gambling domains breaks most of them. Delete the apps as well so the temptation isn't sitting on your home screen.
- Can I still get around a gambling block?
- Anyone can switch off a setting or install a VPN. That is why the passcode and a trusted second person matter more than the tool.
Keep reading
BetClear is a gambling website blocker, not a medical service. If you need clinical or crisis support, contact a qualified professional or a responsible-gambling helpline.