How to block gambling apps on Android
How to block gambling apps on Android starts in Google Play: set parental controls to PEGI 16 with a PIN someone else chooses, and Play will refuse to install casino and betting apps, which are rated PEGI 18. Because Android also lets apps arrive from other stores and APK files, you’ll want to close those routes, remove what’s already installed and add an account-level block. This guide covers each step in order.
By the Best Casino Apps UK team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- Google Play parental controls set to PEGI 16 stop new PEGI 18 gambling apps installing.
- Apps already on the phone aren’t removed by Play controls, so uninstall them yourself.
- Turn off ‘Install unknown apps’ so APK files and other stores can’t slip past the block.
- Clearing the Play Store’s data resets its PIN, so phone settings work best alongside GAMSTOP.
- Free, confidential support is on 0808 8020 133, day and night.
- Main tool
- Google Play parental controls
- Rating to choose
- PEGI 16 or lower
- Cost
- Free
- Extra layers
- Unknown-apps setting, Digital Wellbeing, blocker app
- Pair with
- GAMSTOP and bank gambling block
How blocking gambling apps works on Android
Android doesn’t have one master switch like the iPhone’s Screen Time age limit. Instead, protection comes from several smaller controls that each shut one door. Google Play can refuse downloads above a chosen age rating; the system can refuse apps from outside Play; Digital Wellbeing can limit or pause apps; and a blocker app or browser setting can deal with websites. Licensed real-money casino apps in Great Britain carry a PEGI 18 rating on Google Play, which gives you a clear line to block at.
Menus differ between Samsung, Pixel, Motorola, Xiaomi and other brands, so the names below may not match your phone word for word. If you can’t find an option, use the search bar at the top of Settings. Our brand guides, such as Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel, describe where those manufacturers put things.
If gambling is causing you distress right now, the National Gambling Helpline is free on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
The order to do things in
Doing the steps in the right order saves you from locking yourself out of something you still need to do, like withdrawing a balance.
| Order | Step | Why it comes here |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Withdraw any balance | Easier while the app still works |
| 2 | Self-exclude or close casino accounts | Stops the account, not just the app |
| 3 | Register with GAMSTOP | Covers every GB-licensed online operator |
| 4 | Uninstall gambling apps | Play controls don’t remove existing apps |
| 5 | Set Google Play parental controls | Stops reinstalling from Play |
| 6 | Turn off ‘Install unknown apps’ | Closes the APK route |
| 7 | Add a website block or blocker app | Covers browsers |
| 8 | Ask your bank for a gambling block | Stops card payments to gambling firms |
Steps 2 and 3 are explained in how to self-exclude on a casino app and GAMSTOP and casino apps. Step 8 has its own guide: bank gambling blocks and casino apps.
Step by step: block gambling apps on Android with Google Play
Google’s help centre describes this route for accounts you manage yourself. Ask the person you trust to be next to you for step 4.
- Open the Google Play Store app and tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.
- Tap Settings, then Family, then Content restrictions (on some versions, Parental controls).
- Tap Go to parental controls, or switch Parental controls on.
- Hand the phone over so your trusted person can create a PIN you don’t know.
- Tap Apps & games and choose PEGI 16, or a lower rating if you prefer.
- Tap Save. Play will now hide or refuse apps rated PEGI 18, including casino and betting apps.
Google is merging the Play PIN with Android’s own parental controls PIN on newer phones, so on some devices the setup may send you through the system settings instead. The result is the same.
Removing gambling apps that are already installed
Google is clear that apps downloaded before restrictions were set stay accessible. That means you need to uninstall each gambling app yourself.
- Press and hold the app icon and tap Uninstall, or go to Settings > Apps, choose the app and tap Uninstall.
- Open Google Play, tap your profile picture, then Manage apps & device, then Manage, and check for any gambling apps you missed.
- Remove any casino website shortcuts from your home screen, which look like apps but are browser bookmarks.
- If you use a Samsung phone, check the Galaxy Store and the app drawer’s Secure Folder too.
Uninstalling doesn’t touch your casino account or balance. Does deleting a casino app close your account explains what stays behind and how to deal with it.
Closing the APK and third-party store loophole
Unlike an iPhone, Android can install apps from files downloaded in a browser, known as APKs, and from other app stores. Google Play’s parental controls don’t apply to either route, so leaving them open would let a gambling app through the back door.
- Open Settings and search for Install unknown apps (on Samsung, it may be under Apps > Special access).
- Go through the list, including Chrome, Samsung Internet, Files and any other browser or file manager.
- Make sure every one is set to Not allowed.
- If your phone has a manufacturer store you don’t use, open its settings and remove any saved payment or account details.
Sideloading has wider security risks too, covered in the sideloading glossary entry and in how to spot fake casino apps.
Using Digital Wellbeing as a softer barrier
Most Android phones include Digital Wellbeing (Samsung calls it Digital Wellbeing and parental controls). It isn’t a hard block, because you can change it without a PIN, but it’s useful while you work through the other steps or if you’re trying to cut down rather than stop.
- App timers: set a one-minute daily limit on a browser you used for gambling, and it greys out once the minute is up.
- Pause app: temporarily disables an app for the rest of the day.
- Focus mode or Bedtime mode: silence chosen apps during set hours, such as late evenings when urges may be stronger.
- Dashboard: shows how long you spent in each app, which can be eye-opening.
For limits within a casino account rather than on the phone, see set a gambling budget on your phone.
Blocking gambling websites in Chrome and other browsers
Android has no built-in list for blocking individual websites across every browser. The practical options are a dedicated blocking app, which updates its list of gambling sites automatically and works across browsers, or a filtering service set under Settings > Network > Private DNS, which some providers offer with gambling categories. Each has trade-offs: blockers may use a VPN slot on your phone, and DNS filters can be switched off by anyone who knows where the setting is.
Our gambling blocking apps compared guide looks at the Android versions of the main blockers, including which ones can’t be removed during a restriction.
Known gaps in Android gambling blocks
Being realistic about the weak points helps you decide which extra layers are worth adding.
- Clearing the Google Play Store’s storage resets parental controls and the PIN, so Play controls alone are easy to undo for someone determined.
- Controls apply only to the device and user profile where you set them; a second profile, tablet or work phone needs its own setup.
- Restricted apps can still appear in Play search results, even though they can’t be installed.
- Apps with lower ratings, such as some social casino games, aren’t caught by a PEGI 16 limit.
- Restrictions may not work in the same way when you travel abroad, according to Google.
Because of these gaps, account-level and payment-level protection matter more on Android than on iPhone. GAMSTOP and a bank block can’t be undone by clearing app data. The iPhone version of this guide is how to block gambling apps on iPhone.
Free support while you block gambling apps
Setting up blocks is a strong, practical step, and you don’t have to do it alone. GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) and an online chat, NHS gambling clinics take self-referrals, and peer groups such as Gamblers Anonymous meet across the UK. If the person holding your PIN would like to understand more, talking to someone about gambling apps has advice for both sides of that conversation. A full list of services is on gambling support services UK.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
Can I block gambling apps on Android for free?
Yes. Google Play’s parental controls, the ‘Install unknown apps’ setting and Digital Wellbeing are all built into Android and cost nothing. GAMSTOP is free and blocks your accounts with online operators licensed in Great Britain. BetBlocker, a non-profit, states its blocker is free and offers an Android version. Paid tools such as Gamban add features and offer a trial first. Most UK banks also provide a free gambling block on debit cards. Combining several free layers gives good protection; gambling blocking apps compared explains how the main tools differ.
What PEGI rating are gambling apps on Google Play?
Real-money casino and betting apps on Google Play in Great Britain are rated PEGI 18; the listings for the licensed apps we cover all show PEGI 18. Setting Play’s parental controls to PEGI 16 or lower therefore stops them being installed or updated from Play. Google only allows real-money gambling apps in Great Britain from licensed operators it has approved. Some social casino games without real-money prizes may carry lower ratings, so they won’t be caught. The Google Play gambling rules page explains Google’s policy in more detail.
Why can I still open a gambling app after setting parental controls?
Google Play’s parental controls only stop new downloads and updates above your chosen rating; apps installed beforehand stay on the phone and keep working. You need to uninstall them yourself, either by pressing and holding the icon or through Settings > Apps. Also check for home screen shortcuts to casino websites, which look like apps but are browser bookmarks, and for apps installed from other stores or APK files. Once everything is removed, the Play restriction stops reinstalls. The casino app safety guide explains why apps from outside Google Play carry extra risks.
Can someone get round Google Play parental controls?
Yes, and it’s better to know this upfront. Clearing the Google Play Store app’s storage resets both the restrictions and the PIN, according to Google’s own help page. Apps can also arrive as APK files or from other stores unless you’ve turned off ‘Install unknown apps’. That’s why Play controls work best as one layer among several. GAMSTOP, self-exclusion with each casino and a bank gambling block can’t be undone from the phone, and some blocker apps lock for a set period. Our bank gambling blocks guide covers the payment side.
Does Digital Wellbeing block gambling apps?
Digital Wellbeing can limit or pause apps, but it’s a soft barrier because you can change the settings without a PIN. App timers grey out an app once its daily allowance is used, and Pause app disables it for the rest of the day, which can help with impulsive moments. It doesn’t stop you installing new apps or visiting gambling websites in a browser. Use it alongside Google Play parental controls and a stronger block. The session limits on casino apps guide covers time limits set inside a casino account instead.
How do I block gambling websites on an Android phone?
Android has no built-in way to block specific websites across every browser, so most people use a dedicated blocking app, which keeps an updated list of gambling sites and filters them in any browser. Another option is a filtering DNS service with a gambling category, set under Settings > Network > Private DNS, though it can be switched off easily. Chrome on its own doesn’t offer a site blocklist for personal accounts. Whichever you choose, add GAMSTOP so licensed sites refuse your login anyway. Read gambling blocking apps compared for the options.
Should I block on my phone or use GAMSTOP?
Ideally both, because they do different jobs. A phone block stops gambling apps installing on that device but can be undone and doesn’t cover other devices. GAMSTOP stops you logging in to or opening accounts with every online operator licensed in Great Britain, on any device, for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years, and can’t be cancelled early. Neither covers unlicensed overseas sites, which is where blocker apps and bank blocks help. Our GAMSTOP and casino apps page explains registration from your phone.
Does blocking on one Android phone cover my tablet?
No. Google Play parental controls apply only to the device and the user profile where you set them, even if the tablet uses the same Google account. You’ll need to repeat the setup on each phone, tablet and additional user profile, including any work devices you use for personal browsing. Chromebooks that run Android apps need their own setup too. Account-level tools such as GAMSTOP and bank blocks aren’t tied to a device, so they protect you everywhere. The Android tablets device guide shows where settings live on larger screens.
Where can I get help if I want to stop gambling?
The National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, is free and confidential on 0808 8020 133 at any time of day, and GamCare also offers web chat and counselling. In England you can refer yourself to an NHS gambling clinic, and similar services exist in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Gamblers Anonymous offers peer support meetings, and GAMSTOP handles online self-exclusion. You can contact any of these whether or not you’ve set up blocks. Our responsible gambling page summarises the tools and support available.