How to block gambling apps on iPhone
How to block gambling apps on iPhone comes down to two settings: use Screen Time to stop the App Store offering apps rated 18+, and let someone you trust set the Screen Time passcode so you can’t simply switch it back. Add a Safari website block, GAMSTOP and, if you want extra cover, a dedicated blocking app. Each layer closes a different gap, and this guide shows all of them.
By the Best Casino Apps UK team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- Screen Time can hide and block apps rated 18+, which covers licensed UK casino and betting apps.
- The block is only as strong as the passcode, so ask someone you trust to set it.
- Phone settings stop apps; GAMSTOP stops accounts. Using both gives far better protection.
- Websites need a separate block in Screen Time or a dedicated blocking app.
- Free, confidential help is available on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day.
- Main tool
- Screen Time (built into iOS)
- Cost
- Free
- Blocks
- 18+ apps and chosen websites
- Key step
- Passcode held by someone else
- Pair with
- GAMSTOP and bank gambling block
The quickest way to block gambling apps on iPhone
If you only do one thing today, do this: open Settings, tap Screen Time, turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions and set the App Store age limit below 18+. Licensed gambling apps carry an 18+ age rating on the UK App Store, so once the limit is lower, iOS hides any you already have and refuses to install new ones. It takes about five minutes.
That setting has a weakness, though: whoever knows the Screen Time passcode can turn it off. The steps below show how to make the block stick, how to cover websites and how to add account-level protection, so that a difficult evening doesn’t undo a decision you made on a better day.
If you’re in crisis or worried about money right now, the National Gambling Helpline is free and open 24/7 on 0808 8020 133. GamCare also offers web chat.
What each kind of block stops on an iPhone
No single setting covers everything, so it helps to see the gaps before you start.
| Layer | What it stops | What it misses | Can you undo it quickly? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Time age limit | Gambling apps from the App Store | Gambling websites in a browser | Only with the passcode |
| Screen Time website block | Specific sites or adult sites in Safari | Sites you haven’t listed; some apps | Only with the passcode |
| Blocking app | Thousands of gambling sites and apps | Depends on the app; may be removable | Varies; some lock for a set period |
| Operator self-exclusion | Your account with that one casino | Other casinos | No, for the period you choose |
| GAMSTOP | Accounts with GB-licensed online operators | Unlicensed sites, land-based venues | No, for 6 months, 1 or 5 years |
| Bank gambling block | Card payments to gambling merchants | Some e-wallets, cash | Usually after a delay |
Strongest protection comes from combining a phone block with GAMSTOP and a bank gambling block, because each one covers holes in the others.
Before you block: what to do with existing accounts
Deleting a casino app removes it from the phone, but your account, balance and any marketing remain. If you have money in an account, withdraw it first so there’s nothing left to tempt you back. Then consider closing or self-excluding from each account inside the app before you block it, because once the app is hidden you’ll have to use a browser to make changes.
The difference between closing an account and self-excluding matters: closure can often be reversed quickly, while self-exclusion locks you out for a set period. Our guide on account closure vs self-exclusion explains both, and how to self-exclude on a casino app gives the steps. A short break is covered in how to take a time-out.
Step by step: block gambling apps on iPhone with Screen Time
Menu names shift slightly between iOS versions, but the route below works on recent iPhones and iPads. If something looks different, search Settings for ‘Content & Privacy’.
- Open Settings and tap Screen Time. If it’s off, tap Turn On Screen Time and choose This is My iPhone.
- Tap Lock Screen Time Settings (or Use Screen Time Passcode) and hand the phone to the person you trust so they can enter a four-digit code you don’t know.
- Go back to Screen Time and tap Content & Privacy Restrictions, then switch it on.
- Tap App Store, Media, Web & Games, then Apps.
- Choose 16+ on iOS versions that use the 18+ rating, or 12+ on older versions that use 17+. Gambling apps disappear from your Home Screen straight away.
- Optionally, go back to Content & Privacy Restrictions, open App Store Purchases or App Installations & Purchases, and set Installing Apps to Don’t Allow for a stricter block.
Blocking gambling websites in Safari
An app block does nothing about casino websites, which work just as well in a phone browser. Screen Time can filter these too, applying to Safari and to other browsers and apps that use Apple’s web view.
- In Screen Time, open Content & Privacy Restrictions, then App Store, Media, Web & Games.
- Tap Web Content and choose Limit Adult Websites.
- Under Never Allow, tap Add Website and enter each gambling site you’ve used.
- Return and test by trying to open one of the sites; you should see a restriction message.
Listing sites by hand only blocks the ones you remember, and new casino sites appear all the time. A specialist blocker that updates its list automatically fills that gap; gambling blocking apps compared looks at the main options and how they behave on iOS.
Choosing who holds the Screen Time passcode
A block you can switch off in ten seconds will only help on calm days. Giving the passcode to someone else turns it into a real barrier. Pick a person who’s easy to reach for genuine needs, such as installing an update to a banking app, but who’ll ask questions if you want the gambling block lifted.
- A partner, sibling or close friend who knows why you’re doing it.
- Someone who won’t share the code by text, so it isn’t sitting in your messages.
- Not a work colleague if the phone is also used for work, as they may not be around evenings and weekends.
If it feels awkward to ask, our guide on talking to someone about gambling apps has suggestions for starting the conversation.
Adding GAMSTOP and casino self-exclusion
Phone settings stop the apps; they don’t stop the accounts. GAMSTOP is the free UK scheme that self-excludes you from every online operator licensed in Great Britain for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. You can register from your iPhone’s browser in a few minutes, and once it’s active you can’t open new accounts or log in to existing ones with participating operators, even on another device.
Self-exclusion with an individual casino, which you can usually set from the app’s safer gambling or responsible gambling menu, works the same way for that one operator. How the two fit together is explained in GAMSTOP and casino apps, and the self-exclusion glossary entry has the basics.
Gaps and workarounds to be honest about
Every block has weak points, and knowing them helps you choose the extra layers you need.
- Another device, such as an iPad, a work phone or a family laptop, isn’t covered by your iPhone’s Screen Time unless you set it up there too.
- Some apps aren’t rated 18+ but still include gambling-style content, such as social casino games, which the age limit may not catch.
- Websites not on your list can still open unless you use an automatic blocker.
- Unlicensed sites aren’t part of GAMSTOP, which is why a blocker and bank block matter.
- Resetting the iPhone removes Screen Time settings, though it takes effort and time.
If you use more than one device, repeat the steps on each one; how to block gambling apps on Android covers Android phones and tablets.
Support alongside blocking gambling apps
Blocking is a practical tool, and plenty of people use it simply to stay in control. If gambling has started to affect money, sleep, work or relationships, talking to someone helps too. The National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133), run by GamCare, is free and confidential. NHS gambling clinics accept self-referrals in England, and our gambling support services UK page lists the main services across the UK. If you’re not sure whether you need help, signs gambling apps are affecting you may be useful.
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 all gambling apps on my iPhone at once?
Yes. Setting Screen Time’s App Store age limit below 18+ hides every app rated 18+, which includes licensed casino and betting apps on the UK App Store, and stops new ones installing. Open Settings, then Screen Time, then Content & Privacy Restrictions, then App Store, Media, Web & Games, then Apps, and choose a lower rating. It won’t catch every gambling-style game, such as some social casino apps with lower ratings, or gambling websites. Pair it with a website block and GAMSTOP for wider cover.
Will blocking a gambling app close my casino account?
No. Blocking or deleting the app only affects your iPhone. Your casino account, any balance in it and the operator’s marketing all continue. To stop gambling with that operator, use its self-exclusion option in the app’s safer gambling menu or on its website, and withdraw any remaining balance first. To cover every online operator licensed in Great Britain at once, register with GAMSTOP. Our guide to how to close a casino app account explains closure, and account closure vs self-exclusion helps you choose between them.
What age rating are gambling apps on the UK App Store?
Real-money gambling apps on the UK App Store carry an 18+ age rating; the listings for the licensed apps we cover all show 18+. Apple introduced 13+, 16+ and 18+ ratings in a recent iOS update, and older iOS versions use a 17+ category instead. That’s why the Screen Time limit you need depends on your software: choose 16+ on newer versions or 12+ on older ones. Apple only accepts real-money gambling apps from licensed operators. The Apple App Store gambling rules page explains the policy in more depth.
Can I stop myself turning the block off again?
The most effective way is to have someone you trust set the Screen Time passcode so you don’t know it. Ask them to skip the option to recover the passcode with your Apple Account, otherwise you could reset it yourself. If there’s no one suitable, a dedicated blocker with a locked period, such as one that can’t be removed until the chosen time ends, adds friction. GAMSTOP can’t be cancelled during its minimum period either. Our gambling blocking apps compared page explains which tools lock and which can be removed.
Does Screen Time block gambling websites on iPhone?
Only if you set it up separately. In Content & Privacy Restrictions, open Web Content, choose Limit Adult Websites and add gambling sites to the Never Allow list. That filter applies in Safari and in other browsers and apps that rely on Apple’s web view. It only blocks sites you list, plus anything Apple’s filter treats as adult content, so new or unfamiliar gambling sites may still open. A specialist blocking app with an automatically updated list covers far more. See bank gambling blocks and casino apps for a payment-level backstop.
Is there a free app to block gambling on iPhone?
Yes. BetBlocker, run as a non-profit, states that it’s free and offers an iOS version, and Screen Time itself is built into every iPhone at no cost. Paid tools such as Gamban offer a free trial before a subscription. Free and paid blockers differ in how they block, which devices they cover and whether you can remove them during a restriction, so compare them before choosing. GAMSTOP is also free and stops your accounts with GB-licensed online operators. The gambling blocking apps compared guide sets the options side by side.
Does blocking on my iPhone also block my iPad?
Not automatically. Screen Time settings are per device, so you need to repeat the steps on an iPad, even if it’s signed in to the same Apple Account. Some Screen Time options can sync between devices when ‘Share Across Devices’ is on, but don’t rely on that for content restrictions without checking each device. Laptops, work phones and family tablets need their own blocks too. GAMSTOP and bank blocks are tied to you rather than a device, which is one reason they’re worth adding. See casino apps on shared family devices for shared-device advice.
How long does GAMSTOP take to work?
GAMSTOP says registration can take up to 24 hours to take full effect across participating operators, although it’s often quicker. During that time you may still be able to log in to some accounts, so it’s sensible to set a phone block and self-exclude directly with any casino you use as well. Once active, the exclusion lasts for the period you choose: 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. It stays in place after that until you ask for it to be removed. Our GAMSTOP glossary entry explains the scheme in brief.
Who can I talk to about stopping gambling?
The National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day, and GamCare also offers web chat and local counselling. NHS gambling clinics in England take self-referrals, and there are services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland too. Gamblers Anonymous runs peer support meetings around the UK. You don’t need to have reached a crisis to get in touch; many people call to talk through a block or a budget. Our gambling support services UK page lists what each service offers.