How to Block Gambling Sites on iPhone
Vast majority of premium gambling websites have dedicated iPhone apps, and even those that don’t have mobile versions still allow access from the Safari browser. As a result, much of the gambling action in the United Kingdom starts from an iPhone and this device represents the first frontier in the fight to keep the playing time and expenses under control. This article will teach you how to block gambling websites on your smartphone so you can make a pause and focus on other things.
Ways to Block Gambling Sites on iPhone
Your iPhone provides you with a lot of different methods for filtering web content and modulating your online behaviour. Some of these methods are highly suitable for restricting gambling activities from that phone and helping the phone owner to exercise some restraint in critical situations. Depending on the exact circumstances, you could try one of the approaches explained below.
Use Blocker Apps for iPhone
Maturation of the online gambling market has brought about a proliferation of responsible gambling tools for the mobile platforms, particularly in the UK. Several iPhone apps are now available that allow you to limit your visits to casinos and betting shops on the web. Here is a short overview of the best apps of this kind.
Gamban
With GamBan, you can restrict your gambling activities for a period of time decided in advance. By installing this app on your phone and starting the self-exclusion period, you are basically giving up the right to visit any gambling site registered in Britain.
BetFilter
This is another content filtering app for iPhone that can be very useful to people who gamble a tad too much. As a tool specifically designed for preventing problematic gambling, BetFilter is quite reliable in this role but comes at a hefty price of nearly $70 per year.
NetNanny
You could also use a general-purpose web content blocker such as NetNanny and set it up so that it prevents access to gambling websites. Since many iPhone owners may already be familiar with this parenting control app, it can serve as the first line of defence against compulsive gambling.
Adjust the iPhone’s Browser Settings
Rather than install third-party apps for content blocking, you could limit access to gambling websites by adjusting the browser settings. The downside of this method is that you have to manually enter all the web addresses you want to be blocked. Since most people are only members of a few casino or betting websites, this method can be practical enough to remove the temptation of navigating to a familiar gambling platform.
Make Use of iPhone’s Screen Time Function
Proactive use of iPhone’s native functions can also produce good results. In particular, you can use the Screen Time function to keep track of your online activities. This app allows you to restrict access to certain web locations, as well as to track how much time and money you spend on gambling websites. Its versatility is certainly an advantage, but the weakness of this approach is that the phone owner can remove the restrictions at any time.
GamStop: Block All Gambling Sites at Once
The best way to ensure you will stay away from all gambling websites is to use a self-exclusion service such as GamStop. This service automatically blocks your access to any gambling websites that are legally registered in the United Kingdom, and once it is activated it keeps preventing access to them regardless of the user’s attempts to terminate it early.
Blocking all the UK sites at once is a great start, but that won’t stop the player from visiting non GamStop casinos registered abroad. This is why GamStop should ideally be combined with another method to provide wall-to-wall protection and eliminate any chance of slippage. Of course, none of these approaches will be very effective unless you truly made a decision to stop gambling compulsively.
Q&A
What are some other ways to completely block gambling sites?
In addition to self-exclusion apps and mobile browser settings, you can set up your router or use an OpenDNS service to block specific websites. This way, your iPhone won’t have access to risky sites even if it hasn’t technically been disabled to visit them. Each of these methods has its own set of advantages and downsides.
Is it possible to schedule the blocking of gambling sites on my iPhone?
Screen Time function on your iPhone lets you manage all the details related to gambling restrictions in any way you want. You can select which websites can be visited and how much time you can spend on each of them. When combined with content blocking apps, this approach can produce impressive results.
Can I cancel the GamStop exclusion if I want to access a gambling site?
In a nutshell, no. It’s not possible to remove GamStop restrictions before the self-exclusion period expires. The whole point of GamStop is to act as an obstacle to yielding to temptation, and its permanence is the trait that makes it so valuable. There are still some ways to get around the ban, but for the most part this interactive responsible gambling tool functions as intended.
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