If you delete a betting app and reinstall it later, the missing piece may be what happens between the urge and the next deposit. The plan below addresses the account, the device, the payment route, and the moment when you would usually gamble.
You do not have to finish every step at once. Start by closing the gambling session and contacting someone who can help you follow through. Do not place a bet to test whether a restriction is working.
Step 1: Self-exclude, then remove the apps
Deleting an app leaves the account available through a reinstall or browser. Open the operator's official responsible-gaming help and request self-exclusion. Check the product, location, duration, and confirmation. State programs can have different coverage from an individual operator.
If opening the site exposes you to an urge, ask a safe person to sit with you or contact gambling support for help with the process. After confirming the restriction, remove the app, bookmarks, and saved login shortcuts.
Find the official route for your account
Step 2: Add a gambling blocker to each device
BetBlocker offers free gambling-blocking tools. Gamban is another dedicated option; check its current access terms, supported devices, and any local free-access arrangements. Use the provider's installation instructions and support if setup is unclear.
Cover the devices you actually use, including an old phone, computer, or tablet. Read the provider's limitations: no block list is guaranteed to catch every service. Device blocking, operator restrictions, and support serve different purposes.
Step 3: Use the controls available on your phone
On iPhone: Screen Time restrictions
In Settings, open Screen Time and review Content & Privacy Restrictions. Depending on your iOS version and setup, you can restrict app installation and web content, including specific websites. Apple's instructions linked below show the current controls.
This is not a dedicated ‘block all gambling’ setting. If you choose to involve someone you trust in managing restrictions, agree on the limits and preserve calls, work tools, transport, and other essentials. Keep your Apple Account password private.
On Android: understand what Digital Wellbeing does
Google's Digital Wellbeing controls can set app timers; supported devices may also offer an App limits PIN. Ordinary timers reset at midnight and can be changed or deleted. Features vary by device.
A timer is not a gambling-site filter or a general block on new app installations. Use a dedicated gambling blocker as a separate layer and follow its Android setup instructions. Family Link is designed for supervised accounts, so do not assume it is the right setup for your own adult account.
Step 4: Make another deposit less immediate
Remove payment details saved with gambling accounts and browsers where you can do so safely. Ask your bank whether it offers gambling-transaction controls, which payment methods they cover, and whether there is a delay before switching them off. Availability and coverage vary.
Do not assume a card block also catches bank transfers, digital wallets, cash, or every merchant. Keep money needed for daily essentials accessible. If someone helps with finances, agree on a safe, specific arrangement rather than sharing banking passwords.
Step 5: Plan for the time you normally open the app
Turn off betting notifications, leave tip groups that trigger you, and unsubscribe from gambling promotions. Choose one replacement action for a specific time: call a friend after work, take a walk during a game, or leave the phone outside the bedroom.
Write this sentence somewhere you can find it: ‘When I want to reinstall an app, I will [action] and contact [person or support service].’ You can use our free urge reset as a prompt. It is a self-help tool, not emergency support.
If you keep finding a way around the blocks
A gap in the barriers is information to act on, not a reason to blame yourself. Stop the session, ask the blocking provider or operator about that gap, and seek more support. A clinician experienced in gambling problems can assess which treatment fits your situation.
In the U.S., call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) for free, confidential support and local referrals. You do not need a paid app to ask for help.
After access is blocked
A plan for the reinstalling moment
Make it specific enough to use in the moment. Here is one example; choose what fits your situation.
- When this happens
- I want to reinstall a betting app.
- My next action
- I will put my phone away and move to a different activity.
- My backup
- I will ask a safe person or support service to help me keep the barrier in place.
Keep taking small steps.
Get the gambling-loop guide, then one short email a day for seven days with practical steps and links to the free lessons.
The guide and free lessons are available without buying a subscription.Sources and further support
- Apple: app installation and website restrictionsOfficial Screen Time instructions; settings vary by iOS version and account setup.
- Google: Digital Wellbeing app timers and limitsOfficial Android guidance on app timers, available PIN controls, and their limitations.
- BetBlocker gambling blocking softwareFree gambling blocking software from a registered charity.
- Gamban gambling blocking softwareBlocking software designed to restrict gambling websites and apps across devices.
- National Problem Gambling HelplineConfidential gambling support and local referrals from the National Council on Problem Gambling.
- Mayo Clinic: compulsive gambling diagnosis and treatmentMedical overview of diagnosis, therapy, treatment options, and family support for compulsive gambling.