Put the betting sites out of reach
The urge to place a bet passes. FocusMe makes sure the sites and apps aren’t there while it does, on your computer and your phone.
Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. No credit card required.
Sound familiar?
- You open a betting app without really deciding to.
- “Just a tenner” on the match turns into chasing losses at midnight.
- You’ve closed accounts before, then opened a new one somewhere else.
- You’d rather nobody saw your bank statement.
Online gambling is open all night and sits in your pocket. Making it harder to reach is one of the most practical steps you can take, and it’s the part FocusMe does.
Signs gambling has gone past a habit
A bet on the big match now and then is one thing. It’s worth taking a closer look if several of these sound like you:
- You bet more than you can afford to lose, or more than you planned.
- You chase losses, betting again to win back what’s gone.
- You need bigger stakes to get the same buzz.
- You feel restless or irritable when you try to cut back.
- You borrow money, sell things or miss bills because of gambling.
- You hide your gambling or lie about how much you spend.
- You gamble to escape worry, stress or a low mood.
Only a doctor or specialist can diagnose a gambling problem. If any of this is causing you harm, free and confidential help is available: GamCare and Gamblers Anonymous in the UK, and the National Council on Problem Gambling in the US. You don’t have to be in crisis to call them.
Why it’s so hard to stop
Gambling products are built around unpredictable rewards. You never know when the next win is coming, and that uncertainty is what keeps you playing. Near misses feel like you were close, even when the odds haven’t changed. In-play betting means there’s always another market open, and every match, race or spin is seconds away.
Online, the brakes are gone. There’s no walk to the bookmaker, no closing time and no cash in your hand to watch going down. Free bets and bonus offers arrive just when you’ve decided to stop. That’s why blocking access works: it puts back the pause the industry has taken out.
How FocusMe helps
Block betting and casino sites in all the major browsers, on your computer and your phone.
Block the apps too. FocusMe for Android and iPhone blocks betting apps alongside the websites.
Catch new sites as well as old ones. On your computer, one rule can block any page whose address or title contains a word such as “casino”, “poker” or “sportsbook”, so a site you haven’t heard of yet is covered too.
Block it around the clock. Run the plan 24/7 with no end date. On your computer or Android phone, you can set an end date instead if you’d rather commit for 90 days at a time.
Make it hard to undo. At the strictest setting the plan can’t be stopped from FocusMe at all. On your computer, add an accountability partner so only someone you trust can approve a stop.
Start in three steps
Download FocusMe and start your free trial.
Add the betting sites and apps you use, plus a few keyword rules.
Set the plan to run all day, every day, choose a strict setting, and start it.
Tips that help alongside FocusMe
- Self-exclude. In the UK, GamStop lets you exclude yourself from all licensed online gambling sites at once, for free. Many other countries have a similar scheme.
- Turn on your bank’s gambling block. Many banks let you block gambling payments on your card in their app.
- Remove saved cards from betting accounts and close the accounts you still have.
- Unsubscribe from gambling emails and texts, so bonus offers stop finding you.
- Hand over some control. Let someone you trust help with your money for a while, and make them your accountability partner in FocusMe on your computer.
- Plan for the danger times. Big matches, payday and late nights are when urges peak. Have something else lined up.
Frequently asked questions
Is FocusMe a treatment for gambling addiction?
No. FocusMe is a blocking tool: it removes easy access, which gives you room to make a different choice. If gambling is causing you harm, talk to a support service such as GamCare in the UK or the National Council on Problem Gambling in the US. FocusMe works well alongside them.
Will it block gambling sites I don’t know about?
Keyword rules catch many of them, because most gambling sites use the same few words in their address or title. You can add any site you come across while the plan is running.
Can I unblock it if I change my mind?
Only as easily as you allow. Choose a setting where stopping takes real effort, or one where it can’t be done until the plan ends. You set this when you’re thinking clearly, so it holds when you’re not.
Does it work alongside GamStop or my bank’s gambling block?
Yes. They block your accounts and payments; FocusMe blocks the sites and apps on your devices. Using them together closes more doors.
Can it block crypto casinos and offshore sites?
Yes, on the same terms as any other site. Add them by name, and keyword rules on your computer catch many you haven’t named.
How long should I block gambling for?
Long enough for the urges to fade, which for many people means months rather than weeks. Set a long end date on your computer or Android phone, or none, and review it when you feel steady.
Make the next bet harder to place.
Try FocusMe free for 14 days. Full features, full support, no credit card required.
Start your free trial