Comparison · Plain English

Self-exclusion, device blocking, and where each fits.

There are several honest ways to put distance between yourself and gambling, and they act in different places — at the operator, at your bank, on the network, and on your device. Here is how they differ, and how GuardianBlock fits alongside them.

Last reviewed 2026.06.28 · Private beta
Four places to act

Each approach works somewhere different.

None of these is the whole answer on its own. Knowing where each one acts makes it easier to choose a combination that matches how you actually slip.

  • Operator side

    Operator and registry self-exclusion

    You ask gambling operators, or a national register, to refuse your business — schemes like BetStop in Australia, GamStop in the UK, and provincial or single-operator programs elsewhere. It works at the operator's end and doesn't run on your device, so it leans on each operator honouring the list.

  • Your bank

    Bank and card gambling blocks

    Many banks and card apps let you switch off gambling transactions on your account. This acts on the payment rather than the browser — a funding-side brake whose availability depends on your bank and card.

  • Network level

    Network, DNS, and VPN blockers

    Some tools block at the network layer by changing your DNS, a VPN, or a proxy. GuardianBlock is deliberately not one of these: it is designed not to alter your DNS, VPN, proxy, firewall, hosts, routes, network adapters, SMB, or mapped drives, so it leaves your network and work setup alone.

  • Your device

    Device blocking with an accountability partner

    GuardianBlock runs on your own Windows device and adds a person to the picture. A keyholder you choose authorizes sensitive changes, and they see whether protection is healthy and the exceptions you explicitly request — never your browsing history. It is durable friction and accountability you set up while you are thinking clearly.

How they fit together

Most people layer more than one.

Because these approaches act in different places — the operator, the bank, the network, and the device — they tend to work best together rather than as either/or choices. Pick the combination that fits how you actually slip, and revisit it as your situation changes.

GuardianBlock is honest about its own limit: it is durable friction plus an accountability partner you trust, not a guarantee. A local administrator can ultimately remove or bypass installed software, which is why the accountability relationship matters as much as the blocking does.

Keep reading: What your accountability partner can and can't see · Common questions about GuardianBlock

Where to get help

If gambling is affecting your life, support is available.

GuardianBlock is a voluntary self-restriction and accountability tool, not a substitute for professional support. These free and confidential resources can help, wherever you are.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, contact your local emergency services.

Add a device-level layer with a partner you trust.

GuardianBlock sits alongside self-exclusion and bank blocks — voluntary friction on your own Windows device, with an accountability partner who holds the key. Join the private beta waitlist.

Request early access