How to block gambling on Android
Short answer: Android has the best free gambling block of any phone platform and almost nobody uses it: Settings → Network & internet → Private DNS → Private DNS provider hostname, set to a filtering resolver such as family.dns.mullvad.net. That covers every app and every browser, on Wi-Fi and mobile data, in about two minutes, at no cost. Then layer Family Link (so someone else controls the settings), a bank gambling block, and self-exclusion.
Straight answer first: Silex is iPhone-only, so this page isn't selling you anything. It's the setup we'd give a friend on Android, and the free built-in option is better than most of the paid apps.
1. Private DNS — the two-minute one that covers everything
Android has supported encrypted DNS system-wide since Android 9. Point it at a resolver that filters gambling and those domains stop resolving in every app and every browser — sportsbook apps included — on Wi-Fi and on mobile data.
- Open Settings → Network & internet (on Samsung: Connections → More connection settings).
- Tap Private DNS.
- Choose Private DNS provider hostname.
- Enter a filtering resolver's hostname, then Save.
Resolvers that filter gambling:
| Hostname | What it filters | Cost |
|---|---|---|
family.dns.mullvad.net |
Gambling, adult content, ads and trackers | Free, no account, published no-logging policy |
<your-id>.dns.nextdns.io |
Whatever you switch on — gambling is a one-tap category | Free tier, account needed, gives you logs and control |
Test it. Open a browser you don't normally use and try a gambling site you actually used. It should fail to load, not just look odd. If it loads, check that a VPN isn't active — a VPN takes over DNS and silently overrides this setting.
The catch: it's a Settings toggle, so you can undo it in about a minute. That's still meaningful — most relapses are impulsive and a minute of friction stops a lot of them — but it is not a wall. Which is what the next steps are for.
2. Make the settings not yours to change
This is the step that turns a speed bump into something sturdier.
- Google Family Link. Put the device under supervision with a partner, parent or friend holding the supervising account. They can restrict app installs from the Play Store and control settings changes. Yes, it's built for parents; it works fine between adults who've agreed to it.
- Remove the apps and block reinstalls. Uninstall every betting app, then use Family Link's Play Store controls so reinstalling needs someone else's approval.
- Digital Wellbeing can add app timers and Focus mode. Useful for habit friction; trivially reversible, so don't count on it as a block.
3. Third-party blockers worth the money
| App | Price | Worth it for |
|---|---|---|
| BetBlocker | Free, no ads, charity-run | A restriction period you set from 1 day to 5 years and cannot shorten once it starts — a real commitment device, given away |
| Gamban | £4.99/month or £29.99/year, 7-day trial | One subscription across Android, iOS, Windows and Mac — or its alternatives |
| GamBlock | Paid, pricing not published on its homepage | Claims removal "cannot happen" on Android, including blocking factory resets — the heaviest lock, if the claims hold on your device |
Prices verified against each vendor's own site on . Full comparison →
4. The two layers that aren't on your phone at all
Same on every platform, and stronger than anything above:
- Self-exclusion — free, and you can't reverse it during a craving. GAMSTOP in the UK; state programme plus each operator in the US.
- Bank gambling block — free, typically 48–72 hours to lift.
If you only have ten minutes today, do these two and come back to the phone settings afterwards.
What doesn't work on Android
- Uninstalling the apps alone. The mobile site works, and reinstalling takes seconds.
- Router or Wi-Fi filtering by itself. Ends at your front door; mobile data walks straight past it.
- A plain VPN. Not a filter — and it can disable your Private DNS setting.
- Blocking one browser. Android will happily install another in twenty seconds.
Then the part no blocker does
Every layer above buys you time during an urge, and urges pass in roughly 20 to 30 minutes whether or not you bet. What you do with those minutes is what decides whether this holds: riding out an urge, and the wider plan. Neither of those needs an iPhone or a subscription.
Common questions
What is the best free gambling blocker for Android?
Android's own Private DNS setting, pointed at a filtering resolver, blocks more than most paid apps do — every app and browser, on mobile data as well as Wi-Fi. For an app with a lockable commitment period, BetBlocker is free, charity-run, and supports Android.
Does Private DNS work on mobile data?
Yes. That's what makes it better than router-level or Wi-Fi-only blocking, which stops working the moment the phone leaves the house. Private DNS is a device setting and applies everywhere.
Can I stop myself turning Private DNS off?
Not by itself — it's a Settings toggle, so it's a speed bump rather than a wall. To make it stick, put the device under Family Link with someone else holding the account, or use a blocker that resists removal. And rely on the layers you can't undo at all: self-exclusion and a bank block.
Does Silex work on Android?
No. Silex is iPhone-only, and there's no Android version planned in the near term. If you're on Android, the setup on this page plus BetBlocker or Gamban is what we'd genuinely recommend — we'd rather tell you that than waste your time.
Will a VPN block gambling sites on Android?
A standard VPN, no — it moves where your traffic exits, it doesn't filter it. Some privacy VPNs include a content-filtering DNS mode that does block gambling categories. Note that an active VPN can override your Private DNS setting, which is a common reason blocking silently stops working.