StarBlocker / Use cases / Gambling
Block gambling on Mac, Windows, iPhone* and Android
A gambling blocker that stays on
Self-exclusion registers only cover the operators that signed up. List-based blockers only cover the sites they know. StarBlocker judges whatever is on the screen: a new offshore sportsbook, a sweepstakes casino, a prediction market, a trading app.
Rules you could write
- No gambling, sports betting, casino games, slots or lotteries.
- No crypto or options trading between 9pm and 7am.
A rule is a sentence. StarBlocker's AI reads what is on your screen every few seconds and judges it against the sentence. There is no list to maintain, and a new site is covered the day it appears.
How StarBlocker handles it
Sites, apps and grey areas
Betting apps, casino sites, sweepstakes, loot boxes, crypto futures: you describe what counts in a sentence and the AI judges what it sees against it. Odds on a sports page count if you say they do.
Turning it off takes time
Removing StarBlocker takes fifteen minutes. Weakening a rule while it is running means doing your unlock task first, which you chose in a calm moment: retype a sentence, wait out a five-minute timer, or play a ten-minute game.
A partner who hears about it
Add a partner, sponsor, spouse or counsellor. They get an email when a rule is weakened or removed, when a block happens, and a weekly summary. They never see your screen.
Day counters and streaks
A counter for days since your last bet, streaks you can see, and a warning when your own history says an urge is likely.
Every device, one account
- MacStarBlocker for macOS
- WindowsStarBlocker for Windows
- iPhoneStarBlocker for iOS
- AndroidStarBlocker for Android
* On iPhone, StarBlocker judges everything you do in Safari. It cannot see inside other apps: those can be blocked or time-limited, but not judged.
Questions
Does it work with GamStop or a self-exclusion register?
Yes, alongside it. A register stops licensed operators from serving you; StarBlocker blocks the screen, whatever the operator. Many people in recovery use both.
Does it block gambling apps on my phone?
On Android, yes: the app reads the screen and judges it. On iPhone, Safari is judged and named apps are blocked outright with a locked screen or given a daily time limit; iOS does not let an app see inside another app.
Can I block only at night or only at home?
Yes. Every rule can be always on, on a schedule, on at a location, or on a Wi-Fi network. A rule that is on from 9pm to 7am, or only at home, is one sentence plus a toggle.
What happens when I lose a streak?
The counter resets and the block goes in your log. A partner who can see that counter gets an email about the slip. There is no punishment beyond the break itself.
Related
One rule, every device.
Sign up, write a rule, and install StarBlocker on each device.
Get started free →