Bank gambling blocks
Block gambling
at your bank.
Most banks can refuse gambling payments on your card. It takes a minute, and turning it off again takes days on purpose. Here's how, bank by bank.
If it's pulling hard right now: National Gambling Helpline, 0808 8020 133 (free, 24/7).
Can banks block gambling transactions?
Yes, many can. A gambling block tells your bank to decline any payment to a betting site, casino or bookmaker, using the code every merchant is filed under. Of the 29 banks we've checked, 12 let you switch one on or ask for one. In the UK and Australia it's standard; in the US, Canada and South Africa most big banks don't offer one yet, so ask anyway, and self-exclude as well.
It usually takes a minute in your banking app. Turning it off again usually takes 2 to 3 days, on purpose, because an urge passes faster than that.
Australia
Canada
- RBC (no block yet)
- Scotiabank (no block yet)
- TD (no block yet)
United Kingdom
United States
- Bank of America (no block yet)
- Capital One (no block yet)
- Chase (no block yet)
- Wells Fargo (no block yet)
South Africa
- Absa (no block yet)
- African Bank (no block yet)
- Bank Zero (no block yet)
- Capitec Bank (no block yet)
- Discovery Bank (no block yet)
- FNB (no block yet)
- Investec (no block yet)
- Nedbank (no block yet)
- Standard Bank (no block yet)
- TymeBank (no block yet)
What a bank block can't do
It stops the card. It doesn't stop the sites, the apps, or a second card. Pair it with self-exclusion and a blocker on the phone.
Get You vs The HouseBlocks 700,000+ betting sites on your iPhone and puts someone you trust on your side.