Winner's Win vs Gamban vs BetBlocker (2026): an honest comparison

October 2026 · 7 minute read · By the Winner's Win team

If you need to talk to someone tonight: call 1-800-GAMBLER or text 800GAM. Confidential, 24/7, for families too.

A note before you read: we make Winner's Win, so this is a maker's comparison, not a neutral review. We've tried hard to be fair, to cite where every number comes from, and to say plainly where Gamban and BetBlocker are the better choice. Prices and ratings were checked on October 6, 2026, in the US.

The short version

• BetBlocker is free and runs on almost everything. Best if cost is the obstacle or you need a block on many kinds of devices.
• Gamban is cheap, polished and built to be hard to remove. Best if you want a strong solo block across phone and computer. Free if you live in Michigan.
• Winner's Win costs much more and is iPhone only for now. It's the only one of the three where other people hold the key, are told if protection goes off, and vote on unlocks. Best if you've learned that a block you control alone doesn't hold, and someone in your life is willing to help.

Side by side

Site counts are each company's own claim, measured in different ways, so treat them as rough. A bigger number isn't automatically a better list.

BetBlocker

What it is: a free blocker run by a registered Scottish charity (SC049565), funded by grants and donations. In 2026 it partnered with the Responsible Online Gaming Association, the trade group for most legal US sportsbooks, to promote its free blocker across the US.

Where it's better than us: it costs nothing, it runs on six platforms including Linux and Fire OS, and its timed restrictions (1 day to 5 years, with a 7-day cooling-off before removal) are a simple, honest commitment device. If money is tight, start here.

Where it falls short: the lock is a timer, not a person. When it expires or is removed, nobody else knows. Its App Store rating is 2.9 from 85 ratings, and some reviews mention over-blocking and setup trouble on some devices.

Gamban

What it is: a subscription blocker at $6.99 a month or $41.99 a year, with a 7-day trial. Counselors and state programs know it well. Since April 2026, the Michigan Gaming Control Board has offered free Gamban licenses to Michigan residents.

Where it's better than us: it's about a seventh of our price, it covers phones and computers on four platforms today, and it's designed so you can't simply switch it off during a subscription. It also tracks money and time saved. For a strong solo block, it's hard to beat on value.

Where it falls short: it's still a lock with one key, held by you and the company. No one in your life is told if it comes off, and there's no way for family to be part of decisions. Its App Store rating is 3.9 from 98 ratings.

Winner's Win

What it is: an iPhone gambling blocker built around a circle of up to four people you trust. You turn on a site block covering 340,000+ gambling sites and shield the betting apps you pick. One helper sets a Screen Time code on your phone in person, so the app can't be deleted and settings can't be changed without them. If protection is switched off, your circle is told. Unlocks need a yes from everyone, then a one-hour wait, and sites close again after 30 minutes. Helpers never pay and don't need the app.

Where it's better: it's the only one of the three where other people hold the key, get alerts and vote on unlocks. It also has a one-tap urge button that can call 1-800-GAMBLER or message your circle, optional casino alerts that tell your circle the casino's name (never a map), and a running count of money kept.

Where it falls short, honestly:

• Price. $299.99 a year is about seven times Gamban's yearly plan.
• iPhone only today. The Mac app is coming soon. No Android or Windows.
• No ratings yet. It's new, so you can't lean on other people's reviews.
• It's only as strong as the lock. Until a helper sets the Screen Time code, you can undo the app's own settings with Face ID. The circle will hear about it, but it won't stop you.
• No payment, no blocking. If your subscription ends, blocking stops. If your plan is set to end, your circle is told before it does.
• Gaps every blocker shares. Apps with their own built-in DNS, other people's devices and betting in person aren't covered.

Can I use more than one?

On a computer, often yes. On an iPhone, be careful: Winner's Win's site block uses the iPhone's DNS setting, and iPhone runs one DNS or VPN-style blocker at a time, so two network blockers can switch each other off. If you combine tools on an iPhone, check with each company's support first.

Which one should you pick?

Ask yourself one question: when I've blocked gambling before, what undid it? If the answer is "nothing, I just never had a block", try BetBlocker or Gamban first. They're good tools, and they might be all you need. If the answer is "me, late at night, alone", the missing piece isn't a bigger list. It's another person. That's what we built Winner's Win for.

Winner's Win: Plans and prices are on our pricing section. Your helpers never pay. If your subscription ends, blocking stops.

If you're comparing these for someone else, read what a helper does first. It might change which tool makes sense.

Sources

• Gamban pricing: gamban.com/pricing; App Store listing id1459803064 (price, trial and rating as shown Oct 6, 2026).
• Gamban free in Michigan: Michigan Gaming Control Board announcements, April 28 and May 21, 2026 (michigan.gov/mgcb).
• Gamban removal: gamban.com/blog/how-to-uninstall-gamban-1.
• BetBlocker: betblocker.org; App Store listing id1437450983; partnership with the Responsible Online Gaming Association reported by iGaming Future, 2026.
• Winner's Win: App Store listing id6815762659 and our own terms and privacy policy.

Questions