Gamban Makes Gambling-Blocking Software Free Again in England

Gambling-blocking software provider Gamban has announced that its services will once again be available free of charge in England. This follows a new government funding agreement, seeing the provider receive more than £2 million in government funding.

Gamban allows users to block gambling websites and apps across their devices, including access to offshore operators that are not licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.

While Gamban’s previous subscription model cost £4.99 per month or £29.99 annually, it will now be completely free for those in England. The company confirmed the change on Friday, 6 November, after securing funding from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.

Government Awards Gamban £2.7 Million

According to the government's latest funding allocations, Gamban has been provisionally awarded £2,714,063 for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years.

The funding comes from the new statutory gambling levy. This replaced the previous system of voluntary contributions from gambling operators, bringing in an additional £60m - £70m each year.

Gamban had previously provided free gambling-blocking software through TalkBanStop. This partnership was made possible with help from GamCare and GAMSTOP, funded by GambleAware.

However, when TalkBanStop ended on 31 March 2026, Gamban lost the funding that had supported its free services in England and Scotland. The company subsequently introduced subscription charges for users in both countries, although its software remained free in Wales through a separate Welsh Government agreement.

In its earlier announcement, Gamban criticised its exclusion from the initial funding process, stating that its status as a limited company had prevented it from receiving support. The latest funding award now allows Gamban to restore free services in England.

Responding to the decision, the company said:

"Despite our disappointment at the initial decision, which meant Gamban could no longer be free in England, everyone in our company was heartened by the messages of support from other organisations in the gambling harm prevention sector expressing how much they value the work we do and to keep going."

Gamban added that the funding would allow it to work with other organisations to make protection available to more people without charge.

What Does Gamban Block?

Unlike GAMSTOP, which prevents registered users from gambling with UK-licensed online operators, Gamban works directly on users' devices to block access to gambling websites and apps.

The software is available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. It covers online casinos, sportsbooks, poker sites, bingo platforms, and other gambling services.

Importantly, its restrictions also extend to unlicensed offshore gambling websites, which fall outside GAMSTOP's self-exclusion scheme.

According to Gamban's own guidance, the software also blocks certain high-risk trading and cryptocurrency platforms, although it does not currently block gambling advertisements.

What About Scotland and Wales?

Gamban's return to free services currently applies to England, with residents of Wales already having free access through a Welsh Government-funded programme.

The latest announcement does not confirm whether free access will also be restored in Scotland, where the company introduced subscription charges in April.

The funding decision comes as the government continues allocating money raised through the statutory gambling levy to prevention, treatment, and research programmes.

Other organisations receiving funding include GamCare, BetBlocker, Gambling with Lives, and YGAM.

For people in England seeking to restrict their gambling, the latest award restores access to an additional protective tool without the need for a paid subscription.