Self exclusion or a blocker app: which should you do first?

If you want to stop tonight, you will hear about two kinds of tools: self exclusion and blocking. They do different jobs. Many people who want a real wall use both.

What each one does

• Self exclusion is a request to the betting company, or to a national scheme, to close your accounts and keep you from opening new ones for a set period. It works on the account, on every device.
• A blocker stops betting sites and apps from loading on the device you set it up on. It works on the device, even for sites where you never had an account.

Which to do first

1. Self exclude from the accounts you use. That is where your saved money and cards are. Here is each sportsbook's page. If you are in the UK or Australia, there are national schemes: UK, Australia.
2. Then block on your phone. This covers new sites and offshore sites. It is free with the settings already on your iPhone or Android.
3. Then hand off the passcode. Ask someone you trust to set or keep the blocking passcode so you cannot turn it off in a hard moment.

Comparing blocker options

For a side by side look at the free and paid options, see gambling blocker apps compared and is there a free app to stop gambling?.

Pause before the next bet

Neither tool helps in the moment the urge hits. Hold The Bet is free with no account. It shows your own number and reason and holds a 30 second pause before you bet.