Apps and trackers to control gaming behavior

Introduction

For effective self-control, it is enough to combine blocking temptations and careful accounting of your behavior: blocking applications, session time trackers and financial applications. Below are specific tools, settings and recommendations for their application.

1. Access blockers

Gamban

Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

Cost: subscription from £5/month

The handle automatically blocks access to all known gambling sites and applications.

Configuration: set, set an administrator password, the application updates domain lists from the cloud.

BetBlocker

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

Cost: free

Open source description, connects the central list of gambling domains and allows you to add custom ones.

Setup: install, specify e-mail for auto-update, add your sites to the "Custom List."

2. Game activity time trackers

RescueTime

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android

Functions: automatically records the time spent on gambling sites and applications, builds reports.

Customization: install the agent, split sites into categories in the web interface, set up daily limits and receive notifications about exceeding.

Toggl Track

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, web

Functions: manual start/stop of the timer for each game session, marking goals and tags.

Setting: create a Gambling project, start the timer at the start and stop at the end; Export the report weekly.

3. Financial expense and revenue trackers

Spendee

Platforms: iOS, Android, web

Features: Gambling categories, spending schedules, the ability to set monthly limits.

Setting up: create a "Casino" wallet, make deposits and winnings, turn on notifications when approaching the limit.

Mint (alternative in Australia: Pocketbook)

Platforms: iOS, Android, web

Functions: synchronization with bank accounts, automatic categorization of transactions, warnings about suspicious expenses.

Setup: connect cards and e-wallets, mark gambling MCC codes as "Games & Betting" category, turn on notifications.

4. Habit forming apps

Habitica

Platforms: iOS, Android, web

Functions: gamification of tasks, daily "checklists" of self-restraint, social motivation.

Setting up: start the "Do not play casino" task, check the box every day; failure to comply entails virtual fines.

Coach. me

Platforms: iOS, Android, web

Functions: tracking habits, coaching bot, reminders.

Setting up: Add the habit of "Limit playing time," set a series of reminders and goals (for example, no more than 2 hours a week).

5. Self-diagnostic utilities

BeGambleAware Self-Assessment

Platforms: web application

Functions: a short survey for signs of gaming addiction, personal recommendations.

Usage: Take the test once a month and save the results for comparison.

6. Guidelines for Combining Tools

1. Blocking + time tracking. Run RescueTime in parallel with Gamban - blocking will prevent login, and reports will show bypass attempts.

2. Time tracking + finance. Compare the duration of sessions from Toggl with expenses in Spendee - identify the correlation "long session = big loss."

3. Habits + self-diagnosis. Use Habitica along with BeGambleAware for motivation and timely intervention when risks grow.

Conclusion

A multi-layered approach - blockers, time tracking, financial control and habits - allows you not only to restrict access, but to get a complete picture of your behavior and respond to dangerous signals in time. Set up the listed applications, combine them and observe the regularity of tracking - and you will reliably protect yourself from rash bets.