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.
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.
