Parental control systems and router settings
Introduction
To fully protect home devices from accessing online casinos and betting sites, self-exclusion or extensions alone are not enough. Parental control systems at the OS and application level, plus competent router configuration, create an insurmountable milestone: they block sites on any device on the network, regardless of browser, VPN or reset.
1. Built-in parental controls
1. 1 Windows 10/11 Microsoft Family Safety
1. Create a child account in the "Family" section of the Microsoft website.
2. Add your device and sign in with your child's account.
3. Go to Family Safety → Content → Restrict Website Content.
4. Enable site blocking by category → select "Gambling" or blacklist specific domains.
5. Set temporary limits on how you can use your device if you need to.
1. 2 macOS: Screen Time
1. System Settings → Screen Time → Create a child profile.
2. Content and Privacy → Web Content → "Restrict Adult Websites."
3. Add a site → enter the URL of all banned gambling operators.
4. The administrator password will protect the settings from changes.
1. 3 iOS и Android
iOS: Settings → Screen time → Content and privacy → Web content → blocking "For adults" and entering sites manually.
AndroID: in Google Family Link create a child profile → Google Play Filters → Apps and games; For web content, use rodcontrol-enabled browsers (for example, Safe Browser).
2. Third-party filter applications
1. Qustodio (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android)
Categories "Gambling," blacklists of domains.
Real time reports and remote configuration from the parent smartphone.
2. Net Nanny
Intelligent analysis of page content.
Automatically block new gambling sites.
3. Kaspersky Safe Kids
The free version includes basic web filters.
Paid - advanced customization by category.
3. Configuring a router for the entire network
3. 1 Basic blocking through the hosts file of the router
1. Enter the admin panel of the router (usually at 192. 168. 0. 1 or 192. 168. 1. 1).
2. LAN partition → DNS-Proxy/Static DNS (names may vary).
3. Add records of the form:
This will redirect all requests to these domains to the local address.
3. 2 DNS filtering (OpenDNS FamilyShield)
1. Configure WAN (Internet) → DNS: Specify
```
Primary DNS: 208. 67. 222. 123
Secondary DNS: 208. 67. 220. 123
```
2. OpenDNS web interface: register, add a home IP and select the "Gambling" categories to block.
3. Save and reboot the router.
3. 3 Using DD-WRT or OpenWrt
1. Installing third-party firmware (if supported by your router).
2. Install the dnsmasq package → add it to '/etc/dnsmasq. conf`:
4. Check of interlock efficiency
1. An attempt to access blocked domains from different devices (smartphone, laptop).
2. Check via VPN: Make sure that DNS routing goes through the router, not the client configuration.
3. Monitoring router logs: in the "Logs" section, all requests to prohibited domains are recorded.
5. Keeping up to date
Update your list of domains and categories weekly.
Auto-updating the router firmware helps to get new filtering options.
Combine methods: built-in rodcontrol + third-party application + router filtering = full protection.
Conclusion
OS parental control systems and specialized applications work fine at the level of individual devices, but only configuring the router provides a network barrier for the entire home network. By combining both levels, you will receive the most reliable protection against triggers of gambling sites and will be able to preserve the financial and psychological well-being of the whole family.
To fully protect home devices from accessing online casinos and betting sites, self-exclusion or extensions alone are not enough. Parental control systems at the OS and application level, plus competent router configuration, create an insurmountable milestone: they block sites on any device on the network, regardless of browser, VPN or reset.
1. Built-in parental controls
1. 1 Windows 10/11 Microsoft Family Safety
1. Create a child account in the "Family" section of the Microsoft website.
2. Add your device and sign in with your child's account.
3. Go to Family Safety → Content → Restrict Website Content.
4. Enable site blocking by category → select "Gambling" or blacklist specific domains.
5. Set temporary limits on how you can use your device if you need to.
1. 2 macOS: Screen Time
1. System Settings → Screen Time → Create a child profile.
2. Content and Privacy → Web Content → "Restrict Adult Websites."
3. Add a site → enter the URL of all banned gambling operators.
4. The administrator password will protect the settings from changes.
1. 3 iOS и Android
iOS: Settings → Screen time → Content and privacy → Web content → blocking "For adults" and entering sites manually.
AndroID: in Google Family Link create a child profile → Google Play Filters → Apps and games; For web content, use rodcontrol-enabled browsers (for example, Safe Browser).
2. Third-party filter applications
1. Qustodio (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android)
Categories "Gambling," blacklists of domains.
Real time reports and remote configuration from the parent smartphone.
2. Net Nanny
Intelligent analysis of page content.
Automatically block new gambling sites.
3. Kaspersky Safe Kids
The free version includes basic web filters.
Paid - advanced customization by category.
3. Configuring a router for the entire network
3. 1 Basic blocking through the hosts file of the router
1. Enter the admin panel of the router (usually at 192. 168. 0. 1 or 192. 168. 1. 1).
2. LAN partition → DNS-Proxy/Static DNS (names may vary).
3. Add records of the form:
- ```
- 127. 0. 0. 1 bet365. com
- 127. 0. 0. 1 sportsbet. com. au
- ```
This will redirect all requests to these domains to the local address.
3. 2 DNS filtering (OpenDNS FamilyShield)
1. Configure WAN (Internet) → DNS: Specify
```
Primary DNS: 208. 67. 222. 123
Secondary DNS: 208. 67. 220. 123
```
2. OpenDNS web interface: register, add a home IP and select the "Gambling" categories to block.
3. Save and reboot the router.
3. 3 Using DD-WRT or OpenWrt
1. Installing third-party firmware (if supported by your router).
2. Install the dnsmasq package → add it to '/etc/dnsmasq. conf`:
- ```
- address=/bet365. com/0. 0. 0. 0
- address=/sportsbet. com. au/0. 0. 0. 0
- ```
- 3. Restart the service: 'service dnsmasq restart'.
4. Check of interlock efficiency
1. An attempt to access blocked domains from different devices (smartphone, laptop).
2. Check via VPN: Make sure that DNS routing goes through the router, not the client configuration.
3. Monitoring router logs: in the "Logs" section, all requests to prohibited domains are recorded.
5. Keeping up to date
Update your list of domains and categories weekly.
Auto-updating the router firmware helps to get new filtering options.
Combine methods: built-in rodcontrol + third-party application + router filtering = full protection.
Conclusion
OS parental control systems and specialized applications work fine at the level of individual devices, but only configuring the router provides a network barrier for the entire home network. By combining both levels, you will receive the most reliable protection against triggers of gambling sites and will be able to preserve the financial and psychological well-being of the whole family.
