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How to Block Gambling Ads

Gambling ads are any form of advertisement that promotes betting or gambling activities, such as online casinos or sports betting. Gambling ads are everywhere nowadays, whether scrolling through social media or watching YouTube videos. These ads are designed to catch your attention with tempting offers like free bets or bonus spins.

It’s estimated that in the UK alone, the gambling industry spent over £1.5 billion on advertising in 2022, making these ads hard to avoid. These ads can be dangerous triggers for some people, especially those who have struggled with gambling addiction or are trying to stay away from gambling.

Blocking gambling ads will protect your mental health, keep your finances in check, and help you protect yourself from being tempted to gamble when you are in the recovery phase of the addiction. Finally, blocking these ads can help individuals avoid relapsing. You can block gambling ads through browser extensions and ad blockers, search engine controls, parental controls, and content filtering controls.

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Written by
Uswa Iftikhar
22 Sep 2025
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Reviewed by
Okpala Stella Jessica
How To Stop Gambling
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What are Gambling Ads?

Gambling ads are promotional advertisements used by online betting sites and casinos to attract customers to their platforms. These ads come in various forms, such as online banners on websites, social media ads, pop-ups in mobile apps, TV commercials, and even email marketing. They also attract individuals with exciting offers like free bets or deposit bonuses.

Gambling companies also track online behaviour and interests to reach target audiences. For example, if someone frequently visits sports websites or searches for betting content, they’ll more likely see gambling ads.

What are the Methods to Block Gambling Ads?

The methods to block gambling ads are browser extensions and ad blockers, search engine controls, network-level blocking, settings on devices, parental controls, and content filtering tools.

These methods are listed below.

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Browser Extensions and Ad Blockers
Browser extensions and ad blockers are one of the easiest ways to block gambling ads. Tools like AdBlock or uBlock Origin can stop most ads from appearing while you’re browsing the web. Once installed, they filter out gambling ads before they even load. These blockers work across most websites and social media platforms to give you more control over what you see.
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Search Engine Controls
Search engines like Google allow you to customise your ad settings. You can go to your Google Ads preferences and disable personalised ads related to gambling. Doing this will reduce the chances of seeing gambling ads based on your search history.
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Network-Level Blocking
Network-level blocking works by setting up controls through your internet provider or home network. Tools like OpenDNS allow you to block entire categories of websites, including gambling ones, on all devices connected to your network.
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Settings on Devices
Most smartphones, tablets, and computers come with built-in ad settings that limit the types of ads you see. For example, you can adjust ad preferences to hide gambling ads on both Android and iOS devices. While it won’t block all ads, it will help stop ads according to your browsing habits.
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Parental Controls
Apart from being beneficial for children, parental controls are also a powerful tool to block gambling ads and websites. Most devices and browsers have parental control settings to filter content. By enabling these controls, you can block access to gambling websites.
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Content Filtering Tools
Content filtering tools like Net Nanny or K9 Web Protection are designed to block unwanted content, including gambling ads. These programs allow you to customise filters to block gambling websites and ads based on specific keywords or categories.

How to Hide Gambling Adverts from Social Media Platforms?

Social media platforms are online sites or networks where people connect, share content, and engage with others. Popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X often show gambling ads. However, you can limit or hide these gambling advertisements conveniently.

The steps to hide gambling adverts from social media platforms are listed below.

How to hide gambling ads from Facebook?

The step-by-step guide on hiding gambling ads from Facebook is listed below.

  • Log into Your Facebook Account: Log into your Facebook account by using your existing credentials.
  • Go to Settings: Click on the down arrow in the top-right corner of Facebook, then select “Settings & Privacy” and click on “Settings.”
  • Visit the Meta Accounts Center: Tap on the “Meta Accounts Center” to open the popup and see extended options.
  • Open Ads Preferences: In this section, find and click on “Ad Preferences” in the menu.
  • Manage Ad Topics: Scroll down and click on “Ad Topics” under this section.
  • Block Gambling Ads: Search for “Gambling” in the topics section and choose to see “Less” of these types of ads.
  • Adjust Personalised Ads Settings: Under “Ad Settings”, you can also limit how Facebook uses your activity outside of the platform for targeted ads.

How to hide gambling ads from X (Former Twitter)?

The step-by-step guide on hiding gambling ads from Twitter is listed below.

  • Go to Settings and Privacy: Log into your X account and click on your profile icon, then select “Settings and Privacy”.
  • Open Privacy and Safety: Click on “Privacy and Safety” in the settings menu.
  • Adjust Ad Preferences: Scroll down to the “Data sharing and personalization” section and click on “Ads Preferences”.
  • Limit Targeted Ads: Uncheck the option that allows X to use your activity for personalised ads.
  • Hide Gambling Ads Directly: If you see a gambling ad, you can click the three dots in the top corner of the ad and select “I don’t like this ad” to remove it from your feed.

How to hide gambling ads from Instagram?

The step-by-step guide on hiding gambling ads from Instagram is listed below.

  • Visit Your Instagram Profile: Visit your Instagram profile and tap on your profile icon in the bottom-right corner, then tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner to access the menu.
  • Open Settings: Select “Settings” from the menu and then tap on “Accounts Centre.”
  • Visit Ad Preferences: In the “Accounts Centre” menu, find and click on “Ad Preferences”.
  • Manage Ad Topics: Scroll down the menu and click on “Ad Topics”. Search for gambling or real money gaming and click on it. Click on “See Less.”
  • Block Advertiser Accounts: You can also block specific advertiser accounts by tapping “Edit” next to “Blocked Accounts” and then search and block the account you want.

What are the Alternate Strategies for Blocking Gambling Ads?

Besides using ad blockers or changing your social media settings, there are other simple ways to avoid gambling ads, such as avoiding websites and limiting your use of free apps. You can stay away from risky websites that tend to show gambling ads, like certain streaming or gaming sites. By avoiding these places, you’ll see fewer betting ads popping up.

You can also limit your use of free apps and websites that rely on ads to make money. Paid versions often don’t have ads, so you won’t be exposed to gambling promotions. Another tip is to use private browsing modes or clear your browser’s history and cookies regularly. This helps stop advertisers from tracking what you do online and showing you personalised gambling ads.

Lastly, you can try using anti-tracking tools like Ghostery or Privacy Badger. These tools block companies from following your online activity and stop them from targeting you with gambling ads.

How Does Gamstop Help Prevent Advertising from Gambling Companies?

Gamstop helps reduce the number of gambling ads you see by removing you from the marketing lists of gambling companies you’re registered with once you sign up. This means that after enrolling, you should no longer receive promotional emails, texts, or targeted ads from those gambling platforms. However, it’s important to note that while Gamstop blocks marketing from sites you’ve played on, it may not stop ads from new gambling platforms you haven’t registered with. You need to combine Gamstop with other ad-blocking tools or adjust settings on their devices to fully reduce gambling-related advertising.

FAQs

Are there any free tools for blocking gambling adverts?

Yes, there are several free tools available to block gambling adverts. You can install popular ad blockers like AdBlock and uBlock Origin on your browser to stop most gambling ads from appearing. Additionally, search engines like Google allow you to adjust your ad preferences for free to reduce gambling-related content.

Can you report gambling ads?

Yes, you can report gambling ads if they feel intrusive or inappropriate. On social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X, you can report specific ads by clicking the three dots in the corner of the ad and selecting "Report."

Can ad blockers completely eliminate gambling ads?

No, ad blockers can significantly reduce gambling ads, but they may not block them completely. Some ads slip through, especially on social media or apps where targeted advertising is used. Combining ad blockers with additional methods, like changing ad settings on social media and using tools like Gamstop, can completely eliminate gambling ads.