BetBlocker Interview: Free App Fighting Gambling Harm
We had the pleasure to video interview Pedro Romero, the Chief of Safer Gambling Partnerships of BetBlocker. The video is also available on YouTube.
We had the pleasure to video interview Pedro Romero, the Chief of Safer Gambling Partnerships of BetBlocker. The video is also available on YouTube.
Pedro Romero, Chief of Safer Gambling Partnerships at BetBlocker, sat down with us at SiGMA Euro-Med 2025. BetBlocker is a charity dedicated to supporting people struggling with gambling-related harm. Romero explained how the organization provides free and anonymous tools that create barriers between individuals and gambling websites.
“We are a charity that helps people affected by gambling-related harm to create a barrier between themselves and gambling websites.”
Founded in 2017 by Duncan Garvie, BetBlocker began as a response to repeated calls for help from players visiting his website. Rather than offering advice alone, Garvie created a free and fully anonymous blocking software.
“Why not create a blocking software that was free and fully anonymous?”
BetBlocker currently offers two main services:
Romero described real-life use cases, such as blocking access during payday or nights out with friends. A new scheduler feature will soon allow blocking during specific times of day, such as after 10 pm. Importantly, BetBlocker blocks both regulated and unregulated sites, complementing national self-exclusion programs.
One clear measure of success is user adoption. BetBlocker recently surpassed 160,000 active users, not just downloads. This demonstrates that people actively rely on the app as a safeguard against relapse.
“The most important thing is that people are using it and that we’re growing a lot.”
As a charity, BetBlocker depends on funding from operators and organizations. In the UK, the now-replaced RED system once directed operator contributions to safer gambling charities. Today, funding also comes from groups like GamCare in the UK and ROGA in the US. Romero emphasized openness to partnering with any organization that helps minimize gambling harm.
No tool can be infallible. Determined users may find ways around the system, such as purchasing a new device. Still, BetBlocker is designed as an additional barrier that provides relief during moments of vulnerability.
“It’s an additional safeguard. People may feel relief that they didn’t relapse.”
BetBlocker is fully anonymous and collects no personal data. No accounts, emails, or payment methods are required. This ensures that sensitive information about vulnerable individuals cannot be exposed by data breaches.
“It would be reckless for any organization to have a list of vulnerable people that an unethical casino could target.”
BetBlocker uses three main methods to keep its block list updated:
This combination of automation, AI, and crowdsourced reporting creates a collaborative defense network against unlisted gambling sites.
BetBlocker is not open source. Romero explained that making the block list public could allow unethical operators to immediately create new domains to evade detection.
Romero underlined BetBlocker’s openness to collaboration with organizations such as GamStop and national self-exclusion programs. Working with operators is also considered critical, since affected players are most likely to encounter help where they gamble.
“If support staff are aware of our software, they can refer struggling players directly to us.”
Future priorities include launching the scheduler feature and increasing visibility worldwide. Romero emphasized that the mission remains to help as many people as possible manage gambling behavior in a safe, anonymous way.
“Our main focus is to keep developing, launch the scheduler, and help as many people struggling with gambling as we can.”