The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has announced a landmark partnership with Gamban, the world’s leading gambling blocking software, to offer free Gamban licenses to any Michigan resident who wishes to use the application. Residents may claim a free license, with options ranging from one to five years at no cost. The initiative represents a significant expansion of the MGCB’s responsible gaming framework, providing residents with a powerful, practical tool to support their efforts to limit or eliminate access to online gambling.
Gamban is a comprehensive blocking solution that restricts access to gambling websites and applications across all major devices and platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. Once installed, the software is designed to be highly resistant to removal, offering users a meaningful barrier between themselves and online gambling content even when willpower alone may not be enough.
According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, approximately 2% of Americans — roughly six million people — meet the criteria for a gambling addiction. Michigan’s experience reflects this trend. As one of the first states to legalize online sports betting and online casino gaming, it has experienced significant growth in digital gambling activity. The MGCB recognizes that with expanded access comes a heightened responsibility to ensure robust consumer protections are in place.
“Michigan is committed to ensuring that the expansion of legal gaming comes with the strongest possible safeguards for our residents. Our partnership with Gamban gives anyone who wants help a free, proven tool to block access to online gambling — instantly and across all their devices,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said.
Under the partnership, Michigan residents can obtain a free Gamban license by visiting Michigan.gov/MGCB. The offer is open to all Michigan residents, with no requirement to be enrolled in a self-exclusion program. Those already enrolled in the MGCB’s Responsible Gaming Database or Disassociated Persons List are especially encouraged to take advantage of this additional layer of protection.
Matt Zarb-Cousin, Director of External Affairs at Gamban, said: “We are delighted to partner with the Michigan Gaming Control Board to make Gamban free for people where cost might otherwise be a barrier. When someone takes the first step toward quitting gambling, they will be made aware of all the services available in the state via the Gamban app, while it works to block gambling sites and apps in the background. This approach has improved overall rates of abstinence and recovery in other jurisdictions.”
Gamban blocks all online gambling content regardless of regulatory status — including casino games, sports betting, poker, slots, social casinos, crypto gambling, and NFT-based wagering — providing comprehensive coverage that extends beyond licensed Michigan operators to include unregulated and black market sites. The software is designed to minimize disruption to everyday digital activities, leaving investment platforms and unrelated websites unaffected.
“The Michigan Gaming Control Board works hard to deliver meaningful, accessible responsible gaming support to residents across the state. Gamban helps people take back control, and this partnership ensures that anyone in Michigan who wants that help can get it — free of charge,” said Sandra Johnson, MGCB Responsible Gaming Section Manager.
This partnership reflects the MGCB’s broader responsible gaming strategy, which includes the Disassociated Persons List for Detroit’s commercial casinos, the Responsible Gaming Database for online self-exclusion, and the “Don’t Regret the Bet” awareness campaign. The addition of Gamban creates a layered approach to harm reduction — combining voluntary self-exclusion with device-level blocking technology to provide support at every point in a person’s journey.
