How to Ban Yourself from DraftKings, FanDuel & Every Other Betting App
Need help now? US: call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738). UK: GamCare 0808-8020-133. Free, confidential, 24/7.
How to ban yourself from DraftKings & FanDuel — the quick answer
Banning yourself from one sportsbook fails, because 15+ licensed alternatives are one tap away. What works is four layers: 1) operator self-exclusion inside DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars (Account → Responsible Gaming), 2) delete the apps + iOS Screen Time restrictions with a passcode someone else holds, 3) category-level app blocking so the whole betting category is gone, not just one brand, and 4) your state's self-exclusion program — one registration typically covers every licensed operator in the state. If you only want to shut off the casino side and keep sportsbook, there's a separate section on that below. This is the brand-specific walkthrough; it's one piece of the full how to stop gambling system.
Why blocking one sportsbook never works
Here's the mistake almost everyone makes first: delete DraftKings, feel the relief, and bet on FanDuel by the weekend. Since mobile betting went legal across most of the US, your phone can reach a dozen-plus licensed sportsbooks in seconds — and each one will greet your new account with a promo. Blocking a brand while the category stays open isn't a block; it's a detour. So this guide works brand-by-brand and category-wide: shut your accounts properly at each operator, then make the whole category unreachable on your device and in your state.
Layer 1 — Self-exclusion and account closure at each operator
Operator self-exclusion locks you out of that brand's products for the period you choose. Two rules before you start: withdraw your full balance first (once excluded you generally can't log in, and in some states leftover funds or winnings are forfeited), and pick the longest period offered. Self-exclusion is a protection you give your future self — treat it as permanent, not as a countdown to coming back. Flows change, so always confirm the current steps on the operator's responsible-gaming page.
DraftKings
- Self-exclude: in the app or on the site, open your profile → Account Information → Responsible Gaming → Self-Exclusion, choose the longest period, and confirm. It applies across DraftKings products (sportsbook, casino, DFS). If you can't find it, contact DraftKings support and ask them to self-exclude you — they must act on it.
- Close the account: withdraw first, then request closure via account settings or support. Standard closure can typically be reopened later, so if you want it gone for good, tell support explicitly you want permanent closure — or rely on self-exclusion, which can't be undone during its term.
FanDuel
- Self-exclude: log in → Account → Responsible Gaming. FanDuel offers a Timeout (a shorter break) and Self-Exclusion (typically starting at one year). Choose self-exclusion, not the timeout, if you're serious about stopping.
- Close the account: withdraw first, then Account → Settings → Account Controls and Closure → Deactivate, or ask support to close it for you.
BetMGM, Caesars & the rest
Same pattern everywhere: Account → Responsible Gaming → Self-Exclusion, or a message to support saying "I want to self-exclude." Available periods vary by operator and state (Caesars includes long-term options, and some states offer permanent exclusion). Do it for every account you hold — an open account anywhere is an open door.
Can you disable casino on FanDuel and keep the sportsbook?
This is one of the most common questions people ask before they're ready to stop entirely, and it deserves a straight answer rather than a lecture. The casino side — slots, blackjack, live dealer — is a much faster-cycling product than sports betting: a slot spin resolves in seconds, where a bet on a game takes hours. For a lot of people the sportsbook was the door in and the casino is where the real damage happened.
What's usually available: FanDuel and DraftKings both run their casino products under separate licences in most states, which in practice means separate accounts or a separate app. That gives you a real lever — you can self-exclude from the casino product specifically while leaving the sportsbook account open. Do it the same way as any other exclusion: Account → Responsible Gaming inside the casino app or site, choose self-exclusion, and pick the longest term. You can also ask support directly: "I want to self-exclude from casino only, not sportsbook." They handle this request regularly.
Some states also let you make a product-specific choice inside the state self-exclusion program itself — worth asking about when you register.
The honest caveat: partial exclusion works well for some people and is a delaying tactic for others. If you've already tried "casino only" once and ended up back on the slots, that's useful information rather than a personal failing — it means the sportsbook account is functioning as the doorway, and the doorway is what needs closing. Cutting the casino is a genuine harm-reduction step and it's better than nothing; just be honest with yourself about which of the two situations you're in.
Layer 2 — The iOS layer: delete + Screen Time
Closed accounts stop today's version of you. Screen Time stops the 11pm version who's tempted to open a new one:
- Delete every betting app from your iPhone.
- Set a Screen Time passcode that someone you trust holds — not you.
- Use Content & Privacy Restrictions to block gambling sites in Safari and prevent app reinstalls.
That's the short version. This page is the brand-specific walkthrough — for the full device setup (domain lists, App Store locks, dedicated blockers, what's bypass-resistant and what isn't), follow the generic iOS guide: how to block betting sites on iPhone.
Layer 3 — Block the category, not the brand
This is the layer that fixes the "delete DraftKings, download FanDuel" loop. Instead of chasing brands one at a time, block gambling apps as a category so DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars and the app you haven't heard of yet are all covered by one decision.
NoGambling.app walks you through blocking gambling apps at the device level — the whole category at once — and then adds what a block alone can't give you: a real-time streak counter, and a panic button for the moment an urge tests the wall.
Layer 4 — State self-exclusion: one register, every operator
Most US states with legal betting run a voluntary self-exclusion program, and this is the highest-leverage move on this page: one registration typically covers every operator licensed in that state — DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars and the rest, often online and retail together. Operators must close your accounts and refuse new ones for the exclusion period. Find your state's program, helpline, and local resources here: quit gambling by state.
Choose the longest term your state offers. This is a gift to your future self, and the people it protects most are the ones who were sure they wouldn't need it.
The psychology: blocks hold the door, urge tools clear the room
Every block on this page can theoretically be routed around by a determined-enough person on a bad-enough night. That's not a reason to skip them — it's the reason to pair them with urge tools. A block's real job is to buy you 3–10 minutes, which is how long a gambling urge typically takes to crest and pass. What you do with those minutes decides everything: the 5-step panic button paces you through rating the urge, 4-4-4 breathing, and a look at what betting has actually cost you — until the wave passes. Blocks plus urge tools is the combination; either alone is half a system. For the full quit plan around game days and paydays, see how to stop sports betting.
And once the apps are gone, the next question is usually the money they took — start here: how to recover money lost to gambling (spoiler: forward, not by chasing).
Resources & helplines
- US — National Problem Gambling Helpline: call/text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), 24/7. Your state self-exclusion program covers all licensed operators at once.
- Operator responsible-gaming pages — DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars each publish current self-exclusion and account-closure steps for your state; check them for exact flows.
- UK — GamCare 0808-8020-133, plus the GAMSTOP register that blocks every UKGC-licensed operator.
- Gamblers Anonymous — free meetings in person and online.
FAQ — banning yourself from DraftKings, FanDuel & betting apps
How do I ban myself from DraftKings?
Withdraw your balance first, then go to Account Information → Responsible Gaming → Self-Exclusion, choose the longest period offered, and confirm. It applies across DraftKings products — sportsbook, casino and DFS. If you can't find the option, contact support and say you want to self-exclude; they're required to act on it. For a ban that holds beyond one brand, register with your state's self-exclusion program too — that typically covers every operator licensed in the state.
Can you disable casino on FanDuel and keep the sportsbook?
Usually yes. FanDuel and DraftKings run their casino products under separate licences in most states, which in practice means a separate account or app — so you can self-exclude from the casino product while leaving the sportsbook open. Go to Account → Responsible Gaming inside the casino app or site, or ask support directly for casino-only exclusion; it's a request they handle regularly. Be honest about which situation you're in: if you've already tried casino-only once and ended up back on the slots, the sportsbook account is acting as the doorway.
How do I block the DraftKings app on my iPhone?
Four layers: self-exclude inside DraftKings (Account → Responsible Gaming → Self-Exclusion, or via support), delete the app and lock reinstalls with an iOS Screen Time passcode someone else holds, block the whole betting-app category so the other sportsbooks don't replace it, and register with your state's self-exclusion program. Any single layer alone is easy to route around; the stack isn't.
How do I delete my DraftKings account permanently?
Withdraw your balance first. Then request closure through your account settings or DraftKings support — standard closure can typically be reopened later, so if you want it permanent, tell support explicitly that you want the account permanently closed, or use self-exclusion, which locks the account for the period you choose. Check DraftKings' responsible-gaming page for the exact current steps in your state.
How do I self-exclude from FanDuel?
Log in, open your Account screen, and find the Responsible Gaming section. FanDuel offers a Timeout (a shorter break) and Self-Exclusion (typically starting at one year). Withdraw your balance first, choose the longest period you can, and treat it as permanent. If you can't find the option, contact FanDuel support or check their responsible-gaming page.
Is there one app that blocks all sports betting apps?
On iPhone, the reliable approach is category-level: iOS Screen Time restrictions (with a passcode you don't hold) to block betting apps and gambling sites, plus a dedicated blocker for coverage. NoGambling.app guides you through blocking the gambling-app category — DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars and the rest at once — and adds the recovery layer: streak tracking and a panic button for the urges that blocking alone can't handle.
Does self-excluding from DraftKings block FanDuel too?
No. Operator self-exclusion covers only that brand's products. That's why one register with your state's self-exclusion program is so valuable: it typically covers every operator licensed in that state at once. Combine state self-exclusion with device-level blocking for apps your state program may not reach.
Should I withdraw my money before self-excluding or closing my account?
Yes — withdraw your full balance first. Once self-exclusion starts you generally can't log in, and in some states enrolled self-excluders forfeit funds or winnings left on the account. Get the money out, move it somewhere gambling can't reach it, then lock the door behind you.
Block the whole category — start free
NoGambling.app guides you through blocking every betting app at once, then keeps you out with a real-time streak and a panic button with 4-4-4 breathing for the hard moments. Rated 4.9★. Free 3-day trial, then $7.99/month, $19.99/year, or $39.99 lifetime.
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