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Why gambling sites keep coming back after they're blocked

A betting site gets blocked and you think, good, that's that. The next day the same site is back, at a new address with a number bumped at the end. That's not bad luck. For unlicensed sites, it's the business model.

Being blocked is routine for these sites

In many countries, regulators and internet providers block unlicensed casino and betting sites. The sites are ready for it: the same site, the same accounts and the same balance move to a new address. Often the new address is predictable: the number at the end goes up by one, a letter changes, or a word is added.

Nor is the new address hidden. “New login link” posts go out on social media, messaging channels and text messages right away. So when a block lands, it's only the old address that closes, not the site.

Why a list of addresses isn't enough

You can type gambling sites one by one into Screen Time or a browser extension. But a list starts going stale the moment you write it:

  • By the time you add an address, the site may already have moved on.
  • You have to find and add every new address yourself. That means regularly looking up gambling sites, which isn't a great pastime for someone trying to quit.
  • If you set up the list, you can delete it in a weak moment.

Blocking by pattern

A more lasting approach recognises sites by pattern, not one address at a time. If a site keeps adding a different number to the same name, the block can recognise that name and that pattern, and catch the new address before it's even announced.

The second thing that matters is that the list is updated on a server, not by you. Then you never have to go looking for new addresses.

That's how Watchover works. Blocking runs on patterns; sites that come back at an address with a number bumped at the end are caught too. The list is updated on the server and you don't have to do anything. You lock the protection in a calm moment, and if it's switched off, someone you trust hears about it within minutes.

Close the road, not just the site

No block is perfect; honestly, a determined person can find a way round. But the goal isn't a perfect cage. It's to make that two-second path longer when the urge hits, and to not be alone in that moment. So close the other doors along with the sites: remove cards saved on betting sites, delete betting apps, and silence the “new address” messages. Self-exclusion schemes help too where they exist, but they usually only cover licensed operators, which is exactly why the unlicensed mirror sites matter. More in how to stop gambling for good.

This post is for information only and isn't a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment.