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Last month, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) entered a partnership with Gamban, the popular gambling-blocking software, to purchase 100 licenses that would then be freely available to Michiganders. This month, the MGCB announced that it is expanding that partnership by acquiring an additional 100 licenses.
The decision by the MGCB to acquire more Gamban licenses comes after more than 80 of the initial 100 licenses were claimed within the first two weeks of the program’s launch, indicating strong demand from residents.
MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said in a press release:
“The response from Michigan residents in the first two weeks of this program exceeded our expectations and speaks to a genuine need in our communities. We acted quickly to secure an additional 100 licenses so that no resident seeking this kind of support is turned away.
“The strong response to this program tells us that residents want accessible, device-level support – and we intend to keep delivering it. These additional licenses mean more Michigan residents can take back control, free of charge.”
What Gamban does
Gamban software blocks access to online gambling websites and apps using local device configurations and DNS filtering. It works across major operating systems, including iOS, Windows, Android, and macOS. Moreover, a single license can cover unlimited household devices, including smartphones, tablets, and PCs.
Gamban offers a major advantage over traditional self-exclusion tools – which only work against licensed platforms – because it blocks access to regulated as well as unregulated and offshore sites and apps. It blocks all types of gambling content, including sports betting, online casinos, social/sweepstakes casinos, crypto gambling, and NFT-based wagering platforms.
Expanding responsible gambling efforts
Michigan online casinos were legalized along with sports betting in 2021. The state now has one of the largest regulated online casino markets, continually generating record monthly totals in operator revenues and state taxes.
Data from the National Council on Problem Gambling reveals that about 2% of Americans, approximately six million people, struggle with problem gambling. In Michigan, the prevalence is double the national rates, as about 4% of the population struggles with problem gambling.
As a result, the state has undertaken various responsible gambling measures, and the partnership with Gamban is a big boost to these efforts. The MGCB noted that removing the cost barrier was a key part of the initiative – licensing fees range around $30 per year. Residents can now access Gamban for free for periods ranging from one year to five years.
Other state-sponsored responsible gambling measures include:
- Responsible Gaming Database self-exclusion tool
- “Don’t Regret the Bet” awareness campaign
- “Don’t Bet On Your Future” campaign targeting youth
- Disassociated Persons List for Detroit casinos
How to claim a free Gamban license
Any Michigan resident can claim a free Gamban license from the MGCB Gamban page. Simply select the free license offer to get access. You can then create a free account and download and install the app on all your devices.
The app is designed to be difficult to uninstall, which is a safety net for users who may give in to temptation.
