The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) announced the purchase of an additional 100 free Gamban licenses for Michigan residents, following extraordinary demand for the program since its launch. More than 80 of the initial 100 licenses were claimed within the first two weeks alone — a clear signal that Michigan residents are actively seeking practical tools to help them manage or eliminate their access to online gambling.

Gamban is the world’s leading gambling blocking software, restricting access to gambling websites and applications across all major devices and platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. The software is designed to be highly resistant to removal, offering users a meaningful barrier between themselves and online gambling content. A single license covers unlimited household devices, and live technical support is available through Gamban for installation assistance.

“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. Michigan is committed to ensuring that the expansion of legal gaming comes with the strongest possible safeguards for the people we serve,” said MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams.

The MGCB’s original partnership with Gamban, announced in April 2026, made the blocking software available free of charge to any Michigan resident — with no requirement to be enrolled in a self-exclusion program. Licenses ranging from one to five years were offered at no cost, removing the financial barrier that might otherwise prevent residents from accessing this level of protection. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, approximately 2% of Americans — roughly six million people — meet the criteria for a gambling addiction, and Michigan’s experience with expanded digital gambling access makes robust consumer protection tools all the more essential.

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 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,” Williams added.

How to Claim a Free Gamban License

Michigan residents can claim a free license in four simple steps:

• Visit www.michigan.gov/mgcb/resources/responsible-gaming/gamban.

• Select the Gamban free license offer and create a Gamban account.

• Download and install Gamban on all personal devices — the license covers unlimited household devices.

• Contact Gamban’s live technical support for any installation assistance.

The Gamban program is part of the MGCB’s broader responsible gaming strategy, which also 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. Together, these resources create a layered approach to harm reduction — combining voluntary self-exclusion with device-level blocking technology to support residents at every stage of their journey.

Puerto Rico has officially joined the National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (NVSEP), becoming part of a growing network of regulators and operators focused on making responsible gaming protections more accessible, connected, and effective for individuals seeking help.

The initiative will launch in June and give eligible individuals in Puerto Rico the option to voluntarily enroll and prevent access to gaming operators and platforms across multiple jurisdictions and gaming types.

The move aligns with the ongoing efforts of the Comisión de Juegos del Gobierno de Puerto Rico to modernize gaming oversight while prioritizing consumer protection and responsible gaming across Puerto Rico’s expanding gaming ecosystem, which includes casinos, sports wagering, and many other regulated gaming activities.

“Puerto Rico has built one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving gaming markets in the region, backed by strong leadership and a vibrant culture that makes it a truly special place. We’re honored to support the Comisión de Juegos in expanding access to responsible gaming protections, and we look forward to simplifying self-exclusion for individuals while streamlining processes for operators, many of whom already process exclusion data via the idPair platform deployed across other jurisdictions,” said Jonathan Aiwazian, CEO of idPair.

Juan Carlos Santaella Marchán, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission, said: “This alliance strengthens our public policy efforts to maintain a safe, highly regulated gaming industry grounded in responsible gaming practices. Our goal has always been to provide accessible tools and resources for anyone seeking support with gambling-related issues. This initiative aligns with the work we have carried out since I assumed office, as well as with our ongoing Responsible Gaming educational campaign. Once again, we reaffirm our commitment to Puerto Rico.”

The National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program was created to simplify what has historically been a fragmented self-exclusion process. Instead of requiring individuals to navigate multiple exclusion systems independently, NVSEP offers a centralized and secure enrollment experience designed to make responsible gaming protections easier to access while preserving player choice.

Participants enroll online through a secure process and operators receive exclusion data through the idPair platform to support enforcement and regulatory obligations.