by Alex J. Coyne © Great Bridge Links February 2025

Casino and gambling apps are traditionally thought of as being mostly for blackjack, slots, and sports betting. But did you know, there’s another type of gambling app that could change the way you wager. Bankroll management and budget-related gambling apps help players track and manage their bets—an easy way to know when to bet (and when to stop).

Apps can give players control over their wins, losses, risks, and spending. For recovering addicts, certain apps can also impose limitations or blockers for high-risk sites while providing users with coping mechanisms and support networks.

Here’s our look at some of the best bankroll management and betting management apps for 2025 and why you should be using them.

Gambling Analytics Apps

Gambling analytics and tracking apps are good ways to budget for your betting. These apps track potential spending, as well as wins and losses. Usually, they are set up to alert users to any high-risk patterns or behaviors and encourage responsible betting.

BetBuddy AI

https://betbuddyai.com/

BetBuddy was originally developed as a responsible gambling tool by Playtech. In 2025, a new platform called BetBuddy AI is set to launch, focusing on AI-driven betting predictions. While it remains to be seen how closely this aligns with bankroll management, it is expected to provide bet tracking, risk assessment, and responsible gambling alerts.

Gamble Diary

Available on the Apple App Store as “Gambling Tracker: Manage Money”

Gamble Diary is a simple tracking app available from the Apple App Store under the name “Gambling Tracker: Manage Money.”

While not as AI-driven as BetBuddy AI, Gamble Diary allows users to view their gambling budget at a glance, track previous spending across different games, and analyze their finances with detailed reports.

With Gamble Diary, you’ll always know what’s left to bet with.

Gambling Therapy Apps

Gambling therapy and responsible gambling apps are meant to promote the journey to recovery. These apps let users impose restrictions on their gambling budgets or time, or allow them to block high-risk sites or ads.

The Gambling Therapy App

Gambling Therapy Org

The Gambling Therapy App is designed for users who want to gamble less. Available for free, the app comes with a self-assessment quiz, text-based support, and links to further blocking software. The app also contains self-help exercises and daily motivational quotes to aid recovery.

Gambless

Gambless Org

Gambless is underwritten by a team of mental health professionals for recovering gambling addicts. The app provides fast access to responsible gambling resources, including forums, helplines, and coping exercises.

If you’re a high-risk gambler who needs to cut back, Gambless can help.

Profit Keeper Apps

Profit-keeper apps like Casino Tracker allow you to hold funds and allocate specific “wallets” to your wagers. While a profit-keeper app is not a bank, some may be subject to specific financial regulations. Always read the terms and conditions for your country if you’re an international gambler.

Casino Tracker: Manage Money

Casino Tracker, created by Taro Horiguchi, is available for download from the Apple Store and Google Play Store.

Casino Tracker helps users manage their bankroll and track their casino bets across various games, including blackjack and poker. Like other bankroll apps, it allows players to keep a close watch on their projected budget and ensure they never exceed their spending limits.

Note: No verified app called “SmartGambler” currently exists. If you’re looking for bankroll management tools, it’s best to stick with officially available apps.

Casino-Specific Apps

Casinos sometimes offer apps designed specifically for their players. If you’re gambling with a particular venue, resort, or website, check whether they have an app that enhances your experience.

Caesars Palace Online Casino

Caesars Entertainment offers a mobile app for their online casino platform. The app includes features such as bankroll tracking, exclusive deals, and spending management. It’s available for download on iOS and Android devices.

MGM Grand Resorts (MGM Rewards App)

The MGM Rewards app is designed for anyone visiting MGM Grand Resorts. While not solely gambling-focused, it includes features such as spending tracking and access to exclusive casino offers.

Available on both iOS and Android.

My WinStar

The My WinStar app is from WinStar World Casino and is available for iOS and Android.

This app lets you track points, manage your budget, and monitor overall spending while playing at WinStar Casino.

Always remember to check if your preferred casino has its own app!

General Financial Apps

General financial apps like YNAB and Mint are designed for better control over overall spending. However, they can also be customized to include categories for betting or gambling expenses.

YNAB: You Need a Budget

YNAB is an international, highly customizable budgeting app. Users can enter spending categories, track funds, and analyze spending habits. While not gambling-specific, it is an excellent tool for managing bankroll and preventing overspending. Many of my friends use this app for their day to day budget management.

Mint

Mint is designed for better financial control and can be used as a tool to automate bankroll management, set limits, and encourage responsible playing.

Users can set specific spending caps to make sure they’re never betting over their budget.

Final Thoughts

Bankroll management apps provide an efficient way to track bets, prevent overspending, and encourage responsible gambling. Whether you’re using a profit-keeper app like Casino Tracker, a responsible gambling tool like Gambless, or general financial apps like YNAB, keeping an eye on your betting budget is crucial for a sustainable gambling experience.

Always check for official app store availability and choose apps that align with your gambling needs and habits.

by Katie Coopersmith (c) Great Bridge Links

For some of us, losing at bridge is no big deal – you’re a beginner, or you’re not so competitive, and a loss here and there is to be expected. You dust your ego off and move on.

However, for others among us in the card-playing crowd, losing is a big deal – and it hurts. Particularly for those who play at a high level, or who feel like they have a lot to lose, not coming out on top can kind of feel a bit like the end of the world. You might experience symptoms like rage, grumpiness, snappiness towards your partner and/or opponents, and perhaps even an intense desire to give up the game. What’s more, bridge may be particularly fraught with loss anxiety because of its inherent partner element: letting down partner is upsetting, and so is being let down.

Losing may be especially difficult when you’re not used to it. Studies have shown that ‘high-status’ players who lose to ‘low-status’ players tend to behave less generously after the game. This can be seen at most bridge tournaments: we’re all familiar with the person who sulks following an unexpected loss, or who refuses to join the rest of the group at the bar because they’re too emotionally sore.

There’s also a biological reason why we tend to feel crappy or low after a loss. Our bodies respond differently on a hormonal level after winning and losing, respectively: both men and women have higher levels of circulating testosterone after attaining ‘high status’ through winning, and testosterone tends to drop along with social status after a loss. Of course, we’re speaking on caveperson terms here: odds are, your fellow bridge players aren’t actually going to see you as ‘lower status’ after you lose a game, but you might consciously or unconsciously feel less-than, and that’s enough to set off this physiological response.

Thus, feeling upset or even angry after a loss is perfectly normal, especially when you lose at something you’ve devoted a lot of time to learning. But the truth is that not one of us can win 100% of the time, so losing is something that we likely can and should all learn to deal with. Luckily, researchers have also uncovered a few potential coping tips and tricks:

Gain Experience

In poker, there’s a term called “tilting”. It’s used to refer to “detrimental decision-making as a result of losing control due to negative emotions,” and anyone who’s ever played bridge at a competitive level knows that this phenomenon isn’t just limited to poker. However, studies have shown that having more experience playing the game can improve our emotion regulation capabilities and reduce tilting. This makes sense, if you think about it: the more games you play, the more you might be able to understand that losing – while painful – isn’t the end of the world.

Distract Yourself At First

Do you spend the hours (or days, or even weeks) after a big loss replaying what went wrong over and over in your head? Well, cut it out! It’s easier said than done, of course, but try to spend the night after your loss doing something totally unrelated to bridge – hanging out with your family or non-bridge-playing friends, for example.

Then, Study Up!

Once you’ve given the burn some time to cool off and heal, meet up with partner (or take some time on your own) to think logically and clear-headedly about what, in your view, went wrong during the game. Next, create a plan of study and/or attack designed to address those specific weaknesses. You’ll be back better than ever before you know it!

In it’s simplest form, bridge is a whist-like card game played with a single deck of 52 playing cards (no jokers) and four people who make up two partnerships. It is played in three basic stages:

1. The bidding
2. The play of the cards
3. The scoring

This is the first in a series of articles that will attempt to answer some of the most basic questions about our favourite game of cards.

A little bit of history

The card game bridge is rich in history beginning in the 16th century where it evolved from a British game, Whist. It underwent significant transformations in the 19th and 20th centuries, culminating in the version known as Contract Bridge, popularized by Harold Vanderbilt in the 1920s. This evolution marked a shift from a leisurely pastime to a game of intricate strategy and skill which is played by millions of people around the world today.

The game swiftly gained popularity, becoming a staple in social gatherings and clubs. Its appeal transcends generations, establishing itself as not just a game but a cultural phenomenon, uniting people across age groups and backgrounds.

Introducing the Basics of Bridge

The Fundamentals

Bridge is played by four players, forming two partnerships. Using a standard deck of 52 cards, all the cards are dealt with each player ending with a hand of 13 cards. Dealer starts the bidding, which is like an auction, and play moves to the left. Each player can either bid or pass. When there are three passes, the auction is over. The person who won the auction is the ‘Declarer’, the play to their left is ‘On Lead’ and the partner of Declarer becomes the ‘Dummy.’

The Bidding Phase

In bidding, players make a series of declarations, predicting the number of tricks their partnership can win. This phase sets the stage for the game’s strategic depth, as players must assess their hand’s strength, communicate with their partner through bids, and anticipate opponents’ strategies.

The Play of the Hand

Once the bidding is over the cards are played out. Each player contributes one card to each round – the highest played card wins the trick. Players must follow suit. If a player doesn’t have a card in the suit played, they need to discard a card from another suit, which will never win a trick. Or they can play a trump card, which often does win the trick. Whether there is a trump suit and what it might be is determined in the auction.

The scoring

At the end of each hand, a score is given depending on if the Declarer succeeded in winning all the tricks they bid (a plus score for their side), or did not succeed (a score for the other side). There are bonus scores for achieving different trick totals and playing with certain trumps or without trumps.

There is no room in this article to give you specifics on how to play but we have an excellent page on this site that will help walk you through the basics. We call it the classroom and you can find it here – Learn to Play Bridge

The Enduring Appeal of Bridge – A Game for All Ages

Bridge’s appeal lies in its ability to bring together players of all ages. It’s a game that rewards experience and wisdom, making it particularly popular among older adults. In fact, recent studies have proven that playing bridge can help seniors keep their brains sharp and their social skills intact. There is even evidence of bridge as a preventative to dementia. At the same time, its strategic depth and competitive nature attract younger players as well, making it a cross-generational pastime.

With the advent of online platforms, Bridge has found a new lease of life. These platforms allow players to connect with others worldwide, participate in tournaments, and hone their skills, ensuring that the game continues to thrive in the digital era. You can find many of the world’s most popular platforms on our Play Bridge Online pages.

Bridge stands out as a game of intellect, strategy, and partnership. Its enduring popularity attests to its depth and the mental agility it demands from its players. It’s also a social event for most of us! I know I can travel to anywhere on the globe and be able to find a crowd of bridge players who will welcome me with open arms. Recently I was recovering from a difficult break-up and needed to find some friends. So I went back to playing bridge at the local club and everyone was so happy to see me it felt very good.

For those intrigued by strategic card games, Bridge offers a rich, rewarding experience. It’s a game that challenges the mind, fosters social connections, and provides endless hours of engagement. Whether you are a novice or a seasoned player, Bridge beckons with the promise of a captivating adventure in the world of cards. Is bridge difficult to learn? Not really. Is bridge a lifelong challenge? Yes. As you play you will continue to hone your skills and improve your game and this will captivate you for a lifetime.