Privacy Policy — BetControl

Your privacy is foundational to what BetControl does. This policy explains exactly what information we collect, why we need it, and what we never do with it. BetControl does not sell your data, does not read your screen content, and does not log your internet traffic. Every permission we request exists solely to protect you from gambling.

Overview

BetControl is a gambling-blocking application developed and operated by BetControl Technologies Ltd. The app uses a combination of a local VPN, Android Accessibility Service, and Device Admin privileges to block gambling websites and applications on your device for a duration you set.

This Privacy Policy applies to the BetControl mobile application (Android) and any associated web services. By using BetControl, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

      Plain language summary: We collect only what is necessary
      to authenticate your account, deliver your subscription, and send you
      relevant notifications. We never read what you type, never log what websites
      you visit, and never sell your information to any third party.
    

Data We Collect

Account Information Collected

When you create an account we collect your email address and a securely hashed version of your PIN. If you sign in with Google, we receive your name and email address from Google. We store this in Firebase Authentication and Firestore to identify your account and associate your subscription with it.

Subscription & Usage Data Collected

We store your subscription status, subscription type (individual or institution), subscription expiry date, and the institution code ID if you redeemed one. This is necessary to enforce your subscription and provide accurate blocking duration information.

Device Token Collected

We store your Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) device token so we can send you push notifications such as trial expiry warnings and subscription reminders. This token is stored against your user ID in Firestore. It does not identify your device to any advertising network.

Browsing History & Screen Content Never Collected

BetControl never reads, records, stores, or transmits what websites you visit, what you type, what apps you use (other than detecting the package name of a gambling app to block it), or any content displayed on your screen. The VPN operates entirely locally on your device and does not route traffic to our servers.

Location Data Never Collected

BetControl does not request, access, or store your location at any time.

Accessibility Service

BetControl requests Android's Accessibility Service permission to detect and close gambling applications when you attempt to open them while a block is active. This is the only reliable way to prevent gambling apps from being opened at the operating system level.

      What the Accessibility Service does: It monitors which
      app or settings screen is currently in the foreground. When it detects
      a gambling app or a settings screen that could be used to bypass
      protection, it sends your device back to the home screen.
    

It does not read, capture, or transmit text you type.
It does not capture screenshots or record your screen.
It does not collect any personal information through this permission.
It only checks the package name of the foreground application against a local list of gambling apps stored within the app itself.
It is only active while the BetControl app is installed and the accessibility service is enabled by you.

Android's permission disclosure requirement: BetControl collects, uses, or shares data from the Accessibility Service solely for the purpose of detecting and blocking gambling applications. This data is processed entirely on-device and is never transmitted to our servers or any third party.

VPN Service

How Our VPN Works Local Only

BetControl creates a local VPN on your device to intercept and block network requests to gambling websites. This VPN does not route your internet traffic through our servers. It operates entirely within your device — traffic to non-gambling destinations passes through unmodified and is never inspected or logged by BetControl.

BetControl does not act as a traditional VPN proxy.
Your internet traffic is not routed to BetControl servers.
We do not log, monitor, or analyse any internet traffic.
The VPN permission is used exclusively to block gambling-related domains.
The list of blocked domains is stored locally within the app.

Device Administrator

BetControl requests Device Administrator privileges to prevent the app from being uninstalled while a block is active. This is a core part of the product — without it, someone in a moment of weakness could simply uninstall the app to bypass protection.

We do not use Device Admin to remotely wipe your device.
We do not use it to enforce any corporate or remote policy.
We do not access, modify, or collect any data through this permission.
Device Admin is used solely to protect BetControl from being removed during an active block period.
You can deactivate Device Admin at any time when no block is active via Settings → Security → Device Admin Apps.

Payments

Subscription payments are processed by Paystack, a PCI-DSS compliant payment processor. BetControl does not collect, store, or have access to your card details, bank account information, or any raw payment credentials at any point in the transaction.

When a payment is completed, Paystack notifies our systems via a webhook, and we update your subscription status in Firestore. The only payment information we store is the transaction reference and your subscription expiry date — never card details.

      For questions about a specific payment or to request a refund, contact us
      at betcontrolhq@gmail.com with your transaction reference.
    

Push Notifications

With your permission, BetControl sends push notifications for the following purposes only:

Free trial expiry warnings (24 hours and at expiry)
Subscription renewal reminders (7 days and 3 days before expiry)
Protection restoration alerts after a phone restart

We do not send promotional, marketing, or third-party advertising notifications. You can disable notifications at any time through your device's notification settings.

Third-Party Services

BetControl uses the following third-party services. Each operates under its own privacy policy:

Firebase (Google)

We use Firebase Authentication (to manage user accounts), Cloud Firestore (to store account and subscription data), and Firebase Cloud Messaging (to send push notifications). Google's Firebase privacy policy governs how Google processes this data. See firebase.google.com/support/privacy.

Paystack

Paystack processes all subscription payments. Your payment details are submitted directly to Paystack and are never seen by BetControl. See paystack.com/privacy.

Google Sign-In

If you choose to sign in with Google, Google shares your name and email address with BetControl. We use this only to create and identify your account. See policies.google.com/privacy.

      We do not sell, rent, or share your personal data with
      any advertiser, data broker, analytics company, or other third party
      beyond what is described above.
    

Your Rights

You have the right to:

Access the personal data we hold about you.
Correct inaccurate information associated with your account.
Delete your account and all associated data at any time (note: if a block is active, deletion will be processed after the block expires).
Export your account data in a readable format upon request.
Withdraw consent for notifications by adjusting your device settings.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at betcontrolhq@gmail.com. We will respond within 14 business days.

Children's Privacy

BetControl is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at betcontrolhq@gmail.com and we will delete it promptly.

Institutional subscriptions that include minors (e.g. schools) are the responsibility of the subscribing institution to obtain appropriate parental consent in accordance with applicable local laws.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, where the changes are material, notify you via push notification or email.

Your continued use of BetControl after any changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

Questions? We're here.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, how your data is handled, or would like to exercise your rights, reach out to the BetControl team directly.

betcontrolhq@gmail.com