Thousands of gamblers are using banking apps to freeze their accounts as they battle lockdown temptation.
Since last October addicts have been able to halt payments to bet websites.
Banks say the practice has soared since many started working from home.
Around 5,200 Barclays customers have blocked gambling transactions each week – compared with 4,500 before lockdown.
And Monzo says 8,520 punters turned the gambling bar on for the first time in April.
Lloyds has seen 154,000 apply the controls since October.
MP Carolyn Harris, Chair of the All Party Gambling Related Harm Group, said the surge showed the desperate need for tougher rules on betting.
Ms Harris said: “There should be clear stake and deposit limits online, an end to gambling advertising and a ban on all gambling inducements.
“I hope the Government and regulator can see they need to act.”
Matt Zarb-Cousin from Clean Up Gambling said: “The number of gambling addicts in Britain could be 1.4 million and there is evidence the lockdown is making it worse.
“We are at risk of going from a coronavirus pandemic to a problem gambling epidemic.”
Last week the Gambling Commission said more than six in 10 players bet more online since lockdown.
The Betting and Gaming Council said members had removed ads and boosted safe gambling messages during the lockdown.
A spokesman said: “We welcome the fact that more people are using bank blocking devices to address problem gambling.
"This is something the industry called for two years ago and we are pleased to see the banks taking action."
