diff --git a/src/Data/BetterDataManager.cs b/src/Data/BetterDataManager.cs
index 78ad325..fad8c7e 100644
--- a/src/Data/BetterDataManager.cs
+++ b/src/Data/BetterDataManager.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-using BetterAmongUs.Data.Config;
+using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
+using BetterAmongUs.Data.Config;
 using BetterAmongUs.Data.Json;
 using BetterAmongUs.Utilities;
 using UnityEngine;
@@ -102,9 +103,81 @@ internal static class BetterDataManager
         internal static readonly string banNameListFilePath = Path.Combine(Folders.saveInfoFolderPath, "BanNameList.txt");
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// File containing banned words/patterns.
+        /// Legacy file containing banned words/patterns.
         /// </summary>
-        internal static readonly string banWordListFilePath = Path.Combine(Folders.saveInfoFolderPath, "BanWordList.txt");
+        internal static readonly string banWordListFilePath_Legacy = Path.Combine(Folders.saveInfoFolderPath, "BanWordList.txt");
+        
+        /// <summary>
+        /// File containing banned chat messages/patterns.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static readonly string banChatListFilePath = Path.Combine(Folders.saveInfoFolderPath, "BanChatList.txt");
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Contains initial content for all files that require initialization.
+    /// </summary>
+    private static class Contents
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Example comment for BanPlayerList file.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal const string BAN_PLAYER_LIST_CONTENT = """
+                                                        // Example ban entries (friend code and/or hashed PUID)
+                                                        // Format: [FriendCode], [HashedPUID]
+                                                        // Example with both:
+                                                        // FriendCode#0000, abc123def456789
+                                                        // Example with just friend code:
+                                                        // FriendCode#0000
+                                                        // Example with just hashed PUID:
+                                                        // , hash123xyz789
+                                                        """;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Example comment for BanNameList file.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal const string BAN_NAME_LIST_CONTENT = """
+                                                      // Example banned player name regex patterns
+                                                      // Each pattern on a new line
+                                                      // 
+                                                      // ^TNT$
+                                                      // ^hyde$
+                                                      // ^[\P{IsBasicLatin}\s]+$
+                                                      """;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Example comment for BanChatList file.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal const string BAN_CHAT_LIST_CONTENT = """
+                                                      // Example banned chat message regex patterns
+                                                      // Each pattern on a new line
+                                                      // 
+                                                      // (?i)(?<!(?:say|said|don'?t|didn'?t|wr[io]te|\bthe\b|\bat\b).*)(?: |^)sta*r?t*(?:ing|\b)(?!.*ban)
+                                                      // (?i)^go[go]*$");
+                                                      // (?i)ni?gg?(?:a|er)
+                                                      // (?i)sns(?-i).*[A-Z]{6}
+                                                      // [A-Z]{6}.*(?i)sns
+                                                      // (?i)(?:modded|expert|no cooldown) lobby(?-i).*[A-Z]{6}
+                                                      // [A-Z]{6}.*(?i)(?:modded|expert|no cooldown) lobby
+                                                      """;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Legacy example comment for BanNameList file.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal const string BAN_NAME_LIST_CONTENT_LEGACY = """
+                                                             // Example banned player names
+                                                             // Each name on a new line - supports wildcards with **
+                                                             // ** at start and end: contains anywhere
+                                                             // ** at start only: ends with
+                                                             // ** at end only: starts with
+                                                             // No **: exact match (case-insensitive)
+                                                             // 
+                                                             // HackerPlayer123
+                                                             // CheaterAccount
+                                                             // **Bot**
+                                                             // **Script
+                                                             // Exploit**
+                                                             // **Cheat**
+                                                             """;
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -114,7 +187,7 @@ internal static class BetterDataManager
     [
         Files.banPlayerListFilePath,
         Files.banNameListFilePath,
-        Files.banWordListFilePath
+        Files.banChatListFilePath
     ];
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -169,63 +242,26 @@ internal static class BetterDataManager
 
         foreach (var path in InitPaths)
         {
-            if (!File.Exists(path))
-            {
-                var directory = Path.GetDirectoryName(path);
-                if (!Directory.Exists(directory))
-                {
-                    Directory.CreateDirectory(directory);
-                }
+            if (File.Exists(path)) continue;
 
-                using var writer = File.CreateText(path);
-                if (path == Files.banPlayerListFilePath)
-                {
-                    writer.WriteLine("// Example ban entries (friend code and/or hashed PUID)");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// Format: [FriendCode], [HashedPUID]");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// Example with both:");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// FriendCode#0000, abc123def456789");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// Example with just friend code:");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// FriendCode#0000");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// Example with just hashed PUID:");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// , hash123xyz789");
-                }
-                else if (path == Files.banNameListFilePath)
-                {
-                    writer.WriteLine("// Example banned player names");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// Each name on a new line - supports wildcards with **");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// ** at start and end: contains anywhere");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// ** at start only: ends with");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// ** at end only: starts with");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// No **: exact match (case-insensitive)");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// ");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// HackerPlayer123");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// CheaterAccount");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// **Bot**");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// **Script");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// Exploit**");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// **Cheat**");
-                }
-                else if (path == Files.banWordListFilePath)
-                {
-                    writer.WriteLine("// Example banned words/patterns");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// Each word or pattern on a new line - supports wildcards with **");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// ** at start and end: contains anywhere");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// ** at start only: ends with");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// ** at end only: starts with");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// No **: exact match (case-insensitive)");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// ");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// hack");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// cheat");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// exploit");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// **bot**");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// **script**");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// modded");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// aimbot");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// wallhack");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// **hack**");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// **cheat**");
-                    writer.WriteLine("// speed**");
-                }
+            var directory = Path.GetDirectoryName(path);
+            if (!Directory.Exists(directory))
+            {
+                Directory.CreateDirectory(directory);
+            }
+
+            using var writer = File.CreateText(path);
+            if (path == Files.banPlayerListFilePath)
+            {
+                writer.WriteLine(Contents.BAN_PLAYER_LIST_CONTENT);
+            }
+            else if (path == Files.banNameListFilePath)
+            {
+                writer.WriteLine(Contents.BAN_NAME_LIST_CONTENT);
+            }
+            else if (path == Files.banChatListFilePath)
+            {
+                writer.WriteLine(Contents.BAN_CHAT_LIST_CONTENT);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -245,6 +281,110 @@ internal static class BetterDataManager
         {
             File.Move(Files.dataFilePath_Legacy, Files.dataFilePath);
         }
+        
+        HandleMigrationFromWildcardToRegex();
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Performs data migration from legacy wildcard‑based ban lists to the new regex‑based format.
+    /// </summary>
+    private static void HandleMigrationFromWildcardToRegex()
+    {
+        MigrateBanWordList();
+        MigrateBanNameList();
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Migrates the legacy wildcard‑based BanWordList to the new regex-based BanChatList.
+    /// </summary>
+    private static void MigrateBanWordList()
+    {
+        if (!File.Exists(Files.banWordListFilePath_Legacy)) return;
+
+        var content = File.ReadLines(Files.banWordListFilePath_Legacy)
+            .Where(line =>
+                !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(line) &&
+                !line.StartsWith("//") &&
+                !line.StartsWith("#")
+            ).ToArray();
+        
+        if (content.Any())
+        {
+            using var writer = File.CreateText(Files.banChatListFilePath);
+            writer.WriteLine(Contents.BAN_CHAT_LIST_CONTENT);
+            writer.WriteLine();
+            writer.WriteLine("// Your old wildcard based filters have been converted to regex patterns");
+            writer.WriteLine("// They will behave exactly the same as before");
+            writer.WriteLine("// You can keep using them without changing anything else");
+            writer.WriteLine();
+            foreach (var line in content)
+            {
+                writer.Write("(?i)(?: |^)");
+                if (line.StartsWith("**")) writer.Write(".*");
+                writer.Write(Regex.Escape(line.Trim('*')));
+                if (line.EndsWith("**")) writer.Write(".*");
+                writer.WriteLine("(?: |$)");
+            }
+        }
+        File.Delete(Files.banWordListFilePath_Legacy);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Migrates the BanNameList from the legacy wildcard format to the current regex‑based format.
+    /// </summary>
+    private static void MigrateBanNameList()
+    {
+        if (!File.Exists(Files.banNameListFilePath)) return;
+        
+        var lines = File.ReadLines(Files.banNameListFilePath)
+            .Where(line => line != "// ")
+            .ToArray();
+        
+        // Return if file contains new example comment
+        if (lines.AnyLineInContentLines(Contents.BAN_NAME_LIST_CONTENT))
+            return;
+
+        var content = lines.Where(line =>
+            !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(line) &&
+            !line.StartsWith("//") &&
+            !line.StartsWith("#")
+        ).ToArray();
+
+        if (!content.Any())
+        {
+            File.Delete(Files.banNameListFilePath);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (!content.Any(s => Regex.IsMatch(s, @"\*\*")) &&
+            !lines.AnyLineInContentLines(Contents.BAN_NAME_LIST_CONTENT_LEGACY)) return;
+
+        using var writer = File.CreateText(Files.banNameListFilePath);
+        writer.WriteLine(Contents.BAN_NAME_LIST_CONTENT);
+        writer.WriteLine();
+        writer.WriteLine("// Your old wildcard based filters have been converted to regex patterns");
+        writer.WriteLine("// They will behave exactly the same as before");
+        writer.WriteLine("// You can keep using them without changing anything else");
+        writer.WriteLine();
+        foreach (var line in content)
+        {
+            writer.Write("(?i)");
+            if (!line.StartsWith("**")) writer.Write("^");
+            writer.Write(Regex.Escape(line.Trim('*')));
+            if (!line.EndsWith("**")) writer.Write("$");
+            writer.WriteLine();
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Determines whether any line from the supplied array matches a line in the specified content string.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="lines">An array of strings to search.</param>
+    /// <param name="content">A multi‑line string whose individual lines are compared against <paramref name="lines"/>.</param>
+    /// <returns><c>true</c> if at least one line from <paramref name="lines"/> equals any line in <paramref name="content"/>, <c>false</c> otherwise.</returns>
+    private static bool AnyLineInContentLines(this string[] lines, string content)
+    {
+        return content.Split(Environment.NewLine).Any(lines.Contains);
     }
 
     /// <summary>
diff --git a/src/Modules/AntiCheat/RPCHandlers/SendChatHandler.cs b/src/Modules/AntiCheat/RPCHandlers/SendChatHandler.cs
index 720fd5b..2afad4e 100644
--- a/src/Modules/AntiCheat/RPCHandlers/SendChatHandler.cs
+++ b/src/Modules/AntiCheat/RPCHandlers/SendChatHandler.cs
@@ -17,11 +17,12 @@ internal sealed class SendChatHandler : RPCHandler
     {
         var text = reader.ReadString();
 
-        if (BetterGameSettings.UseBanWordList.GetBool() && (!BetterGameSettings.UseBanWordListOnlyLobby.GetBool() || GameState.IsLobby))
+        if (BetterGameSettings.UseBanChatList.GetBool() && (!BetterGameSettings.UseBanChatListOnlyLobby.GetBool() || GameState.IsLobby))
         {
-            if (TextFileHandler.CompareStringFilters(BetterDataManager.Files.banWordListFilePath, text.Split(' ')))
+            if (TextFileHandler.CompareStringRegexMatches(BetterDataManager.Files.banChatListFilePath, text))
             {
-                sender.Kick(false, $"has been kicked due to\nchat message containing a banned word!");
+                var ban = BetterGameSettings.UseBanChatListBan.GetBool();
+                sender.Kick(ban, $"has been {(ban ? "banned" : "kicked")} due to\nchat message matching a banned pattern!");
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/Modules/TextFileHandler.cs b/src/Modules/TextFileHandler.cs
index 658d100..6e94f63 100644
--- a/src/Modules/TextFileHandler.cs
+++ b/src/Modules/TextFileHandler.cs
@@ -9,25 +9,14 @@ namespace BetterAmongUs.Modules;
 internal static class TextFileHandler
 {
     /// <summary>
-    /// Compares strings against filter patterns in a file using wildcard matching.
+    /// Compares a string against regex patterns in a file.
     /// </summary>
-    /// <param name="filePath">Path to the filter file.</param>
-    /// <param name="strings">Array of strings to check against filters.</param>
-    /// <returns>True if any string matches a filter pattern, false otherwise.</returns>
-    internal static bool CompareStringFilters(string filePath, string[] strings)
+    /// <param name="filePath">Path to the file containing regex patterns.</param>
+    /// <param name="inputString">String to match against.</param>
+    /// <returns>True if the string matches a regex pattern, false otherwise.</returns>
+    internal static bool CompareStringRegexMatches(string filePath, string inputString)
     {
-        foreach (var content in ReadContents(filePath))
-        {
-            foreach (var text in strings)
-            {
-                if (CheckFilterString(content, text))
-                {
-                    return true;
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        return false;
+        return ReadContents(filePath).Any(content => Regex.IsMatch(inputString, content, RegexOptions.Compiled));
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -43,17 +32,10 @@ internal static class TextFileHandler
             StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase
         );
 
-        foreach (var content in ReadContents(filePath))
-        {
-            string normalizedContent = content.ToLower().Trim();
-
-            if (stringSet.Contains(normalizedContent))
-            {
-                return true;
-            }
-        }
-
-        return false;
+        var contents = ReadContents(filePath)
+            .SelectMany(line => line.Split(',', StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries))
+            .Select(s => s.ToLower().Trim());
+        return contents.Any(stringSet.Contains);
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -66,35 +48,16 @@ internal static class TextFileHandler
         if (File.Exists(filePath))
         {
             return File.ReadLines(filePath)
-                       .Where(line => !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(line) &&
-                              !line.StartsWith("//") &&
-                              !line.StartsWith("#"))
-                       .SelectMany(line => line.Split(',', StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)
-                                               .Select(s => s.Trim()));
+                .Where(line =>
+                    !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(line) &&
+                    !line.StartsWith("//") &&
+                    !line.StartsWith("#")
+                );
         }
 
         return [];
     }
 
-    /// <summary>
-    /// Checks if a text matches a filter pattern with wildcard support.
-    /// </summary>
-    /// <param name="filter">The filter pattern (supports ** wildcards).</param>
-    /// <param name="text">The text to check.</param>
-    /// <returns>True if the text matches the filter pattern, false otherwise.</returns>
-    private static bool CheckFilterString(string filter, string text)
-    {
-        string pattern = filter switch
-        {
-            _ when filter.StartsWith("**") && filter.EndsWith("**") => Regex.Escape(filter.Trim('*')), // Contains anywhere
-            _ when filter.StartsWith("**") => Regex.Escape(filter.TrimStart('*')) + "$", // Ends with
-            _ when filter.EndsWith("**") => "^" + Regex.Escape(filter.TrimEnd('*')), // Starts with
-            _ => "^" + Regex.Escape(filter) + "$" // Exact match
-        };
-
-        return Regex.IsMatch(text, pattern, RegexOptions.IgnoreCase | RegexOptions.Compiled);
-    }
-
     /// <summary>
     /// Parses a YAML-like string into a dictionary of key-value pairs.
     /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/Patches/Gameplay/Player/PlayerJoinAndLeftPatch.cs b/src/Patches/Gameplay/Player/PlayerJoinAndLeftPatch.cs
index 99b5da5..4e8ba86 100644
--- a/src/Patches/Gameplay/Player/PlayerJoinAndLeftPatch.cs
+++ b/src/Patches/Gameplay/Player/PlayerJoinAndLeftPatch.cs
@@ -73,7 +73,8 @@ internal static class PlayerJoinAndLeftPatch
             {
                 if (player != null)
                 {
-                    if (TextFileHandler.CompareStringFilters(BetterDataManager.Files.banNameListFilePath, [player.Data.PlayerName]))
+                    if (TextFileHandler.CompareStringRegexMatches(BetterDataManager.Files.banNameListFilePath,
+                            player.Data.PlayerName))
                     {
                         player?.Kick(true, TranslationStrings.AntiCheat_BanPlayerListMessage.LocalizedString, bypassDataCheck: true);
                     }
diff --git a/src/Patches/Gameplay/UI/Settings/GameSettingsPatch.cs b/src/Patches/Gameplay/UI/Settings/GameSettingsPatch.cs
index 05417a2..8c619fd 100644
--- a/src/Patches/Gameplay/UI/Settings/GameSettingsPatch.cs
+++ b/src/Patches/Gameplay/UI/Settings/GameSettingsPatch.cs
@@ -15,8 +15,9 @@ internal sealed class BetterGameSettings
     internal static OptionCheckboxItem? InvalidFriendCode;
     internal static OptionCheckboxItem? UseBanPlayerList;
     internal static OptionCheckboxItem? UseBanNameList;
-    internal static OptionCheckboxItem? UseBanWordList;
-    internal static OptionCheckboxItem? UseBanWordListOnlyLobby;
+    internal static OptionCheckboxItem? UseBanChatList;
+    internal static OptionCheckboxItem? UseBanChatListOnlyLobby;
+    internal static OptionCheckboxItem? UseBanChatListBan;
     internal static OptionCheckboxItem? DetectedLevel;
     internal static OptionIntItem? DetectedLevelAbove;
     internal static OptionCheckboxItem? KickLevel;
@@ -73,8 +74,9 @@ internal static class GameSettingsPatch
                 BetterGameSettings.CancelInvalidSabotage = OptionCheckboxItem.Create(BetterSettingsTab, TranslationStrings.BetterSetting_Setting_CancelInvalidSabotage, true);
                 BetterGameSettings.UseBanPlayerList = OptionCheckboxItem.Create(BetterSettingsTab, TranslationStrings.BetterSetting_Setting_UseBanPlayerList, true);
                 BetterGameSettings.UseBanNameList = OptionCheckboxItem.Create(BetterSettingsTab, TranslationStrings.BetterSetting_Setting_UseBanNameList, true);
-                BetterGameSettings.UseBanWordList = OptionCheckboxItem.Create(BetterSettingsTab, TranslationStrings.BetterSetting_Setting_UseBanWordList, true);
-                BetterGameSettings.UseBanWordListOnlyLobby = OptionCheckboxItem.Create(BetterSettingsTab, TranslationStrings.BetterSetting_Setting_UseBanWordListOnlyLobby, true, BetterGameSettings.UseBanWordList);
+                BetterGameSettings.UseBanChatList = OptionCheckboxItem.Create(BetterSettingsTab, TranslationStrings.BetterSetting_Setting_UseBanChatList, true);
+                BetterGameSettings.UseBanChatListOnlyLobby = OptionCheckboxItem.Create(BetterSettingsTab, TranslationStrings.BetterSetting_Setting_UseBanChatListOnlyLobby, true, BetterGameSettings.UseBanChatList);
+                BetterGameSettings.UseBanChatListBan = OptionCheckboxItem.Create(BetterSettingsTab, TranslationStrings.BetterSetting_Setting_UseBanChatListBan, false, BetterGameSettings.UseBanChatList);
             }
 
             // General detection settings
diff --git a/src/Resources/Lang/en_US.json b/src/Resources/Lang/en_US.json
index 3042bc2..b43d84b 100644
--- a/src/Resources/Lang/en_US.json
+++ b/src/Resources/Lang/en_US.json
@@ -87,8 +87,9 @@
   "BetterSetting.Setting.CancelInvalidSabotage": "Cancel invalid sabotages",
   "BetterSetting.Setting.UseBanPlayerList": "Use ban player list",
   "BetterSetting.Setting.UseBanNameList": "Use ban name list",
-  "BetterSetting.Setting.UseBanWordList": "Use ban word list",
-  "BetterSetting.Setting.UseBanWordListOnlyLobby": "Only in lobby",
+  "BetterSetting.Setting.UseBanChatList": "Use ban chat list",
+  "BetterSetting.Setting.UseBanChatListOnlyLobby": "Only in lobby",
+  "BetterSetting.Setting.UseBanChatListBan": "Ban",
   "BetterSetting.Setting.ShowRoleForClients": "Show role in name for clients",
   "BetterSetting.Setting.CensorDetectionReason": "Censor detection reason",
   "BetterSetting.Setting.DetectedLevel": "Detected player levels",
diff --git a/src/build/Generated/TranslationStrings.cs b/src/build/Generated/TranslationStrings.cs
index 9878aeb..67b39d8 100644
--- a/src/build/Generated/TranslationStrings.cs
+++ b/src/build/Generated/TranslationStrings.cs
@@ -429,14 +429,19 @@ public static class TranslationStrings
     public static readonly TranslationString BetterSetting_Setting_UseBanNameList = new("BetterSetting.Setting.UseBanNameList");
 
     /// <summary>
-    /// Base Translation: Use ban word list
+    /// Base Translation: Use ban chat list
     /// </summary>
-    public static readonly TranslationString BetterSetting_Setting_UseBanWordList = new("BetterSetting.Setting.UseBanWordList");
+    public static readonly TranslationString BetterSetting_Setting_UseBanChatList = new("BetterSetting.Setting.UseBanChatList");
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Base Translation: Only in lobby
     /// </summary>
-    public static readonly TranslationString BetterSetting_Setting_UseBanWordListOnlyLobby = new("BetterSetting.Setting.UseBanWordListOnlyLobby");
+    public static readonly TranslationString BetterSetting_Setting_UseBanChatListOnlyLobby = new("BetterSetting.Setting.UseBanChatListOnlyLobby");
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Base Translation: Ban
+    /// </summary>
+    public static readonly TranslationString BetterSetting_Setting_UseBanChatListBan = new("BetterSetting.Setting.UseBanChatListBan");
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Base Translation: Show role in name for clients