The future of the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline is in jeopardy after a New Jersey court ruled that the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) — not the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) — owns the rights to operate and brand the national helpline. The decision requires NCPG to stop using the number and mark by September 29, 2025.
Judge Douglas H. Hurd sided with CCGNJ, which originally launched the hotline in 1983. In 2022, it licensed 1-800-GAMBLER to NCPG in a three-year agreement that expired in May 2025. While the national council claims it tried to extend that agreement, the judge ruled the contract did not obligate arbitration and sided with CCGNJ’s request to regain control.
NCPG Appeals, Citing National Impact
In a statement following the ruling, the NCPG announced it will appeal the decision and file an emergency motion to pause the transition.
“This decision will fundamentally hinder nationwide access to timely, confidential, and high-quality care for those in need of problem gambling support by taking critical services offline,” the NCPG said. “Moreover, it will degrade public trust for the 121 million Americans who recognize 1-800-GAMBLER as the National Problem Gambling Helpline.”
The organization warned that cutting its ties to the hotline could disrupt services in multiple ways, including shutting down national text and chat support, ending real-time translation in 240+ languages, and forcing nine states plus D.C. — which rely solely on NCPG’s infrastructure — to find alternatives.
Call volume has risen 150% since 2018, the NCPG noted, attributing that growth to outreach campaigns, platform upgrades, and new routing systems. In FY 2025, the group committed $1.4 million to operate the helpline — nearly half of CCGNJ’s annual revenue, it said.
Long-Term Control Sparks Local vs. National Tensions
The CCGNJ argues it is fully capable of running the helpline without the NCPG’s involvement. Executive Director Luis Del Orbe said in August that a new licensing agreement had been offered to NCPG but was turned down.
“CCGNJ and the 1-800-GAMBLER has passed the test of time,” he said. “The 1-800-GAMBLER helpline is not going to go away, ever.”
State advocates have criticized NCPG’s national model for redirecting calls from local helplines, claiming it limits the ability to address community-specific needs. However, NCPG defends its centralized approach, citing increased access and service quality.
Concerns Over Disruption Mount
As the deadline looms, the debate has stirred frustration within the gambling support community. Observers warn that the legal battle risks undermining the helpline’s stability at a time when need is surging.
“We don’t need disruption. We need people in problem gambling working in concert to help people,” one commentator noted. “The fact that this is in court at all is frankly nuts.”
Whether the NCPG can win its appeal remains to be seen, but the uncertainty has cast a shadow over the nation’s most widely recognized gambling support service.
Source:
“The Current: The 1-800-GAMBLER Situation Is A Clusterf***”, closingline.substack.com, September 24, 2025
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