A bitter dispute over control of 1-800-GAMBLER, the country’s best-known gambling addiction helpline, has divided advocacy groups and raised questions about privacy in mental health support.
The number, long owned by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ), was leased to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) in 2022 for $150,000 a year. The partnership, supported by an NFL grant totaling $12.6 million, aimed to expand the helpline nationwide.
States Push Back on Data-Gathering Model
Tensions grew as several states — including New Jersey, Florida, and New Mexico — objected to NCPG’s push for call centers to collect personal information before providing help. The NCPG argued the data would strengthen funding and improve prevention programs.
But Kandace Blanchard, clinical director of the New Mexico Council on Problem Gambling, said the approach conflicted with her team’s focus on crisis response. “Anyone that’s a compulsive gambler or a problem gambler, they’re six times more likely to commit suicide or at least attempt it during their lifetime. So we don’t want to give them this long survey,” she told Casino Reports.
After New Mexico declined to use the survey model, NCPG began routing calls to Louisiana, which Blanchard said neglected local needs, including Navajo-language assistance. “They don’t know what languages they speak, they’re not prepared,” she said.
Other operators shared similar fears. “If they were sharing identifiable information, I don’t think people would share with us as much as they do,” said Candice Cookson, an Ohio helpline responder.
Court Ends NCPG’s Lease
In August, CCGNJ claimed the NCPG failed to renew its lease for the next three years. The NCPG sued to retain control, but after arbitration, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled on September 29 that the number would revert to the CCGNJ. Since then, New Mexico and other states have resumed routing calls through New Jersey.
NCPG Defends Data Practices
The NCPG, which invested heavily in national branding for the helpline, expressed concern about maintaining consistent service. “Staff are trained to prioritize the needs of the caller above all else, including assessing and addressing any risk of suicide as part of every contact to ensure the caller’s immediate safety,” said NCPG Director of Programs Jaime Costello. “Any effort towards any data collection is only considered after all urgent or safety concerns have been addressed.”
Costello said all data was anonymized, but skepticism persists among affiliates who prioritize clinical care over data policy.
Blanchard summed up the divide: “Those missions and goals aren’t necessarily aligned because they’re different. That doesn’t mean that they’re bad or good, it’s just not our role to gather data, it’s not our role to affect policy. We’re a clinical model, and they’re a political model.”
The court’s ruling closed one chapter of the 1-800-GAMBLER conflict, but the larger debate over balancing research and compassion in addiction care continues.
Source:
“Inside the Fight For 1-800-Gambler: As Betting Soars, an Addiction Helpline Is Torn Apart”, barrons.com. October 31, 2025
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