New Jersey Court awards 1-800-GAMBLER helpline back to CCGNJ
The court ordered the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) to cease management and use of the National Problem Gambling Helpline.
US.- New Jersey Judge Douglas Hurd has determined that control over the US gambling helpline 1-800-GAMBLER must go back to the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ). It ordered the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) to cease management and use of the National Problem Gambling Helpline number from September 29.
Under a three-year licence agreement signed in 2022, the NCPG was allowed to use the number with autonomy over the service provided and how calls were routed. It paid CCGNJ $150,000 annually. The agreement expired on May 31 and was temporarily extended until July 15. However, there was a disagreement over the terms for a longer extension.
The NCPG said of the ruling: “The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is dismayed with today’s court ruling which orders NCPG to cease management and use of 1-800-GAMBLER as the National Problem Gambling Helpline number after September 29, 2025. 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.
“Moreover, it will degrade public trust for the 121 million Americans who recognize 1-800-GAMBLER as the National Problem Gambling Helpline.”
It added: “NCPG will aggressively pursue all appellate options concerning today’s decision and is in the process of filing an emergency motion asking the New Jersey Appellate Division to enter a stay to maintain the status quo for helpline operations while the appeal is considered. It cannot be overstated that the loss of access to problem gambling resources via 1-800-GAMBLER, even temporarily, could have life or death consequences for individuals in crisis.”
The number is the national helpline for problem gambling in the US with 28 contact centres covering all 50 states and US territories, but some states continue to operate their own hotlines, leading to a fragmented system. In July, New Jersey Superior Court issued a temporary restraining order favouring the NCPG and blocking the CCGNJ from interfering with control over the helpline.
