Published on: September 26, 2025, 12:59h. 

Updated on: September 26, 2025, 12:59h.

• New Jersey court settles dispute over control of gambling hotline
• NCPG ordered to return administration of 1-800-GAMBLER by September 29
• Advocates caution that service interruption could jeopardize lives amidst gambling crisis

A conflict between two nonprofit organizations focused on problem gambling erupted this week in New Jersey regarding the management of the 1-800-GAMBLER hotline.

On Monday, a New Jersey court mandated that the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), a primary organization advocating against gambling addiction, relinquish control of the service to the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ), a smaller nonprofit which developed and owns the hotline.

The NCPG has until September 29 to stop using the 1-800-GAMBLER number and its associated trademark, returning operational oversight to CCGNJ. However, this does not imply that the staff of the New Jersey organization will personally handle every call nationwide; rather, the hotline directs callers to local service providers within their state.

‘Potentially Dangerous Outcomes’

This ruling concludes a prolonged legal dispute between the opposing advocacy groups regarding the memorable hotline number. Nevertheless, the NCPG alerted this week that transitioning the hotline back to CCGNJ could require time, potentially leaving at-risk individuals without support with life-altering implications.

The CCGNJ established the hotline shortly after its inception in 1983, and in 2022, it licensed the service to the NCPG, which managed the hotline under a three-year contract valued at approximately $150,000 annually.

Throughout that period, the NCPG utilized resources from the NFL to implement substantial enhancements to the helpline, including introducing text and online chat capabilities, as well as expanding free translations into over 240 languages and improving training for a network of 29 call centers.

The contract lapsed in May 2025, leading to tensions as both parties could not agree on a renewal.

NCPG Responds

While the CCGNJ has assured that there will be no interruption in service, the NCPG contends that the routing system, which includes features like text and chat services, is highly integrated and cannot simply be reverted. They stated in an official announcement that they will appeal the decision.

“It’s critical to emphasize that the lack of access to problem gambling resources through 1-800-GAMBLER, even temporarily, could result in life-threatening situations for individuals facing a crisis,” it emphasized.