A legal dispute among the leading associations of compulsive gambling threatens the survival of the national 1-800-GAMBLER hotline. The hotline's trademark owner, the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ), and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), the national operator, are at odds regarding the lapsed license agreement.
Key Takeaways
- A legal dispute over the 1-800-GAMBLER hotline threatens national access to problem gambling support services
- A court has ordered a temporary extension as NCPG awaits a potential legal challenge
- A recent study shows that problem gambling has declined since 2021, but online betting and parlay trends raise serious concerns
The center of the controversy is a 2022 contract that allowed NCPG to utilize the helpline number nationwide in return for a $150,000 annual fee.
That contract legally expired on May 31, and there are questions about whether an extension was legally invoked. A temporary extension was established through July 15, but even that grace period has lapsed.
NCPG reports it made several attempts to initiate arbitration - required by the initial contract - without a response from CCGNJ.
Stranded, NCPG went to court to keep the line open. A Mercer County Superior Court judge concurred, signing an order that maintains the helpline through August 26, at least for the time being. However, CCGNJ can still appeal the order on just two days' notice.
New Jersey online casinos and sports betting platforms are legal and licensed and regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
For NCPG, the stakes are high. The organization has invested years in establishing national prominence for the helpline, including collaborations with states, sportsbooks, and professional leagues. Disrupting service, it warns, would sever access to vital support for millions of Americans who have gambling issues.
Lower risky behavior in betting according to study
As the legal controversy circles around the 1-800-GAMBLER hotline, some new information from the National Council on Problem Gambling provides some welcome news. According to a recent study, problem gambling might be decreasing.
Based on the newest NGAGE (National Survey on Gambling Attitudes and Gambling Experiences) report, problem gambling decreased by 27% since 2021. The 2024 survey, which Ipsos administered, estimates that some 20 million U.S. adults now have gambling issues, compared to 27.5 million three years ago.
But the results aren’t entirely positive. Problem gambling has increased since 2018, prominently among people who gamble online, engage in fantasy sports, or engage in parlay betting.
For sports bettors, 17% of the respondents exhibited problem behavior. The prevalence is as high as 24% among the respondents engaging in fantasy sports.
Internet wagering has also increased rapidly. Just 15% of respondents had wagered online in 2018, but that figure now stands at 22%. Parlay popularity has also shot up, from 17% to 30%, a development analysts attribute to loss chasing and sportsbook marketing aggression.
The most vulnerable group is still young men. Among Americans aged 18 to 34, 15% reported problematic gambling habits, far higher than the 2% of people over age 55 who said the same.
And frequency matters. Among those who gambled at least 10 times during the study period, 28% had issues, climbing to 35% for those gambling three or more times a week.
