The national problem gambling self-help line, 1-800-GAMBLER, has been the subject of a legal dispute for the past several months. Now, a related disputed has arisen regarding the role of data collection in call centers, with possible risk to their resources.
The 1-800-GAMBLER number has been around for decades, owned by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ). The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) began leasing and operating the number in 2022 for $150,000 per year, in part funded by the NFL’s $6.2 million grant to the NCPG in 2021, which it renewed in 2024 to make $12.6 million total in contributions.
While the number was controlled by the NCPG, the organization routed calls to centers across the country to provide state-specific resources.
