As sports betting became ubiquitous, so did one phone number: 1-800-Gambler.
The helpline digits appear in fine print on gambling ads and lottery tickets nationwide, offering gamblers an immediate source of support if their play turns problematic. Call volume soared in recent years as dozens of states legalized sports betting and the industry centralized its problem gambling efforts to one point of contact. Some 326,000 calls went to the number over a recent 12-month period, along with another 8,500 texts.
But in September, the helpline was thrown into disarray after a New Jersey court stripped 1-800-Gambler of its national sponsor and millions in donations.
