The National Council on Problem Gambling has entered into a six-year license agreement with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey to use its 1-800-GAMBLER helpline in all US states and territories.
Aiming to remove the friction between problem gamblers and their access to support, NCPG has brought the recognizable New Jersey helpline number nationwide, as part of its efforts to support those affected by problem gambling.
“CCGNJ has always been at the forefront of providing support for people in communities affected by a gambling problem. 1-800-GAMBLER serves as an essential tool for accessing this support,” said Felicia Grondin, CCGNJ Executive Director.
“We look forward to working with NCPG to ensure that people from across the country can easily access problem gambling support and resources using this simple, memorable number.”
Last month, it was reported that NCPG was nearing the completion of the deal, with the Council noting that it is a ‘memorable’ number, making contact for problem gamblers less complicated.
“This agreement is a vital step forward as we work to increase awareness and access to high-quality services for individuals, families, and communities impacted by problem gambling,” added Maureen Greeley, NCPG Board President.
“With collaboration as one of our core values, we are grateful for this partnership with our NCPG Affiliate, CCGNJ, that will significantly advance our shared priorities of improving health and wellness by offering the most effective programs and services possible.”
NCPG noted that the announcement makes up part of its ‘modernization’ process and is supported by a grant received from the National Football League Foundation last year.
The current National Problem Gambling helpline number and 1-800-GAMBLER will continue its operations uninterrupted and the NCPG will work closely with CCGNJ and other state affiliates to ‘ensure a smooth transition and prevent any gaps in services’.
“Since its inception in 1995, the National Problem Gambling Helpline has seen exponential growth in calls, texts and chat messages for help from individuals across the country as gambling has continued to expand,” concluded Keith Whyte, NCPG Executive Director.
“The Modernization Project will allow us to make significant improvements to the operations, technology and infrastructure of the network to keep up with the ever-growing need for problem gambling resources.”
