Conflict between the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) could put the national 1-800-GAMBLER helpline in peril.
The NCPG has been granted a temporary restraining order to keep the national portion of the hotline online in the meantime.
NCPG in dispute with NJ problem gambling group
While NCPG operates and maintains 1-800-GAMBLER, the group actually licenses the number from the CCGNJ.
In a lawsuit filed in Mercer County Superior Court in New Jersey, NCPG summed up the situation regarding ownership of the number:
“As part of its operation of 800-GAMBLER, CCGNJ has obtained a registered trademark for the number itself and has a license that allows it to control the routing of calls that are made to that specific phone number.”
In June 2022, the NCPG entered into an agreement with CCGNJ to license the number for national use outside of New Jersey at a rate of $150,000 a year. That three-year agreement technically expired on May 31 of this year, but both groups agreed to extend the licensing period to July 15 after there was a dispute between the parties on whether or not NCPG had exercised its three-year extension option.
CCGNJ allegedly refused arbitration on license
NCPG intended to re-up the contract, but in court filings said it repeatedly attempted to take CCGNJ to arbitration to discuss a deal without response.
The organization claims the contract with CCGNJ not only mandates arbitration but also allows for parties to request a restraining order in Mercer County to maintain the status quo and not offline the phone number, which they have done.
NCPG informed the court that, with the extension expired as of midnight on July 15, the hotline runs the risk of going down. Should that happen, people seeking help across the country would suddenly be deprived of the most well-known resource to turn to.
Court ruled to keep 1-800-GAMBLER as is until Aug. 26
In the filing, NCPG highlighted its efforts to partner with operators, state organizations and sports leagues to promote the hotline number and underscored the importance of keeping it online.
The court has ordered CCGNJ to keep the hotline as is until Aug. 26, when the two parties are set to appear in court on the matter. However, CCGNJ does have the option to give NCPG two days’ notice and challenge the order.
“NCPG is committed to delivering the operational and financial resources necessary to maintain the 1-800-GAMBLER network and avoid interruption of helpline access via call, text, and chat to mitigate further risk of gambling-related harm,” NCPG Director of Communications Cait Huble said in a statement to SBC Americas.
“Continuity of service is critical for the long-term viability of the helpline. Interruption will reduce access to 1-800-GAMBLER that thousands of individuals throughout the country rely on as the primary access to problem gambling treatment and recovery resources for themselves and their loved ones.”
A CCGNJ spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.
