The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) has rejected the idea that key 1-800-GAMBLER services, such as its national reach and its text messaging and language translation mechanisms, would be compromised after the problem gambling helpline changed hands.
Before and after a New Jersey court judge ordered the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) to cease using 1-800-GAMBLER as of Sept. 29, the NCPG warned that the level of operation it had built up over its three years as license-holder for the helpline could not be maintained under the New Jersey council.
“CCGNJ lacks the infrastructure and funding required to shoulder the significant and unpredictable responsibilities of running 1-800-GAMBLER nationwide,” the NCPG stated on Sept. 22. “NCPG is the only national organization qualified, equipped, and positioned to manage the National Problem Gambling Helpline.”
A CCGNJ spokesperson told SBC Americas on Friday that the text message service to 800-GAMBLER “is up and working fine” and that language translation support is also working with no change. The NCPG had suggested there could be a reduction or total loss of those services post-switchover.
Minimal state disruption, says CCGNJ
The NCPG also said in its Sept. 22 statement, after the court ruling but before the handover, that nine states plus D.C. rely “entirely” on NCPG’s infrastructure and funding to connect callers to care through 1-800-GAMBLER. The national council added that the CCGNJ would struggle to cope with a significant surge in call traffic in recent years, thereby threatening public access and quality of care.
The CCGNJ maintained on Friday that all is well.
“CCCGNJ will be routing calls as we had previously, using the same system as NCPG was,” the CCGNJ spokesperson said. “There has been no interruption in service. Broadly speaking, all states continue to use the number with calls routed to each state’s gambling council.
“It is certainly the case that the disaster NCPG forecast by no means took place. The transition has gone without incident or interruption.”
SBC Americas understands that there has been a change in Massachusetts, with calls being routed to a different agency, but the CCGNJ said it did not believe there had been changes in other states. A Massachusetts Gaming Commission spokesperson told SBC Americas that the state does not use 1-800-GAMBLER. Some states told SBC Americas this week that they have been placing an emphasis on their own in-state resources rather than the renowned national number.
NFL position murky
The NCPG has resurrected the number it formerly used for national help, 1-800-522-4700, after having to yield 1-800-GAMBLER. It positions that number as “the National Problem Gambling Helpline” and offers a text service using 800GAM. The national council says the reversion is a temporary measure until it can determine a permanent solution. SBC Americas reached out to the NCPG to ask about potential permanent solutions.
The expansion of 1-800-GAMBLER services under the NCPG’s oversight between 2022 and 2025 was aided by the council’s work with the NFL. The two parties have had a deal in place for several years and the NFL made a renewed three-year commitment in August 2024.
That included “modernizing and strengthening the National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-GAMBLER),” per an NFL release, in order to enhance efficiency and improve nationwide access. The NFL added that under a previous commitment signed in 2021, it helped to fund tech upgrades, to increase staffing and data collection and to enable U.S.-wide licensing for the 1-800-GAMBLER number.
“As it stands, we do not have any contract or partnership with the NFL regarding the 800-GAMBLER helpline and we don’t know [the NFL’s] plans as far as the national helpline,” the CCGNJ spokesperson said.
SBC Americas reached out to both the NCPG and the NFL to seek clarity on the partnership.
“We are closely monitoring developments related to the problem gambling hotline,” NFL Director of Communications Tim Schlittner replied. “Our foundation continuously and rigorously evaluates the impact of our grant-making. The NFL’s commitment to working with experts and community partners, including NCPG, to address and mitigate gambling risks through education, prevention and support initiatives remains steadfast.”
