The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has entered into a six-year license agreement with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc. (CCGNJ) for the use of their 1-800-GAMBLER® federally registered service mark in all U.S. states outside of New Jersey, as well as all U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. It is one of the main resources for those affected by problem gambling in the country.
Thursday’s announcement further builds on NCPG’s multi-year National Problem Gambling Helpline Modernization Project. The project, supported by a grant received from the National Football League Foundation (NFLF) in 2021, will improve call center technology, data collection, and reporting, as well as upgrade criteria and offer standardized training and certification for call centers across the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network.
“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.”
Cait DeBaun, Vice President, Strategic Communications & Responsibility at the American Gaming Association (AGA), issued a statement Thursday welcoming the announcement: “This is an important step in the right direction: consumers needing help should be able to write down one number and get the support they need. We look forward to continuing to work with NCPG, its affiliates and the industry broadly on ensuring helpline harmonization efforts deliver against our collective goal of providing effective, reliable support to those who need it.”
Congratulations to @NCPGambling on their agreement with @ccgofnj to use 1-800-GAMBLER. Increasing access to helplines is a critical step in strengthening problem gambling resources. https://t.co/7VKTl4iPoN
— American Gaming Association (@AmericanGaming) June 9, 2022
“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,” said 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.”
NCPG stated that the current National Problem Gambling Helpline Network number (1-800-522-4700) and 1-800-GAMBLER® will continue to operate uninterrupted as will the current routing of helpline calls. In the coming months, NCPG “will work closely” with CCGNJ, state affiliates, and helpline call centers to ensure a smooth transition and prevent any gaps in services as adjustments are made in the National Helpline Number and Network.
