1-800-GAMBLER Helpline, Up and Running Despite Conflict

Last month, we reported on the national problem gambling helpline being at risk of no longer offering access to much-needed support because of a legal disagreement between the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).

Despite the back-and-forth, CCGNJ insists the 1-800-GAMBLER hotline that’s been around for decades is not at risk of shutting down.

“We Don’t Have a Problem”

“Absolutely not,” said CCGNJ executive director Luis Del Orbe when asked about the possibility that the service could be discontinued. “People forget, but 1-800-GAMBLER has been operating since 1983. We don’t have a problem with running these operations. It’s not going to be interrupted or go offline.”, he reiterated.

The dispute began when a three-year contract between the two organizations expired at the end of May. Since then, both sides have been waiting on a Mercer County judge, who is expected to rule on September 3 regarding the restraining order currently tied to the helpline. Provided the order gets lifted, the hotline would resume its regular operations from before the agreement with NCPG.

According to Del Orbe, the CCGNJ offered a new lease after the contract ended, but the NCPG said no to it, hinting that the rejection was a result of CCGNJ requesting additional oversight.

New Proposal Would Bring Unacceptable Changes

On the other hand, NCPG officials argue that CCGNJ is responsible for breaking the agreement. Cait Huble, NCPG’s director of communications, explained the two groups had agreed on a six-year deal, with a renewal option after three years. 

Hubble described CCGNJ’s latest proposal as unacceptable, saying it would “fundamentally change how the helpline is currently operated” and “prevent NCPG from upholding quality standards for the network contact centers”. 

In an interview for PlayNJ, she went on to call NCPG “stewards” of the national helpline, emphasizing their mission to preserve the helpline’s integrity without compromising the quality of care.

Del Orbe, however, argued that CCGNJ’s push for oversight is a way of ensuring the hotline works according to the original plan and that no state is disconnected from the number. “We want callers to receive information beyond what they can find in a Google search. We want calls to be answered by a live person.”

Orbe also alleged that not all callers were actually able to speak with someone directly, and that NCPG disconnected calls from certain states, claims that Hubble strongly denied. “At no point have callers to 1-800-GAMBLER been disconnected or left without access to care.”

While the court decision looms, Del Orbe maintains that the hotline will continue to serve people seeking help with gambling problems.