Legal Battle Over Control of 1-800-GAMBLER Helpline Escalates in Court

The Core of the Disagreement

The CCGNJ is demanding the immediate return of the helpline. In a recent court filing, the New Jersey-based organization argued that the NCPG failed to provide the required written notice to renew its licensing agreement, which expired on May 31.

As a result, the CCGNJ contends that any use of the 1-800-GAMBLER number by the national body since that date constitutes an infringement on its intellectual property.

The CCGNJ has asked a judge to lift a temporary restraining order that is currently keeping the helpline in the NCPG’s control, stating its intent to resume operating the service itself.

The Stakes: A “Matter of Life and Death”

The NCPG has fired back, arguing that the consequences of an immediate transfer would be catastrophic for the public. In its own filing, the national council asserted that “there is no question that irreparable harm will occur if the status quo is not maintained.”

The NCPG’s central argument is that the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline of today is a vastly different and more complex operation than the one the CCGNJ used to run. Over the past three years, the service has been nationalized, providing coordinated support across every U.S. state and territory.

A sudden transfer, the NCPG claims, would cause an “immediate loss of text and chat functions,” critical tools for reaching disabled individuals and younger people who are at a higher risk for problem gambling. The organization stated that even a “minimal interruption could be a matter of life and death to someone in need” and that the CCGNJ has not demonstrated it has the capacity to operate the helpline at its current scale.

A Dispute Over Arbitration

The legal battle is also being fought on procedural grounds. The NCPG is pushing for the core of the dispute to be settled through binding arbitration, as stipulated in the original licensing agreement. The organization argues that the court’s only role at this stage is to decide whether to keep the helpline operational while that arbitration process is pending.

The CCGNJ has rejected this, claiming that since the contract has expired, the arbitration clause within it is no longer valid.

What Comes Next

A court hearing on the matter, which had already been postponed once, has been rescheduled again to September 22. The immediate decision facing the court is not who is ultimately right about the contract renewal, but whether to maintain the current operational structure to ensure continuity of service for those seeking help.

In the meantime, the NCPG has stated it will continue to make its quarterly licensing payments to the CCGNJ, ensuring the New Jersey organization continues to receive revenue while the legal process plays out.