Court Orders 1-800-GAMBLER Back to New Jersey Council, NCPG Vows to Fight On
The long-running fight over who controls America’s most recognizable problem gambling helpline is coming to a head. A New Jersey judge has ruled that 1-800-GAMBLER must return to the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ), ending the National Council on Problem Gambling’s (NCPG) management of the number unless an appeal succeeds.
Court Ruling and Deadline
Judge Douglas Hurd ordered NCPG to stop using the number nationwide by September 29, 2025, returning control to the New Jersey group that launched the hotline in 1983. The decision followed the expiration of a three-year licensing deal signed in 2022. That contract ended in May and was briefly extended to mid-July, but no new agreement was reached.
A temporary restraining order in July allowed NCPG to keep the line running through the summer, but with the judge’s latest order, CCGNJ is now set to retake the reins.
The national council reacted with alarm, warning that the ruling could destabilize services relied on across the country.
“The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is dismayed with today’s court ruling,” the group said. “This decision will fundamentally hinder nationwide access to timely, confidential, and high-quality care for those in need… It cannot be overstated that the loss of access… even temporarily, could have life or death consequences for individuals in crisis.”
NCPG is preparing an emergency motion seeking a stay from the New Jersey Appellate Division. The group says it will pursue every possible appellate option to maintain continuity while the case plays out.
Their attorneys also warned that transferring the number is not as simple as redirecting calls.
“It’s not really ‘just flip a switch,’” argued NCPG lawyer James Tarnofsky. “The network will fall apart for a period of time. People will be without the services.”
CCGNJ’s Position
The New Jersey council, which created the number decades ago, insists it can operate the line nationally. Executive Director Luis Del Orbe pledged continuity:
“The 1-800-GAMBLER helpline is not going to go away, ever,” he said.
CCGNJ has criticized NCPG’s management, pointing to dropped calls and a lack of live operators. Its legal team told the court that the transfer is technically feasible and overdue.
NCPG argues that it alone has the infrastructure to run the service nationwide, citing text and chat routing across 49 states, translation into 240 languages, and data showing a 150% increase in calls since 2018. They warn that removing their oversight risks “degrading public trust” in a number recognized by 121 million Americans.
Meanwhile, CCGNJ says reclaiming the hotline will restore accountability to the group that first built it.
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