New Jersey Supreme Court Rejects Appeal Over 1-800-GAMBLER Control
The New Jersey Supreme Court has denied an emergency appeal by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) seeking to block the transfer of the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline back to its original operator. The ruling ends months of legal wrangling over one of the country’s most recognizable problem-gambling numbers.
High Court Denial Clears Path for Transfer
In a short order, the state’s highest court said NCPG “failed to demonstrate entitlement to emergent relief or the threat of irreparable harm.” That decision allows the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) to retake exclusive control of the helpline at midnight following the ruling. CCGNJ will manage all incoming calls and texts to the number and will be responsible for the quality of care for people seeking help.
The Supreme Court’s ruling follows a September 24 judgment by Superior Court Judge Douglas Hurd, who ordered NCPG to stop using the number nationwide by September 29.
Origins of the Dispute
The 1-800-GAMBLER line was launched in 1983 by CCGNJ. Over time, it became a national symbol for problem-gambling assistance, recognized by more than 121 million Americans and recording a 150% increase in calls since 2018.
A 2022 licensing agreement allowed NCPG to operate the line nationwide, but that contract expired in May. After a brief extension into July, the two groups failed to reach a new deal, triggering a series of court filings.
In July, a temporary restraining order let NCPG continue running the number through the summer. Judge Hurd’s September ruling reversed that arrangement, sending control back to CCGNJ. NCPG responded by filing an emergency motion and vowed to exhaust all appeal options, warning that service interruptions could put lives at risk.
Reactions and Next Steps
NCPG called the earlier decision “dismaying” and warned that losing access would “fundamentally hinder nationwide access to timely, confidential and high-quality care.” Attorneys for the group argued that the transfer “is not just flipping a switch” and that the network could “fall apart for a period of time.”
CCGNJ, meanwhile, criticized NCPG’s management, citing dropped calls and a lack of live operators. With the Supreme Court now denying relief, the transfer is set, leaving CCGNJ with full operational authority over 1-800-GAMBLER for the first time since the national licensing deal.
This ruling effectively closes a long legal chapter and reaffirms CCGNJ’s position as the primary steward of the hotline originally launched in New Jersey more than four decades ago.
Recommended