Under the six-year licence agreement, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) will have the rights to use 1-800-GAMBLER in all states outside of New Jersey, as well as in US territories and the District of Columbia.
The current National Problem Gambling Helpline Network number, along with 1-800-GAMBLER, will continue to operate without interruption. In the coming months, the NCPG will collaborate with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ), state affiliates, and helpline call centres to ensure a seamless transition and prevent any gaps in services.
NCPG board president Maureen Greeley expressed that this agreement is a significant step towards increasing awareness and accessibility to high-quality services for individuals, families, and communities affected by problem gambling. Greeley also emphasized the importance of collaboration and expressed gratitude for the partnership with CCGNJ, which aligns with their shared goals of improving health and wellness through effective programs and services.
Felicia Grondin, executive director of CCGNJ, stated that CCGNJ has always been at the forefront of providing support for communities impacted by gambling problems. The 1-800-GAMBLER helpline plays a crucial role in accessing this support. Grondin expressed enthusiasm in working with NCPG to ensure that people throughout the country can easily access problem gambling resources using this simple and memorable number.
The NCPG highlighted that this agreement builds upon their National Problem Gambling Helpline Modernisation Project, which began last year with support from a grant provided by the National Football League Foundation (NFLF). The project aims to enhance call centre technology, improve data collection and reporting, establish standardized training and certification for call centres, and upgrade criteria across the National Problem Gambling Helpline network.
NCPG executive director Keith Whyte acknowledged that since its establishment in 1995, the National Problem Gambling Helpline has observed a significant increase in calls, texts, and chat messages from individuals across the country due to the expansion of gambling. The Modernisation Project will enable substantial improvements in network operations, technology, and infrastructure to meet the growing demand for problem gambling resources.
