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The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), the national organization, no longer has control of the 1-800-GAMBLER gambling addiction hotline, as a New Jersey organization will now operate it.
This comes after a legal battle has ensued, with New Jersey Superior Court Judge Douglas H. Hurd having ordered the NCPG to ‘cease and desist’ from continuing to use the hotline and the 1-800-GAMBLER trademark.
The judge also ordered the national organization not to interfere with the new operation of the hotline number.
On Monday, the New Jersey Supreme Court rejected an appeal from the NCPG, with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey to be the ones to run the number.
At the time of the initial decision, the NCPG released a statement to say it is ‘dismayed’ with the court ruling and stated the decision will ‘fundamentally hinder nationwide access to timely, confidential, and high-quality care for those in need of problem gambling support by taking critical services offline.’
NCPG’s appeal was rejected, with the gambling addiction hotline now out of its hands
It was then, on September 22, that it announced it would be aggressively pursuing all appellate options and said it was in the process of filing an emergency motion asking the New Jersey Appellate Division to enter a stay to maintain the status quo for helpline operations while the appeal is considered.
In one of their arguments against the decision, the organization said that national demand will outpace state-level capacity. “Call traffic to 1-800-GAMBLER has surged by 150.71% since 2018, highlighting explosive growth in demand for nationwide problem gambling support,” the statement reads.
“With sole authority over routing, CCGNJ could change or disconnect 1-800-GAMBLER calls at will, leading to unpredictable disruptions in access to care,” they continued.
Now, the appeal has been rejected, the NCPG has released another statement to share their thoughts: “The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) acknowledges the New Jersey Supreme Court decision denying an emergency stay regarding the use and management of 1-800-GAMBLER as the National Problem Gambling Helpline number.
“We are deeply disappointed as this outcome will alter the current operations of the Helpline and will have a negative impact on access to problem gambling resources. NCPG remains committed to working with all stakeholders to minimize disruptions and ensure continued support for individuals and families in need.”
Now, the NCPG will operate the National Problem Gambling Helpline using a former number until a permanent solution can be found.
Featured Image: AI-generated via Ideogram
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Bally’s Bronx casino bid has been approved, whilst another Coney Island location was denied the opportunity to move forward.
Casinos in New York have seen stiff opposition from politicians and residents of the proposed areas. Bally’s has won out over the furore, with Thor Equities going back to the drawing board.
Bronx and Coney Island casinos given decisions
The location Bally’s has been approved to build on in the Bronx is a $4 billion endeavour that involves a golf course run by the Trump Administration.
Thor Equities was pushing to gain its own piece of the big apple gambling scene in Coney Island, but the $3 billion consortium’s bid was repelled.
Bally’s vote was approved by a majority of 5-2, where Thor Equities had their hopes dashed in a closer 4-2 vote against their location moving forward.
There is hope for the Coney Island location, as the battle for the Bronx location was a storied one we covered in its entirety.
Bronx casino saga comes to an end
The saga saw Bally’s being given a battering by local politicians, such as Council member Kristy Marmorato, who posted on social media about the marquee victory.

THIS IS WHAT COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION LOOKS LIKE!
We fought, we won, and we will continue to work together to keep District 13 the safe, prosperous, and beauty it is!
D13, this one is for YOU! https://t.co/UGdRpHkkUw
— Kristy Marmorato (@KristyforNY) July 14, 2025

Marmorato’s hope was short-lived as the Mayor of New York, Eric Adams, stepped into the fray to veto the casino decision laid down by the City Council.
“The City Council’s decision to treat the Bronx differently than other boroughs goes against the publicly stated, in-favor positions of the Bronx borough president and other councilmembers representing working-class neighborhoods across the Bronx,” said Adams.
Bally’s still needs to acquire a casino license after purchasing the land from the business owned by the family of the acting POTUS. That will be an expensive purchase on top of the $60 million the betting operator paid the Trump family for the remainder of the Ferry Point lease.
That is not all for Bally’s in paying the bill, as the location, being a licensed entertainment venue, is now subject to a previous agreement between the parties that requires the company to pay out a $115 million award upon successful approval.
Featured image: Pexels.
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