Can a coalition of groups representing the regulated gaming industry team up to save 1-800-GAMBLER, a toll-free hotline where problem gamblers can connect local help, from an internal squabble. That’s the stated goal of statement recently sent to SBC Americas by the American Gaming Association (AGA) and the Responible Online Gaming Association (ROGA).
At the heart of struggle to save 1-800-GAMBLER is a dispute between the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ), who own the line, and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), who license and operate the line from the CCGNJ. For reasons that are not entirely clear, the NCPG did not renew its licensing deal with the CCGNJ when it expired in May. A judge granted a temporary restraining order to keep the line in operation until July, but the drama has continued unabated.
Recognizing the importance of this kind of resource, the AGA and ROGA have stepped in to urgent the CPG and NCPG to just work things out. In their joint resolution, the groups got straight to the point saying, “Any disruption to the 1-800-GAMBLER operations—or worse, a degradation of the helpline’s capacity to deliver timely, culturally competent, and clinically appropriate referrals—would significantly endanger the ability for individuals or friends and family members of individuals who may be experiencing problems to learn more and access care. Further, a lapse in service risks causing widespread consumer confusion, undermining years of education and awareness efforts by operators, regulators, and advocates alike.”
Whether their words hit the mark remains to be seen, but 1-800-GAMBLER is a valuable resource that should be preserved at any cost, particularly as football season and peak US sports betting season are just weeks away.