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Despite a dispute between the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey and the National Council on Problem Gambling, the national gambling helpline isn’t going anywhere.
CCGNJ Executive Director Luis Del Orbe confirmed as much to PlayNJ earlier this week.
“Absolutely not,” Del Orbe said of any chance the helpline gets shutdown. “People forget, but 1-800-GAMBLER has been operating since 1983. We don’t have a problem with running these operations.
“It’s not going to be interrupted or go offline.”
The CCGNJ and NCPG have been at a stalemate since a three-year contract between the sides ended on May 31. As Del Orbe stated, the CCGNJ has provided responsible gambling resources in New Jersey, and beyond, since 1983.
Waiting on Mercer County judge ruling
Del Orbe told PlayNJ that both parties are waiting on a Mercer County judge to rule on the current restraining order of the helpline on Sept. 3. Should it be lifted, the 1-800-GAMBLER Helpline would then revert to operating as it did prior to the contract agreement with NCPG.
After the contract expired in May, Del Orbe said that the NCPG declined a new lease that was submitted by the CCGNJ. Del Orbe added that the NCPG appeared to be displeased with certain oversight the CCGNJ requested.
Cait Huble, NCPG Director of Communications, told PlayNJ that the CCGNJ “is refusing to honor” an agreement already made, that appeared to be for six years. However, Huble said in an email that there was an option to renew after three years. She also gave feedback on the CCGNJ’s proposal:
“Notwithstanding that fact, the alternative agreement that CCGNJ proposed would fundamentally change how the helpline is currently operated and would prevent NCPG from upholding quality standards for the network contact centers.”
Huble called the NCPG “stewards” of the gambling hotline, and stressed the importance of serving problem gamblers with “high-quality, consistent, and appropriate” care. She went on to add:
“NCPG remains committed to preserving the integrity of the helpline and will not support or accept any proposal that compromises the quality of care provided to those seeking help.”
What the CCGNJ is looking for
Del Orbe said that the CCGNJ is looking for certain oversight with the national helpline number.
“We asked that no state be disconnected from the 1-800-GAMBLER number. We want callers to receive information beyond what they can find in a Google search. We want calls to be answered by a live person.”
Del Orbe claimed that not every person calling the national helpline number spoke to a live person. He also alleged that the NCPG disconnected callers from states that did not cooperate with the NCPG.
Huble refuted those claims to PlayNJ:
“At no point have callers to 1-800-GAMBLER been disconnected or left without access to care. NCPG is committed to delivering the operational and financial resources necessary to maintain the 1-800-GAMBLER network and avoid interruption of helpline access via call, text, and chat to mitigate further risk of gambling-related harm.
“Continuity of service is critical for the long-term viability of the helpline.”
No matter what the judge rules on Sept. 3, the 1-800-GAMBLER number is not going anywhere, according to Del Orbe.
