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The New Jersey Superior Court decision on the national gambling helpline has been postponed for a second time, the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) told PlayNJ on Friday morning.
The new date for the ruling is scheduled for Sept. 22.
The CCGNJ and the National Council on Problem Gambling are in a contract dispute regarding the operations for the 1-800-GAMBLER number. The ruling on Sept. 3 was supposed to determine the standing of a restraining order a Mercer County Superior Court judge issued in July.
Contract dispute
The national gambling helpline is one of the most well-known resources for problem gamblers, which can help lead to responsible gambling. No matter what the judge rules, officials said the helpline isn’t going anywhere.
The CCGNJ told PlayNJ last month the ruling is on the temporary restraining order. If the judge rules in favor of the CCGNJ, the helpline would operate as it did before the NCPG’s involvement.
The NCPG and CCGNJ agreed on a contract that appeared to be for six years in June 2022. However, Cait Huble, NCPG director of communications, told PlayNJ last month that there was an option to renew after three years.
The two sides are disputing over the vision of the helpline. The NGCP claimed the CCGNJ “is refusing to honor” an agreement already made. The CCGNJ is looking for specific oversight and also accused the NCPG of disconnecting callers from the helpline.
CCGNJ wants live response on helpline
Both sides are committed to operating the helpline. The NCPG called themselves “stewards” of 1-800-GAMBLER, while the CCGNJ has been running it for more than 40 years.
CGNJ Executive Director Luis Del Orbe told PlayNJ last month the organization has no problem operating the helpline alone.
“People forget, but 1-800-GAMBLER has been operating since 1983. We don’t have a problem with running these operations.”
Del Orbe also guaranteed the helpline isn’t going anywhere, no matter what the judge rules.
Not all calls have been answered by a live person, Del Orbe claimed. If the judge rules in the CCGNJ’s favor, that is going to change.
“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.”
While the national gambling helpline isn’t going anywhere, Sept. 22 will decide which party is in control of the resource.
