The Famous Gambling Addiction Hotline Goes Nationwide

1-800-GAMBLER Expanding Sports Betting

1-800-GAMBLER Expanding to Tackle Problem Gambling

By Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 20 June 2022

Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief

Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.

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With more and more states legalizing sports betting in some form, a range of concerns have been highlighted regarding the impact this is having on problem gambling. Many sports fans can now go online or use mobile devices to place bets, and this has provided very easy access to gambling that has led to problems for some people.

It has now been announced that 1-800-GAMBLER is set to be expanded nationwide in a bid to try and tackle problem gambling issues. This is a federally registered trademark and is owned by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ).

While this number has been used as part of gaming advertising in New Jersey for some years, it is now to be expanded across the nation.

Tackling National Costs Relating to Problem Gambling

According to reports, the CCGNJ is allowing the National Council on Problem Gambling to use the number and hotline in a bid to help tackle national costs relating to dealing with this type of issue. To begin with, the number and hotline will be made available nationwide for a period of six years.

The move means that problem gambling organizations across the country will be able to provide access to this hotline and facility as part of their resources. This single number will comply with regulatory laws across the USA, which means that organizations and ads will not have to provide different numbers from one state to the next.

Fred Hogan, board president of the CCGNJ, said:

Our goal is simple, to continue to make sure 1-800-GAMBLER provides aid to anyone who needs it as quickly and efficiently as possible. We look forward to sharing our strength and experience.

It was also confirmed that there would be no disruption to the service in New Jersey as it is rolled out on a national basis.

Funded by the NFL

Officials from the NCPG have also confirmed that funding for the 1-800-GAMBLER expansion has come from the NFL. As the most-watched professional sports league in the country, the NFL is in support of the legal gambling industry. The potential for legalization came after the overturning of PASPA at the Supreme Court in 2018.

It is also keen to play its part in helping to support problem gambling programs and resources, and some of the money it has put toward this cause has come from increased sports betting and fan engagement. According to reports, the NFL is aware of the flood of sports betting adverts that are broadcast during its games, and the impact that they can have on problem gambling.

Last year saw officials from the NFL announce a contribution of more than $6 million to the NCPG toward the funding of problem gambling networks. Some of this funding has been used toward the expansion of the service to states across the nation.

The NCPG said that the NFL funds would also be used for other purposes in relation to the 1-800-GAMBLER network, including improving technology, operations, and the infrastructure of the service.