The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) is moving to strip references to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) from state regulations, dealing another major blow to the national nonprofit.
The emblem of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The gaming regulator has proposed removing mandatory obligations among licensees to reference the National Council on Problem Gambling in their problem gambling materials. (Image: NGCB)
This week, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) recommended amending state gaming rules to strip all references to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).
If approved, the revision to Regulation 5.170—which governs problem gambling signage and materials at cash machines and casino cages—would require licensees to promote only resources provided by the state-level Nevada Council on Problem Gambling or another board-approved entity.
Prediction Market Backlash
The regulatory shift comes as the NCPG faces ongoing fallout over its decision to accept a $2 million contribution from a prediction market operator and create a new membership category for federally regulated event-contract exchanges.
Commercial and tribal gaming operators strongly oppose prediction market sports event contracts, viewing them as illegal sports betting that bypasses state authority.
The backlash was swift: major industry bodies—including the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, the Michigan Gaming Control Board, and the Ohio Casino Control Commission—rescinded their NCPG memberships. The controversy also led to the resignation of NCPG Executive Director Heather Maurer.
Helpline Dispute Adds Pressure
The move to remove the NCPG from Nevada regulation follows a high-profile feud over the industry’s primary helpline number.
The Nevada Council on Problem Gambling currently routes its 24/7 helpline—1-800-GAMBLER—through a partnership with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ), which owns the number.
The CCGNJ had previously leased 1-800-GAMBLER to the national NCPG for $150,000 annually. However, that agreement collapsed in September 2025 following a leasing dispute. A New Jersey state court ultimately ordered the NCPG to cease using the hotline, prompting the national group to launch a replacement number, 1-800-MY-RESET.
What Happens Next
The NGCB’s proposed changes to Regulation 5.170 are not yet final. While the control board investigates enforcement matters and drafts regulatory recommendations, the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) holds final decision-making authority and must formally approve the amendment before it takes effect.
The NGCB is tasked with investigating and enforcing state gaming law, as well as making regulatory recommendations to the NGC. The commission acts as the final decision-making and policy-setting body.