Kalshi Relationship Surfaces Concerns About NCPG’s Legitimacy

Almost three months after the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) announced Kalshi as the first member of its new Financial Services & Trading vertical, questions mount about the Council’s authenticity.

In a July 28 letter to NCPG executive director Heather Maurer, Minnesota state Sen. John Marty asked the organization to end its “unholy alliance” with Kalshi, which he says undercuts the NCPG’s mission. Marty’s is just the latest reaction; he joins a growing list of those — including current and past NCPG affiliates — voicing alarm at NCPG’s recent shift.

Josh Ercole, executive director of Pennsylvania’s Council on Compulsive Gambling (CCGP), an active NCPG state affiliate, told Gambling Insider during an extensive interview that the Kalshi relationship is raising questions:

There’s just so much going on right now, with uncertainty about the legitimacy of the national council and them taking the $2 million from Kalshi. It’s creating a whole bunch of interesting discussions.” 

Kalshi’s $2M Contribution Raises Eyebrows

Concern around NCPG’s tie-up with Kalshi is wide-ranging.

“Those concerns are coming from a number of different angles,” Ercole said. “Perception. What’s the intention? What’s the money going towards?” 

One of the Council’s goals is to secure federal funding, which hasn’t happened yet. This raises questions about NCPG’s plans for Kalshi’s $2 million contribution, he added.

One of their primary goals is trying to generate a source of federal funding. Well, we don’t have it; it’s not happening. Is that going to be used federally? As a nationwide fund? What are you using it for?” 

Other industry observers, including Straight to the Point’s Steve Ruddock, have noted that Kalshi’s contribution of $2 million over two years dwarfs the $15,000 annual fee NCPG charges a platinum-level member. Even the leadership circle, of which Kalshi is now also a member, costs a more conservative $100,000 annually.

The discrepancy has prompted questions around what Kalshi’s $2 million actually bought. 

Sen. Marty Targets NCPG-Kalshi ‘Unholy Alliance’

In addition to concern, there is also discontent.

“No amount of money is worth undermining your mission,” Marty wrote in his letter to Maurer. 

While Marty acknowledged the importance of the industry funding that the NCPG receives, he called Kalshi “a fundamentally different category” given its unauthorized and unregulated operation.

Marty also referenced Michigan Gaming Control Board executive director Henry Williams‘ earlier breakup letter to the NCPG. Michigan withdrew from the NCPG over Kalshi’s inclusion in the Council. The Board even canceled its paid sponsorship of the Council’s 2026 conference, which was held from July 21-23. 

In his July 1 withdrawal letter, Williams decried Kalshi’s attempt to reshape the gambling industry.

“These efforts are part of Kalshi’s broader strategy to remake the gambling industry,” he wrote, “by bulldozing countless regulations and the consumer-protection safeguards that Michigan and other states have enacted to protect their residents and uphold the integrity of sports betting,” 

Nevada Council Discreetly Leaves National Body

The Nevada Council on Problem Gambling sent a strongly worded letter to Maurer in May.

“We believe this development raises important questions regarding organizational neutrality, consumer protection frameworks, and the relationship between prediction market products and existing responsible gaming infrastructure,” the letter read.

The Nevada Council fell short of abandoning its affiliate status at the time, but said it would continue evaluating implications of the Kalshi partnership.

Since then, the NCPG and NVCPG removed mentions of each other from their respective websites.

The NVCPG in April still appeared on the NCPG’s affiliate map, per the WayBack Machine. When that changed is unknown, but today Nevada is greyed out on the map.

Similarly, in March, the NVCPG’s website still identified itself as an affiliate of the national body. “The Nevada Council on Problem Gambling is one of 35 state affiliates of the National Council on Problem Gambling and does not take a position for or against legal gambling,” copy on the website said in March.

When that association was removed is also unknown, but there’s no mention of the relationship on the NVCPG’s website today.

In an email to Gambling Insider, NVCPG executive director Trey Delap ultimately confirmed the split.

“I can confirm that the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling is not an affiliate of the National Council on Problem Gambling,” Delap wrote.

Problems Go Beyond Kalshi

According to Ercole, concerns go beyond just the NCPG’s new relationship with Kalshi. The helpline number “continues to be a challenge,” he said.

Ercole is referring to a legal dispute between the NCPG and the Council on Compulsive Gambling of NJ (CCGNJ) that resulted in the latter retaking control of 1-800-Gambler. Since then, the NCPG shifted to promoting 1-800-MY-RESET. 

Complicating matters, many state affiliates still use 1-800-GAMBLER and sometimes even local helpline numbers, Ercole noted.

We’ve got national on its fourth number in the last five years, which it’s encouraging states to use. And we have our own legislation or legislative requirements on what number we have to use in Pennsylvania.”

Now anytime they do any cross-presentation or attend a conference, there’s mixed messaging, Ercole said.

Not to get into the weeds on like what happened between them and New Jersey, but I’m sure it could have been figured out… And, quite frankly, we’re not getting $2 million where we can shift quickly how a number is being promoted, and neither are other councils.” 

“I wish them the best. I hope that they do figure things out. But it’s a tricky time right now,” he added.

Still, at this point, Ercole said, his Pennsylvania-based group is not considering following the NVCPG’s lead. 

“There are no plans at this point to shift anything. But there’s a lot that I haven’t been aware of over the last few years that have come to light… Nothing’s rock solid. But we don’t have any plan. I’ll leave it at that.” 

NCPG Addresses Growing Criticism

In a statement emailed to Gambling Insider, Maurer said prediction markets are the “latest evolution of gambling-like platforms” and “functionally gambling.” 

“As the gambling landscape changes, NCPG must adapt with it and go where the risk of harm is,” she said.

NCPG believes anyone who profits from gambling has an ethical and economic obligation to help mitigate the harm it can create. That principle has guided our work with the gambling industry for decades. Prediction market operators should not be exempt from that same responsibility. We cannot credibly call on those who profit from gambling to invest in harm reduction and then criticize them for doing exactly that.”

Maurer added the Financial Trader Health & Safety Initiative and new membership sub-category address the “increasingly blurred lines between investing and gambling.” 

In response to a question about concerns voiced by its members, Maurer said the Council takes those concerns “seriously and will continue to listen and engage.” 

But NCPG’s first responsibility is to respond to the harm being experienced now, Maurer added. 

The National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-MY-RESET) is already receiving calls from individuals seeking help related to prediction markets. We will not wait for broader policy debates to be resolved to support those experiencing harm today or to advance the education and consumer protections needed to reduce harm going forward.”