Nevada Council on Problem Gambling Ends NCPG Affiliation Citing Kalshi Partnership and Independence Concerns

The Nevada Council on Problem Gambling has ended its affiliation with the National Council on Problem Gambling. The national group’s partnership with prediction market operator Kalshi prompted an evaluation that led to the split.

Trey Delap, Executive Director of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, confirmed the partnership was the catalyst. “Kalshi was the catalyst for that review, but the decision itself was about the broader principle of institutional independence,” Delap told CDC Gaming in an email. He stressed the choice was not about one company or one product.

Delap emphasized that continuing the affiliation was no longer consistent with responsibilities as Nevada’s statewide problem gambling organization. The focus was preserving the independence that gives such groups their credibility. The decision was first reported by the Nevada Current.

In May the NCPG established a new Financial Services & Trading Subcategory after Kalshi made a $2 million, two-year investment. The NCPG noted the funding would support “trader health and safety,” even as Kalshi maintains its user activity is trading and not gambling. The NCPG has also received funding from the NFL, DraftKings, FanDuel and Las Vegas Sands.

State-Level Withdrawals and Governance Differences

The Nevada Council tried to pause its relationship in June but the NCPG said that was not an option. In July the Michigan Gaming Control Board withdrew its membership. Delap declined to speculate whether other affiliates would sever ties, noting each has its own board, governance structure and mission. “Our responsibility remains to Nevada,” he said.

Nevada’s problem gambling rate stands at 6%, higher than the 2% U.S. national average. Between 10% to 15% of people with substance use disorders may also have a gambling problem. Kalshi allows 18-year-olds to buy event contracts while the Nevada Council supports a minimum age of 21.

Core Principle of Institutional Independence

Delap said the Nevada Council has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the state’s case against Kalshi, describing its use as a public health crisis waiting to happen. The court arguments began in March 2025. On August 12 Kalshi ended writing contracts in Nevada related to sports, politics and entertainment or face a $120,000 fine per day until compliant. Kalshi has partnered with GeoComply to block Nevada users.

Delap noted that when an independent problem gambling organization enters partnerships with companies whose business interests it may one day evaluate, preserving public confidence becomes increasingly important. “That principle was central to our decision,” he added. Because prediction markets operate largely outside traditional responsible gambling infrastructure, limited data is available on participation patterns and related harm.

Reporting: CDC Gaming

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