Nevada Council on Problem Gambling Cuts Ties with NCPG After Kalshi Investment Over Youth Harm Risks

The Nevada Council on Problem Gambling plans to cut ties with the National Council on Problem Gambling over its partnership with prediction market operator Kalshi. Nevada Council on Problem Gambling Executive Director Trey Delap said the relationship undermines efforts to prevent and treat problem gambling. Kalshi invested $2 million in the NCPG earlier this year.

The Nevada council has worked with the NCPG to address age requirements used by prediction market operators. Kalshi is prohibited from offering contracts in Nevada. Most legal sports betting states require bettors to be at least 21 to open an account, while some prediction market platforms allow customers aged 18 and above to trade contracts. The NCPG supports a 21-plus age requirement for trading exchanges.

“Our decision is based on the elevated risk of harm to young people,” Delap said. “The activity on the Kalshi platform has the same effect as gambling. ‘Positions’ and ‘trades’ are euphemisms – the effect is the same as gambling and carries the same risk of harm and suicide consistent with any other form of gambling.”

The two organizations have not reached an agreement. The Nevada council previously sought to place its NCPG membership on hold, but that was not an option. After months of discussion, Delap told the Nevada Current that this reflects a fundamental difference in how a problem gambling organization should respond to emerging gambling risks. Nevada considers federally regulated prediction market sites to be gambling platforms.

This decision follows Michigan, which withdrew from the NCPG in July after the Michigan Gaming Control Board raised concerns. Michigan Gaming Control Board Executive Director Henry Miller said the partnership undermined state enforcement actions against Kalshi and could weaken the position of state regulators nationwide. NCPG Executive Director Heather L. Maurer said Kalshi’s involvement demonstrates a commitment to mitigating harm and ensuring support resources are available when needed. Kalshi’s investment includes a trader health and safety initiative.

Nevada has required Kalshi to geofence the state or face daily fines of $120,000. The Nevada council has filed amicus briefs supporting the state in its lawsuit against Kalshi. Kalshi, Polymarket and Crypto.com are facing litigation in more than a dozen US states. Much of the legal dispute centres on whether sports event contracts constitute gambling and differences between state gambling regulations and requirements imposed by the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission. As reported by Yogonet International.

Limits of National Alignment on Emerging Risks

The split exposes a specific limitation: national bodies accepting investments from platforms that conflict with state classifications of prediction markets as gambling. Michigan and Nevada actions show state councils will not accept mixed signals on age limits or risk equivalence when innovation moves faster than coordinated public-health responses.

Coordination Demands for State Regulators

State-level problem gambling organizations must now reassess national affiliations against local enforcement needs. This sets a clearer expectation that partnerships cannot undermine age restrictions or geofencing mandates if councils are to maintain credibility with regulators and support consistent harm mitigation across jurisdictions.

Reporting: Yogonet International

Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.