NCPG Board President Affirms Neutral Stance on Prediction Markets Following Multiple State Affiliate Departures
NCPG President Derek Longmeier defended the group’s neutral stance on prediction market legality after Jaime Costello resigned and four state affiliates quit over a $2 million Kalshi partnership. Ohio, Michigan, Nevada, and Washington cited conflicts with their litigation and fines against Kalshi. The dispute centers on harm reduction versus perceived endorsement.
SCCG Take — State regulators view the partnership as undermining enforcement. Non-profits face pressure to avoid funding sources tied to active litigation.
The board president of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) issued a statement Tuesday, Sept. 22 defending the organization’s partnership with Kalshi. Derek Longmeier affirmed the NCPG remains neutral on the legality of prediction markets. The NCPG is not neutral on preventing gambling-related harm wherever it occurs.
The statement followed the resignation of NCPG Director of Programs Jaime Costello. She cited an environment that shifted in ways she could no longer reconcile with how the work should be done. Multiple state affiliates have since quit over the Kalshi relationship.
Kalshi Partnership Terms and NCPG Position
In May, Kalshi and the NCPG unveiled a multi-year partnership. Kalshi committed to invest $2 million over two years and became a platinum member. That status is also held by DraftKings, FanDuel, the NFL, and MLB.
The deal created a new Financial Services & Trading Subcategory of membership. It covers developing educational resources for responsible trading and products such as cryptocurrency and futures, promoting responsible trading, and expanding the NCPG’s consumer education campaigns. Longmeier wrote that for more than 50 years, NCPG’s mission has been to serve individuals and families experiencing gambling-related harm. That mission has never depended on a regulatory ruling or a legal label, and it does not now. He added that donor engagement does not mean endorsement.
Regulator Criticism and Membership Exits
The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) left the NCPG in June. Interim Executive Director Andromeda Morrison wrote that NCPG’s actions are not neutral. Instead, it seeks to legitimize an illegal sportsbook operating in Ohio and undercut the Commission’s efforts to eliminate this source of unlicensed gambling. Ohio is seeking a $5 million fine against Kalshi.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board withdrew after its Executive Director Henry Williams stated that the partnership directly undermines state enforcement actions. The Nevada Council on Problem Gambling and the Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling in Washington also exited. Trey Delap and Ty W. Lostutter cited fundamental differences in addressing emerging gambling risks and concerns that the NCPG may not operate with the best interests of its affiliates in mind.
As reported by SBC Americas, the Illinois Gaming Board supports the reevaluations by fellow regulators. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission kept its silver-level membership but noted it may re-evaluate amid its own litigation with Kalshi.
These departures center on whether the Kalshi collaboration undercuts ongoing state litigation and creates consumer confusion about regulatory oversight.
Reporting: SBC Americas
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
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