Nevada Problem Gambling Council Cuts NCPG Ties

Jonathan Rodriguez

Written by: Jonathan Rodriguez

Published: Fri Aug 14, 2026, 9:00 am ET

Read Time: 4 minutes

Nevada Problem Gambling Council Cuts NCPG Ties

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The Nevada Council on Problem Gambling plans to sever ties with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). The dispute centers on the NCPG's partnership with prediction market operator Kalshi.

Nevada officials argue that Kalshi's event contracts create gambling-related risks that require stronger safeguards. The disagreement has grown as prediction markets increasingly compete with traditional betting products.

The Nevada council also supports state efforts to regulate sports contracts offered by prediction markets. Therefore, its decision creates another major rift within the US gambling industry.

The development could affect how responsible gambling groups approach prediction markets. It also highlights the growing regulatory divide between prediction platforms and traditional US online sportsbooks.

Nevada Council Objects to NCPG's Kalshi Partnership

Nevada Executive Director Trey Delap said the organizations are no longer aligned. The Nevada council has raised concerns throughout months of discussions with NCPG leadership.

Youth Protection

Youth protection represents one of Nevada's central objections to the partnership. Kalshi allows customers as young as 18 to trade event contracts.

Meanwhile, the NCPG supports a minimum gambling age of 21 for trading exchanges. Traditional Nevada gambling and sports betting rules similarly maintain a 21-year minimum age.

Delap said younger people face elevated risks from gambling-related harm. He also linked those risks to addiction and other serious public-health consequences.

The Nevada council therefore views Kalshi's trading products through a gambling-harm framework. Delap argues that terms such as "positions" and "trades" do not change their practical effects.

Legal Controversies

Nevada's concerns also stem from Kalshi's ongoing legal battle with state regulators. The Nevada Gaming Control Board considers Kalshi's sports contracts unlicensed sports betting.

The regulator has pursued court action to prevent Kalshi from offering prohibited contracts within Nevada. The Nevada Council has supported the state's position through amicus filings.

That relationship created an additional problem for the Nevada council. Its parent organization was partnering with a company facing active state gaming enforcement.

The NCPG announced the Kalshi partnership in May. Kalshi committed $2 million over two years toward a trader health and safety initiative.

Nevada officials feared that partnership could undermine state-level consumer protections. They also worried it could create public confusion about the risks surrounding prediction markets.

Failed Compromise

Nevada initially sought a temporary pause in its NCPG membership. The council wanted time to address its concerns without immediately ending the relationship.

However, NCPG told Nevada that a membership pause was unavailable. The Nevada council subsequently decided to terminate its affiliation.

Delap said the dispute ultimately went beyond Kalshi itself. He described it as a fundamental disagreement over emerging gambling risks and consumer protection.

Michigan's gaming regulator previously withdrew from the NCPG over the same partnership. Washington's Evergreen Council has likewise criticized the arrangement.

NCPG Defends Its Kalshi Partnership

NCPG Executive Director Heather L. Maurer defended the organization's decision to work with Kalshi.

"Innovation and responsibility can and must evolve together," NCPG executive director Heather L. Maurer said. 

"Kalshi's engagement demonstrates a commitment to mitigating harm before it occurs and ensuring support resources are accessible when they are needed."

The NCPG created a Financial Services & Trading membership category alongside the partnership. Kalshi became the category's first Platinum-level member.

The national organization says the initiative will focus on responsible trading and harm reduction. Meanwhile, Nevada believes stronger protections should come before prediction markets expand further.

Nevada's Position Could Shape Prediction Market Partnerships

Nevada's stance carries significant weight because of its position in the gambling industry. The state operates one of America's most established and closely regulated gaming markets.

Its regulators have taken an aggressive position against Kalshi's sports contracts. In February, the Ninth Circuit sided with Nevada in a key legal dispute involving Kalshi.

Nevada regulators later sought to enforce restrictions after alleging that Kalshi had not complied with court requirements. In June, the Gaming Control Board asked a court to hold Kalshi in contempt.

The state subsequently reached an agreement with Kalshi in July. Under that agreement, Kalshi had until August 12 to implement third-party geofencing.

The company faced potential fines of $120,000 per day if it failed to meet that requirement. The restrictions cover sports, election, and entertainment contracts in Nevada.

That deadline has now passed, adding another layer to the ongoing dispute. The developments demonstrate how Nevada continues pushing for state-level oversight of prediction markets.

What Does This Mean for the Nevada Problem Gambling Council?

For the Nevada Council, that regulatory position makes the NCPG's Kalshi partnership particularly difficult to accept. The council has aligned itself with state regulators while the national organization has chosen engagement with the prediction market sector.

As prediction markets expand, the split could influence how other problem gambling organizations approach industry partnerships. It may also intensify debates over whether prediction contracts belong under financial regulation or state gambling laws.

For Nevada, the issue goes beyond competition between prediction markets and US online sportsbooks. The council views the dispute as a broader question about responsible gambling, consumer protection, and regulatory authority.

Jonathan Rodriguez
Jonathan Rodriguez

Jonathan is an avid basketball fan, and is often looking forward to the next upcoming NBA season when not checking players' stats during games. He also likes to keep his ears on the ground for the latest rumblings in the online casino industry.

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