On October 26, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) appointed Charles H. Jeffers II as its interim executive director following the resignation of Heather Maurer in September 2026. The NCPG plans to start the search for a permanent successor in January 2027 amid ongoing scrutiny of its association with Kalshi, a company that offers sports prediction markets, which has led to several member withdrawals.
Jeffers, a consultant and founder of The Jeffers Group, has an extensive background in interim executive roles and governance. His previous positions include serving as COO and interim CEO of Destination Marketing Association International from 2014 to 2016, COO of Visit Baltimore from 2017 to 2021, and CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority from 2021 to 2022. Most recently, he served as interim executive director for the American Occupational Therapy Association in 2023-2024.
Derek Longmeier, NCPG Board President, emphasized Jeffers’ experience in organizational dynamics and governance as crucial for leading the council through its current transition. He stated, “Charles’ depth of experience in understanding culture dynamics, operational demands, and board governance is key to our selecting him as Interim Executive Director of NCPG.” During this transition, Jeffers will focus on operational alignment with strategy, transparency, and the NCPG’s core values.
This marks a significant leadership change for NCPG as it seeks its third permanent executive director in two years. Maurer succeeded Keith Whyte, who departed in January 2025 after 27 years as executive director. Despite her appointment in November 2025, Maurer resigned after just 10 months without disclosing a reason. The NCPG has a policy against discussing personnel changes publicly. Her resignation followed the earlier departure of Jaime Costello, the Director of Programs, who cited an unsustainable work environment in her LinkedIn announcement.
The council has faced criticism for its decision to accept a $2 million donation from Kalshi, which has become its first member of a newly created Financial Services & Trading Subcategory. This decision came under fire as some state members withdrew their memberships, including those from Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, and Washington, all of which are involved in litigation with Kalshi over the legality of its sports event contracts.
Under its current governance policy, new donations or memberships do not require board approval, although this procedure may be reassessed with new leadership. Despite the backlash, the NCPG board has maintained its stance regarding its relationship with Kalshi.
In addition, several longstanding members of the NCPG already operate in the prediction markets space, such as Betr, DraftKings, Fanatics Betting and Gaming, FanDuel, and Underdog, indicating a shift towards integrating trading platforms into their offerings. The council recently listed Betr and GamFin as members of the new Financial Services & Trading Subcategory in addition to Kalshi.
Longmeier reiterated the NCPG’s neutral stance on gambling-related products, asserting that donations and memberships do not equate to endorsements. He stated, “Prediction markets are functionally gambling, and they have exploded in popularity. The people who develop problems on these platforms deserve the same protections as anyone else who gambles.” The NCPG’s overarching goal remains the same: to advocate for robust consumer protection standards and responsible gambling tools, ensuring support is accessible before harm occurs, not after.
