The Colorado Lottery has announced a significant shift in its approach to problem gambling resources, unveiling a new national hotline aimed at providing greater assistance to gamblers in distress.
On Thursday, the Colorado Lottery revealed it will begin promoting the National Council on Problem Gambling’s (NCPG) helpline, 1-800-MY-RESET, as a replacement for the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline, which has been at the center of a legal conflict dating back to 2025 involving the NCPG and the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ). The Lottery will systematically phase out references to 1-800-GAMBLER across its various platforms.
"There has been a change at the national level, and the Colorado Lottery is making the change to remain consistent with our alignment with the National Council on Problem Gambling," stated Tom Seaver, Senior Director of the Colorado Lottery, adding, "Players can find the support they need by calling either number at this time."
Despite this transition, the Colorado Division of Gaming has continued to endorse the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline, instructing the public and gaming licensees via a notice in September 2025 to rely on that number until further notice from the state. As of July 2026, the Colorado Division of Gaming still actively promotes 1-800-GAMBLER through its Bet Smart Colorado site, while the Colorado Lottery embarks on a different path.
The legal tension surrounding the helpline stems from its ownership; 1-800-GAMBLER has been under the CCGNJ's control since the 1980s. In 2022, the CCGNJ licensed the helpline to the NCPG under a three-year agreement that terminated in May 2025. When the contract expired, a dispute arose between the NCPG and the CCGNJ. Court documents reveal that the NCPG sought to extend its agreement for the helpline use and subsequently filed for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the CCGNJ to prevent disruptions to its access. In response, the CCGNJ filed its own TRO after proposing a new licensing agreement to the NCPG, which was declined.
A ruling from Superior Court Judge Douglas H. Hurd favored the CCGNJ, granting their request to revoke NCPG's access to 1-800-GAMBLER, thereby affirming the CCGNJ's exclusive right to operate the helpline. Following this decision, the NCPG established the new hotline, 1-800-MY-RESET, to serve as a national resource for problem gambling assistance, resulting in two competing national helplines available for U.S. residents.
The introduction of the dual helplines initially caused some confusion among both operators and bettors across the country, compounded by the presence of specific state numbers. Nevertheless, the Colorado Lottery is moving forward with the promotion of 1-800-MY-RESET, which is operated by the NCPG, as part of its commitment to help those struggling with gambling issues.
