Problem Gambling Council Director Resigns Months After Kalshi Deal
Heather Maurer resigned as executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling months after it accepted $2 million from prediction market Kalshi, following the earlier departure of programs director Jaime Costello and backlash from several members.Summary
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is seeking a new executive director after Heather Maurer resigned from the U.S. nonprofit, which has faced criticism since accepting $2 million from prediction market Kalshi in May. The board confirmed Maurer's resignation over the weekend without giving a reason; she will stay on until Oct. 16. GamblingHarm.org reported on Sept. 25 that the NCPG was preparing to replace her. Maurer took over on Jan. 7 from Keith Whyte, who had led the group for more than two decades. Months into her tenure, the NCPG struck the Kalshi deal that sparked controversy: the $2 million donation made Kalshi the first member of a new "Financial Services & Trading" membership subcategory and funds the NCPG's Financial Trader Health and Safety Initiative, which Maurer co-signed a letter introducing. The partnership drew immediate pushback because many NCPG members are states fighting Kalshi in court over whether its sports contracts are illegal bets. The Michigan Gaming Control Board and the Ohio Casino Control Commission withdrew their memberships; the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling cut ties in August, and a Washington State problem gambling group also left. Slot maker Aristocrat said last week it is "stepping back" from the NCPG over its "acceptance of substantial funding" from a prediction-market operator, and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission has said it may not renew its membership. Maurer's exit follows that of director of programs Jaime Costello, who resigned on Sept. 22, saying the environment had shifted in ways she could no longer reconcile, though she later said her resignation was not because of Kalshi. The NCPG has defended the arrangement: board president Derek Longmeier said in a Sept. 22 statement that the group considers prediction markets "functionally gambling," is neutral on whether they should be legal but not on preventing harm, and that "donor engagement does not mean endorsement." Kalshi is not the NCPG's only industry funder; the NFL, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars are among its largest donors. The NCPG said its programs will continue while it searches for Maurer's successor.
(Source：Bitcoin News)