The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is calling on US prediction market operators to integrate the National Problem Gambling Helpline into their digital platforms and marketing materials.
In a resolution issued today (10 February), the board of directors for the Washington-based non-profit stated that these emerging financial markets carry consumer risks nearly identical to those found in traditional sports betting.
The NCPG request centres on the promotion of 1-800-MY-RESET, a new helpline number adopted by the organisation on 29 January to replace its previous 1-800-GAMBLER assets.
The council urges platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket to adopt the same responsible gaming standards required of regulated mobile sportsbooks.
The NCPG explained: “The National Problem Gambling Helpline is a critical baseline responsibility for any operator offering products that meaningfully resemble gambling activity and may contribute to gambling-related harm.”
The statement targets the heart of the debate over the legality of prediction markets. The conventional sports betting industry, alongside many regulators, asserts that these markets are functionally identical to betting.
Prediction markets operators, however, counter that they are regulated financial exchanges, not sports betting platforms.
Research from the council indicates that individuals who trade on these platforms weekly are twice as likely to report problem gambling indicators compared to the general population.
Prediction markets must toe the RG line
The council identified a lack of visible support resources on prediction platforms as a public health gap.
By requiring the helpline number to be displayed in a clear and prominent manner, the NCPG aims to solve the problem of limited consumer awareness regarding available help for trading-related financial distress.
This push for inclusion comes as the sector experiences rapid growth, with some platforms facilitating billions of dollars worth of trades each month.
State regulators in New York and Nevada have previously raised concerns that these markets function as a form of regulatory arbitrage, bypassing state-level consumer protections and age verification requirements.
The NCPG stated that any operator offering products that mirror gambling should take visible steps to mitigate harm, regardless of their federal or state classification.
The council has previously reported that nearly 20 million adults in the US experienced at least one indicator of gambling-related harm over the past year.
By standardising the presence of the helpline across a broader range of risk-taking products, the NCPG seeks to create a consistent national safety net.
The organisation remains neutral on the legality of prediction markets but maintains that public health best practices must evolve alongside financial innovation.
nextpredict.io/ has reached out for comment from the leading prediction market operators.