Kalshi Becomes First Prediction Platform to Join the NCPG

Kalshi is stepping up its fight against problem gambling.

The prediction market leader announced it has become a platinum member of the National Council on Problem Gambling, which operates the 1-800-MY-RESET problem gambling hotline. The operator will donate and invest $2 million to the non-profit group over the next two years. That money will be used to help the NCPG improve support for prediction market users as the industry continues to grow.

The deal makes Kalshi the first prediction market operator to join the NCPG.

NCPG Praises Kalshi

The NCPG understands the significance of Kalshi’s membership. The operator continues to lead the sports prediction industry, making the decision to join even more important. The actions show a new focus on responsible gambling, and the group hopes it will inspire other platforms to follow Kalshi’s lead.

The group’s Executive Director, Heather Maurer, emphasized this in a press release announcing the news.

NCPG’s goal has always been to mitigate harm by increasing education, awareness, and understanding of risky behaviors, while ensuring access to trusted, scientific, and evidence-based information and healthcare resources. Innovation and responsibility can and must evolve together. Kalshi’s engagement demonstrates a commitment to mitigating harm before it occurs and ensuring support resources are accessible when they are needed.

Mansour Changing Tune on Problem Gambling

As sports prediction markets began to take off, operators like Kalshi were initially resistant to focusing on problem gambling. Their offering is a “free market” type of betting, and the industry largely believed customers should be able to spend their money how they see fit.

In the NCPG’s press release, Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour explained that the industry’s growth is behind Kalshi’s new focus.

At Kalshi, we believe in the power of prediction markets, and we are sensitive to the fact that they, like any financial trading products, come with risks. As prediction markets continue to evolve, we are deeply committed to setting a new standard for responsible trading by investing in the tools, education, and protections needed to promote healthy participation and customer safety, and hope that over time all trading platforms with significant retail participation follow suit.

A Sign of The Times?

While Mansour’s words ring true, the decision to join the NCPG could be driven by factors other than responsible gambling.

The prediction industry remains federally protected, but it has seen mounting lawsuits from states and tribes over the last year. A recent Siena Poll also found a shift in public opinion, with a large majority believing prediction markets are a form of gambling and should be regulated by the states.

One reason for the shift in public opinion is fears over problem gambling. Sports betting has created a crisis across the US that lawmakers are desperate to resolve. That led many people to see the prediction industry’s nonchalant attitude toward the issue as concerning, fueling fears that the crisis would worsen. 

By investing in the NCPG, Kalshi also gets a PR win, which would be crucial amid the company’s many legal fights.