TLDR
- Heather Maurer has resigned as executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling after less than a year.
- Her exit came days after program director Jaime Costello quit over the council’s deal with Kalshi.
- Kalshi pledged $2 million over two years to the council in a partnership announced in May.
- Ohio, Michigan, Nevada and Washington left the council, and Maryland did not renew its membership.
- The council has started searching for a new leader and says its programs will continue.
Heather Maurer has stepped down as executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling. She held the role for less than a year.
The council confirmed her resignation, according to SBC Americas. Her exit follows months of criticism over the group’s partnership with prediction market operator Kalshi.
It is the second major leadership change at the council in under two years. Longtime director Keith Whyte left in early 2025.
Kalshi Deal Draws Pushback From States
The partnership was announced in May. Kalshi pledged $2 million over two years to the council.
As part of the deal, Kalshi became a “platinum member” and joined the council’s Leadership Circle. The company promised to help build educational tools, promote responsible trading and expand awareness campaigns.
Several state regulators pushed back soon after. Ohio’s Casino Control Commission left the council in June, pointing to ongoing litigation with Kalshi and a pending $5 million fine against the company.
Michigan, Nevada and Washington also withdrew. Maryland’s Lottery and Gaming Control Agency chose not to renew its membership.
Illinois officials voiced support for the regulators who cut ties. Pennsylvania’s Gaming Control Board stayed on but said it respected the other states’ decisions.
The dispute also led to departures inside the council. Jaime Costello, the Director of Program who oversaw the national gambling helpline, resigned last week.
In a LinkedIn post, Costello said the environment had shifted in ways she “could no longer reconcile with how I believe this work should be done.”
Council Says Focus Remains on Players
Board president Derek Longmeier spoke about the council’s position on Friday. He said the group does not take a stance on whether prediction markets should be legal, but it will not stay neutral on the harm they can cause.
“Regardless of how prediction markets are currently legally defined, NCPG believes it is functionally gambling and can expose consumers to many of the same risks and harms associated with traditional gambling,” he said.
Longmeier said prediction markets have quickly reached millions of users, many of them young. He added that protections are not keeping pace with the speed of that growth.
The council plans to push for safeguards. These include self-exclusion tools, age checks, clear risk warnings and direct access to help services.
On funding, Longmeier said the council accepts donations from gambling operators and other partners. He said those contributions do not shape its research or advocacy.
“Donor engagement does not mean endorsement,” he said. He added that the council welcomes work with regulators, companies and treatment experts as long as the focus stays on protecting players.
Following Maurer’s resignation, the council said the search for a new leader has already begun.
Longmeier told members the council’s work will continue without interruption. “With the dedicated commitment and depth of experience of the NCPG staff, we assure all of our advocacy, programs, and services will carry on seamlessly during the search process,” he said.
