Nonprofit chief resigns over Kalshi deal

Heather Maurer, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling since January, resigned after the organization accepted a two million dollar donation from prediction market platform Kalshi without prior board approval.

Maurer finalized deal in secret

Maurer finalized the Kalshi agreement without board approval and required directors to sign unprecedented nondisclosure agreements before revealing the donation at an April conference, according to Barron's.

Kalshi refused safety commitments

When directors pressed Maurer on whether Kalshi had agreed to fund safety guardrails or promote addiction helplines, she acknowledged it had not, triggering months of internal revolt.

Programs director also quits

Jaime Costello, the NCPG's director of programs, resigned days after Maurer. Costello wrote that the environment shifted in ways she could no longer reconcile with how the work should be done.

“I made this decision because, over the past year, the environment shifted in ways I could no longer reconcile with how I believe this work should be done.”

State affiliates withdraw over donation

Washington's Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling ended its thirty five year affiliation in September. Ohio, Nevada and Michigan also withdrew, all citing disagreement with the NCPG's decision to accept Kalshi's donation.