Head of prominent gambling addiction nonprofit resigns after backlash to $2 million Kalshi donation

The executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling resigned in late September after backlash over the organization’s decision to accept $2 million from prediction market platform Kalshi.

The donation has created internal turmoil at the nonprofit, which is described as the largest U.S. organization dedicated to combating gambling addiction. The leadership departure highlights the tensions that can arise when organizations focused on gambling-related harms accept funding from companies operating in adjacent parts of the sector.

Donation Draws Internal Backlash

According to a recent Barron’s report, criticism followed the council’s decision to take the Kalshi contribution. The executive director stepped down after facing that backlash, although the available information does not identify the specific objections raised by staff or other stakeholders.

The episode places the nonprofit’s funding decision at the center of attention. For an organization focused on problem gambling, accepting a substantial contribution from a prediction market platform has prompted questions internally, while also making the council’s relationship with industry-linked donors a matter of public scrutiny.

What Happens Next

The resignation leaves the National Council on Problem Gambling dealing with the fallout from the donation and the resulting internal strain. The available report does not provide details about a successor, changes to the contribution, or any broader organizational response.

For now, the dispute underscores the reputational risks nonprofits may face when funding sources are closely connected to the activities their missions address.