A fresh nonprofit could be taking over the reins of Florida’s compulsive gambling hotline operations. 

This move will change the way the Sunshine State provides support for players trying to fight off their addictions.

Announcement With No Bells and Whistles

Massachusetts-based nonprofit Kindbridge Research Institute appears to be next in line to be handed a contract from the Florida Gaming Control Commission, as per documents published on the commission’s website this past week. 

The move, apparently made without any bells and whistles, comes in the context of an expired contract with the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG).

FCCG’s $2 million funding that came from fees paid by licensed slot machine facilities was cut off, which, according to executive director Jennifer Kruse, forced the organization to make serious adjustments. 

The organization, which previously had around seven employees, now has less staff and is unable to fill vacant positions or “provide hard copy literature” because it no longer has the budget to reproduce some of that material. 

Plus, Kruse noted that the demand for the helpline has skyrocketed due to Florida’s constantly growing gambling industry, with special emphasis on the introduction of online sports betting.

Kindbridge Offers Telehealth Solutions

According to its IRS filings, the nonprofit’s goal is to support gaming regulators, legislators, and public health pros via advanced research to help mitigate gambling-related health problems.

The group’s principal officer is Daniel Umfleet, who is also the founder and chief executive officer of Kindbridge Behavioral Health.

The latter is a for-profit telehealth company that focuses on treating gambling addiction.

According to information found on Kindbridge Behavioral Health’s site, the nonprofit branch is focused on advancing evidence-based telehealth solutions for individuals struggling with gambling and gaming disorders. 

It also works to develop best-practice models for treatment and assess how access to telehealth impacts mental health outcomes.

Under the new contract, Kindbridge Research Institute will establish a toll-free gambling helpline, implement training programs for employees at slot machine facilities, and introduce a series of other initiatives aimed at preventing problem gambling.

Last June, the nonprofit announced the creation of the Military Gambling Awareness Committee as a means of addressing gambling-related harm in the US military.