A decision by a gambling addiction nonprofit to accept a donation from Kalshi has sparked internal turmoil. In late September, the executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling—the nation’s largest nonprofit dedicated to combating gambling addiction—resigned after facing backlash over taking $2 million from the prediction market platform, according to a recent Barron’s report.
Heather Maurer, who took the helm in January, finalized the Kalshi agreement without prior board approval and required directors to sign unprecedented nondisclosure agreements before revealing the donation at an April conference, according to the report. When directors pressed her on whether Kalshi had agreed to fund safety guardrails or promote addiction helplines, she acknowledged it had not, triggering months of internal revolt that ended with her departure less than 10 months into the job.
