National Council on Problem Gambling

Membership and Organization

The NCPG membership consists of affiliate, individual, and organization members. Members do not receive goods or services. Affiliate members, also commonly known as councils or state councils, are state-based nonprofit groups that apply to become affiliate members of NCPG. Only one affiliate member is permitted per state. Affiliate councils are required to maintain a neutral stance on legalized gambling. Each affiliate appoints a representative to the NCPG board of directors, and the chair of the affiliate committee, which is voted on by the affiliates, serves on the executive committee.

Individual members are drawn from those who have been affected by problem gambling or those who work with problem gamblers. The majority of individual [Page 596]members are recovering problem gamblers, loved ones or family members of problem gamblers, or counselors who treat this addiction.

Organization membership is restricted to corporations and government agencies in the United States. Sometimes referred to as a corporate membership, organizations from the gaining industry, state substance abuse and mental health agencies, counseling centers, treatment facilities, and general corporations all fall in this category.

NCPG is governed by a volunteer board of directors that is drawn from two sources. Each affiliate member receives one seat on the board, and this representative can be reappointed indefinitely. The board also seeks nominations for at-large board members, who currently have 20 seats. At present there are 35 affiliate members, resulting in a board of 55 individuals. The NCPG bylaws require that at least 51% of seats be held by affiliate members.

The National Council leadership is composed of five officers (president, executive vice president, vice president, treasurer, secretary) elected to 1-year terms, with a term limit of 3 years. The affiliate and at-large board members annually elect a representative to serve with the officers on the executive committee, which oversees all operations when the board is not in session. The executive director serves as an ex-officio member of the executive committee.

The NCPG maintains a number of standing and ad-hoc committees. Standing committees include bylaws, executive, finance, and personnel. The remaining committees, such as Conference, Helpline, National Problem Gambling Awareness Week, and Youth, are all ad-hoc. Committee chairs must be members of NCPG, although committee members can be drawn from anywhere.

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