Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling

What Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling does

The Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling (MCEPG) is a non-profit public health program established in July 2012 and operated within the University of Maryland School of Medicine. It is the state-designated center for problem gambling services in Maryland, funded primarily by the Maryland Department of Health's Behavioral Health Administration, with academic and research support from the university's Department of Epidemiology and Public Health. Its core mission is to reduce the harms of gambling disorder statewide through treatment, prevention, peer recovery, training, public awareness, and research.

The Center delivers a continuum of services to Maryland residents at no cost regardless of insurance or financial status. Offerings include a 24/7 helpline (1-800-GAMBLER) supporting call, text, and chat; no-cost individual, family, and group counseling delivered through a 100+ provider network spanning all 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City; a Peer Recovery Support program staffed by CPRS-certified specialists with lived experience; free CEU training and case consultation for counselors, educators, and healthcare providers; public-awareness campaigns (including a dedicated sports-betting education track and a 13-year-running annual conference); and an 11-question online self-evaluation screening tool. Research output includes statewide gambling prevalence studies that document rising disordered-gambling and sports-betting participation in Maryland.

The operating model is grant-funded rather than revenue-generating: all services are free to end users, providers are reimbursed via Carelon Behavioral Health (Medicaid/Problem Gambling Fund), and program operations run on a ~$5.2 million annual budget (FY2025) supporting 11–15 staff. Distribution is hybrid—statewide helpline plus in-person and telehealth treatment, augmented by digital channels (website in 8 languages, YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn), FY2027 grant-funded prevention partnerships with colleges and community organizations, and a peer-led outreach model. The Center has no proprietary technology platform; its core "product" is the coordinated human-delivered service network backed by epidemiological research and state policy infrastructure.

Name

Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling

Legal name

Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling

Website

https://mdproblemgambling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling is a state-funded non-profit program within the University of Maryland School of Medicine that delivers no-cost treatment, peer recovery, training, prevention, and research services to Maryland residents affected by problem gambling.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Problem Gambling Treatment and Behavioral Health Services

NAICS

Other Gambling Industries (713290), Gambling Industries (7132)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Responsible Gambling (RG) Compliance & Player Protection (MPAEAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Responsible Gambling & Player Protection Solutions (MPAEACAJ)

Keywords

• Problem gambling treatment
• Behavioral health services
• Gambling disorder counseling
• Peer recovery support
• Gambling prevention programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Funded by the Maryland Department of Health's Behavioral Health Administration. Additional research support from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling delivers a statewide, no-cost continuum of care for Maryland residents impacted by problem gambling. Core offerings include a 24/7 multilingual helpline (1-800-GAMBLER), free individual/family/group counseling via a 100+ provider network with telehealth, peer recovery support, free CEU training for clinicians, public awareness campaigns, prevention grants for colleges and communities, and epidemiological research.

Product overview

The Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling operates as a comprehensive state-funded program offering a unified suite of services centered around problem gambling prevention, treatment, and recovery support. The core offerings include a 24-hour Helpline (1-800-GAMBLER) providing immediate crisis support, no-cost Treatment/Counseling Services for Maryland residents, and a Peer Recovery Support Program staffed by specialists with lived experience. The organization maintains a Provider Referral Directory connecting help seekers to vetted treatment providers, offers Professional Training and CEU Programs for clinicians, and conducts Public Awareness Campaigns including annual conferences. Research Programs provide prevalence data and evidence-based guidance. Specialized Help Programs serve distinct populations (adults, youth, seniors, families, co-workers), while a Self-Evaluation Tool enables individuals to assess potential gambling problems. The Sports Betting Education sub-product addresses risks specific to online/mobile wagering. These services work together to provide a continuum of care from prevention through recovery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 24-Hour Helpline (1-800-GAMBLER)
• Treatment and Counseling Services No-cost gambling treatment and counseling for Maryland residents regardless of insurance coverage or financial status, delivered via a 100+ provider network offering individual, family, and group therapy with telehealth options and provider reimbursement through Carelon Behavioral Health.
• Peer Recovery Support Program Peer Recovery Support Specialists with lived experience connect help seekers to resources, treatment providers, and support groups to promote sustained recovery from gambling disorder.
• Professional Training and CEU Programs Free problem gambling training programs for counselors, educators, prevention specialists, and healthcare providers awarding continuing education units (CEUs) for Maryland licensed professionals, delivered through webinars, online courses, in-person sessions, and case consultation calls.
• Annual Conference on Problem Gambling Annual educational conference bringing together professionals, providers, and stakeholders to share knowledge on problem gambling treatment, prevention, and research.

Quantifiable outcome

• Peer Recovery Support Specialists supported 613 Maryland residents in FY2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Maryland School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center is a program of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, providing academic oversight, research support through the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, and institutional infrastructure.
• Carelon Behavioral HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministrative Services Organization (ASO) handling provider reimbursement for no-cost gambling treatment. Providers receive reimbursement through Medicaid or Problem Gambling Fund via Carelon.
• Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState gaming agency responsible for Voluntary Exclusion Program. Center collaborates on responsible gambling practices and public awareness initiatives.
• The Parents Place of MarylandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing family peer support services for loved ones of problem gamblers through their Family Peer Support Program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Responsible Gambling Council: Canadian non-profit focused on responsible gambling prevention, research, and public education. Comparable as an internationally recognized responsible gambling organization with similar mission in prevention, treatment referrals, and public awareness.
• National Council on Problem Gambling: The national umbrella organization for problem gambling awareness, advocacy, and helpline services (1-800-GAMBLER). Comparable as the parent national body coordinating state affiliates and issuing the Silver Award that the Maryland Center received in 2021.

Regional players

• GamCare: UK-based leading provider of information, advice, support, and treatment for problem gamblers. Comparable as a national-level helpline, treatment referral, and research organization operating in a different geography (United Kingdom vs. Maryland).

Direct peers

• Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling: Statewide problem gambling prevention and treatment organization serving Massachusetts residents. Comparable as a parallel state-level responsible gambling center offering helpline, counseling referrals, and public awareness campaigns.
• New York Council on Problem Gambling: New York statewide affiliate of the National Council on Problem Gambling providing helpline, training, and treatment referrals. Comparable as a state-level peer offering similar responsible gambling services in a different jurisdiction.
• Pennsylvania Gambling Services Network (Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania): Statewide problem gambling organization serving Pennsylvania, a state with legal sports betting comparable to Maryland. Provides helpline, provider network, and public awareness services similar to Maryland Center's offering.
• Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling: State-level problem gambling council providing helpline, treatment referral, prevention, and advocacy in Connecticut. Directly comparable as a state-affiliate peer organization where former Maryland Center Director Mary Drexler served as Executive Director for 10 years.

Others

• Carelon Behavioral Health: Behavioral health managed care organization that handles Medicaid reimbursement for the Center's treatment provider network. Adjacent infrastructure partner enabling the Center's no-cost treatment delivery model.
• Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency: State gaming regulator that operates the Voluntary Exclusion Program and collaborates with the Center on responsible gambling initiatives. Adjacent ecosystem partner with shared mission of responsible gambling but distinct regulatory mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MDCEPG
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCD-OKt84od-jl3DlxPFck5w
• Facebookfacebook.com/Maryland-Center-of-Excellence-on-Problem-Gambling-204065326395000
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mdcepg
• Instagraminstagram.com/mdcepg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling