In forty-one U.S. states, commercial dog racing is illegal.
In five states, all dog tracks have closed and ceased live racing, but a prohibitory statute has yet to be enacted. Those states are Oregon, Connecticut, Kansas, Wisconsin and Alabama.1
In just four states, pari-mutuel dog racing remains legal and operational. These states are West Virginia, Arkansas, Iowa and Texas.2
The following are the most recent states to pass legislation prohibiting dog racing: Maine (1993), Virginia (1995), Vermont (1995), Idaho (1996), Washington (1996), Nevada (1997), North Carolina (1998), Pennsylvania (2004), Massachusetts (2010), Rhode Island (2010), New Hampshire (2010), Colorado (2014), Arizona (2016) and Florida (2018). The United States Territory of Guam also outlawed commercial dog racing in 2010.
Since our formation in 2001, the dog racing industry has suffered catastrophic decline. Altogether, forty-three US tracks have ended dog racing and most have closed entirely: St. Croix Meadows (WI), Pueblo Greyhound Park (CO), Apache Greyhound Park (AZ), Multnomah Greyhound Park (OR), Plainfield Greyhound Park (CT), Geneva Lakes Kennel Club (WI), Post Time (CO), Shoreline Star (CT), Cloverleaf Kennel Club (CO), Jacksonville Kennel Club (FL), Tampa Greyhound Park (FL), Wichita Greyhound Park (KS), Corpus Christi (TX), Mile High (CO), The Woodlands (KS), Hinsdale Greyhound Park (NH), The Lodge at Belmont (NH), Seabrook Greyhound Park (NH), Wonderland Greyhound Park (MA), Guam Greyhound Park (Guam), Phoenix Greyhound Park (AZ), Raynham Park (MA), Dairyland Greyhound Park (WI), Twin River (RI), VictoryLand (AL), Jefferson County Kennel Club (FL), Bluffs Run (IA), Tucson Greyhound Park (AZ), Mobile Greyhound Park (AL), Melbourne Greyhound Park (FL), Hollywood Greyhound Park (FL), Flagler Greyhound Track (FL), Pensacola Greyhound Track (FL), Sarasota Greyhound Track (FL), Ebro Greyhound Park (FL), Daytona Beach Kennel Club (FL), Sanford Orlando Kennel Club (FL), Birmingham Race Course (AL), Naples-Ft. Myers Greyhound Track (FL), Gulf Greyhound Park (TX), Orange Park Kennel Club (FL), Derby Lane (FL) and Palm Beach Kennel Club (FL). Additionally, Southland Park in Arkansas has announced an end to dog racing by December 2022.
In addition to live dog racing, greyhound simulcast betting exists in several states including Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming.3 In these states, gamblers are supporting the dog racing industry even though there is no active dog track in their community. Similarly, these simulcast signals depend on the existence of dog tracks in other states.
View the Greyhound Racing in the United States Fact Sheet (PDF)
Learn about dog racing around the world
See humane issues in dog racing
GREY2K USA Worldwide released the first comprehensive report on the humane and economic aspects of greyhound racing in the United States.
Read our report for an in-depth look inside this cruel industry.
WESH 2 News - With greyhound racing out in Florida, what's next for Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club?
Fox 51 TV - Sanford Orlando Kennel Club to be Redeveloped
ABC 7 - Greyhound Racing Ends in Florida
Species Unite - Greyhound racing now outlawed in Florida
Read more >
Stay up to date and learn how you can help.