Greyhound Racing in the United States

BIG NEWS!

The US Greyhound Protection Act will outlaw dog racing nationwide. The measure also bars American gamblers from betting on foreign races and blocks the export of American dogs for racing elsewhere. Read more and take action.

Dog racing is illegal in 44 states

DONATE TO HELP END DOG RACING IN THE U.S.

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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), Florida (2018), Oregon (2022), Connecticut (2024) and Arkansas (2025). 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-seven 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), Valley Race Park (TX), 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), Palm Beach Kennel Club (FL), Iowa Greyhound Park, Southland Park (AR) and Agua Caliente Racetrack (Baja California, Mexico).

In addition to live dog racing, greyhound simulcast betting exists in several states of including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.² 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. It appears that greyhound simulcast gambling may also be offered at Native American tribal casinos in Louisiana and New Mexico. Greyhound simulcast wagering is also legal, but not operational, in Montana and Wisconsin.

States that once allowed dog simulcast wagering are increasingly outlawing it. Kansas and Massachusetts passed prohibitions in 2022. Colorado outlawed simulcast wagering on dog racing in 2023. In May 2024, New Hampshire prohibited simulcast betting on dog racing (effective January 1, 2027). Then in June, Arizona prohibited internet wagering on greyhound races (effective December 31, 2028). In 2025, Arkansas outlawed simulcast wagering on dog racing (effective January 1, 2028).