Greyhound racing has been outlawed in Arkansas, with simulcasts now prohibited as well.
In a significant shift for animal welfare, greyhound racing in the United States is largely being banned or phased out due to regulatory actions and public campaigns. This transformation is most evident in states like Virginia, where greyhound racing and simulcasting have been explicitly outlawed since July 3, 2025.
The ban in Virginia, as outlined in § 59.1-405.1, forbids holding, conducting, or operating any greyhound races for public exhibition for monetary gain, and also prohibits the transmission or receipt of greyhound race simulcasting for commercial purposes. Violations of this law constitute a Class 4 felony.
On the federal level, the Greyhound Protection Act, introduced in 2025, aims to phase out greyhound racing nationwide by amending the Animal Welfare Act and outlawing remote betting on greyhound races, targeting the gambling aspect that supports the industry financially. This bill has garnered the support of 80 cosponsors and more than 250 humane groups, anti-gambling organizations, and animal shelters.
However, despite these bans and legislative efforts, greyhound racing and betting still occur in certain locations, such as Tri-State Greyhound Park in West Virginia, which operates live greyhound racing and off-track betting facilities as of July 2025. This indicates that while bans are advancing, not all states have fully prohibited the sport yet.
Arkansas, the latest state to join this movement, banned greyhound racing and simulcasts due to concerns about animal welfare. On March 26, 2025, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a bill to enforce this ban. The bill also stipulates that simulcast betting on dog races will phase out by 2028 in Arkansas.
The Southland track, once a bustling hub attracting 10,000 to 12,000 regular racegoers in the late 1970s and early 1980s, ended dog racing in December 2022. Thousands of greyhounds at West Virginia tracks endure lives of confinement, kept in cages barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around for long hours each day, as reported by advocacy group GREY2K USA.
As of July 2025, 44 states in America have banned greyhound racing, with Arkansas being the most recent addition. This shift reflects a growing awareness and concern for animal welfare, pushing for a more humane future for greyhounds.
- Despite the ban in 44 states, including the most recent addition, Arkansas, greyhound racing and betting still persist in certain locations like Tri-State Greyhound Park in West Virginia.
- GREY2K USA, an advocacy group, reported that thousands of greyhounds at West Virginia tracks endure lives of confinement, kept in cages barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around for long hours each day.
- Arkansas banned greyhound racing and simulcasts due to concerns about animal welfare. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a bill to enforce this ban, and the bill also stipulates that simulcast betting on dog races will phase out by 2028 in Arkansas.
- The Greyhound Protection Act, introduced in 2025, aims to phase out greyhound racing nationwide by amending the Animal Welfare Act and outlawing remote betting on greyhound races, targeting the gambling aspect that supports the industry financially. This bill has garnered the support of 80 cosponsors and more than 250 humane groups, anti-gambling organizations, and animal shelters.