- West Virginia is the one state the place stay greyhound racing stays
- A federal invoice seeks to outlaw canine racing throughout the US
West Virginia is the one state within the nation the place stay greyhound racing stays. A federal invoice filed in August would pressure the Mountaineer State to stop its canine races. State officers have varied opinions on what kind of affect that will ship.
Greyhounds race at full velocity. A federal invoice might pressure West Virginia, the final remaining state with greyhound racing, to finish canine races. (Picture: Shutterstock)
West Virginia’s 2007 gaming legislation requires that on line casino slot machines and desk video games function solely at state-sanctioned horse or greyhound racetracks the place stay racing stays. The lone exception is the On line casino Membership at The Greenbrier, which holds the one nonracing gaming license.
House Resolution 5017, launched to Congress by Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA) and 15 bipartisan cosponsors, would require West Virginia’s greyhound trade to shut. That may have devastating penalties on the state, say some elected officers.
These are specialised financial and employment alternatives immediately tied to the trade which might be gone tomorrow if racing is eradicated,” West Virginia Del. Shawn Fluharty (D-Ohio) advised West Virginia Watch, an unbiased, nonpartisan information service. “To not point out, the house owners and trainers of those canines are residents of West Virginia. They’re enterprise house owners using folks regionally.”
Fluharty is among the many most influential state lawmakers within the nationwide gaming trade, as he heads the Nationwide Council of Legislators from Gaming States.
Greyhound Abuse Overstated?
HR5017 stays with the Home Agriculture Committee, the committee to which it was referred in August. No US consultant from West Virginia has lent their title to the invoice.
Proponents of ending greyhound racing declare a ban is required to cease the inhumane therapy of the greyhounds. Some in West Virginia argue these welfare claims are outdated.
These misconceptions of abuse and neglect are simply folks placing out lies. I all the time inform folks, ‘Consider your eyes and never the lies,’” mentioned Steve Sarras, a outstanding greyhound breeder in West Virginia.
Sarras advised West Virginia Watch that each one race canines are required to be examined frequently by licensed veterinarians.
“There’s no room for abuse and neglect,” Sarras declared, including that greyhounds in West Virginia are “blissful and wholesome and intensely match.”
Group Says Abuse Stays Rampant
Opponents to greyhound racing say the canines spend most of their racing days locked in cages. GREY2K, a nonprofit searching for to finish greyhound racing, claims race canines spend 20 to 23 hours a day in confinement, are drugged with stimulants, together with cocaine, are subjected to cruelty, and frequently endure accidents and loss of life.
GREY2K Government Director Carey Theil mentioned West Virginia lawmakers might simply amend the state gaming legislation to cast off the stay racing situation and switch the $15 million to $17 million state greyhound racing subsidy that the casinos generate “wherever it desires.” He says abuse of race days stays rampant.
In response to the West Virginia Racing Fee, there have been 300 greyhound accidents reported to this point in 2025, together with 104 canines that suffered damaged bones and 12 canines that died. This is without doubt one of the the reason why greyhound racing is now unlawful in 44 states,” Theil advised On line casino.org.
“The partitions are closing in on this trade. Since 2022, lawmakers in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Oregon have phased out greyhound simulcast betting. When these bans take impact, simply 12 states will enable playing on canine races,” Theil added.
West Virginia On line casino Income
In 2024, gross gaming income received by the 5 casinos, plus on-line sports activities betting and iGaming, totaled $878.8 million — the state’s highest mark since 2012. The file income, nevertheless, was pushed on-line.
West Virginia iGaming income soared 57% to $246.5 million. On-line sports activities betting grew by over 16% to $55.4 million. In the meantime, in-person on line casino win was down 3.5% to $576.9 million.
