Greyhound Protection Act: Federal Legislation Introduced to Ban Greyhound Racing
Lawmakers have introduced legislation to prohibit and phase out greyhound racing in the United States.
In the waning days of July, Representatives Tony Cárdenas and Steve Cohen introduced the Greyhound Protection Act (HR 7826).
The text of the bill has not yet been published, but Rep. Cárdenas explained the legislation’s intent in a statement last week:
Greyhound racing is cruel and must end. These docile animals are kept in stacked cages for 20 hours or more a day and are subjected to brutal training practices and races, facing the risk of injury and death at every turn. My bill allows for a sensible wind-down of an already-declining industry that will ultimately outlaw greyhound racing. As a longtime animal welfare advocate, I am committed to always speaking up for the voiceless.
A short introduction to the bill explains that it seeks to amend the Wire Act to clarify that it prohibits betting on greyhound races and open field coursing using wire communication technology.
The bill will also attempt to phase out greyhound racing in a controlled manner, but details on how that will be accomplished remain to be seen.
A statement from Animal Wellness Action President Wayne Pacelle included in Rep. Cárdenas’ press release explains the bill seeks a “soft landing” for all involved in the industry:
Greyhound racing will soon end in the United States, and this bill allows for a managed phase-out of the activity to enable planning to provide homes for the dogs and certainty for the owners, workers, and breeders in the industry. Greyhound racing is dying, and it’s best to manage the shutdown of the industry to allow for a soft landing for the people and the animals involved.
Bill Introduced Following GREY2K USA Investigation
Numerous states have passed or considered legislation to ban greyhound racing within their borders, but HR 7826 is the first of its kind to be introduced at the federal level.
The bill was introduced in the wake of an investigation by advocacy group GREY2K USA into live lure training at facilities in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Live lure training, in which small animals are dangled in front of greyhounds or simply set loose to be chased and torn apart by greyhounds, is illegal in some states and largely prohibited in the industry.
Videos released by GREY2K USA late last month allegedly show trainers releasing live rabbits and then setting packs of greyhounds loose on them to predictable results.
In a press release, GREY2K USA says it has provided video and other details to authorities in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and other states where greyhound racing is conducted. According to GREY2K USA, live lure training is a criminal act in those states and could be prosecuted federally under the Animal Cruelty and Torture Act of 2019.
Greyhound Racing Already on Its Last Legs
The introduction of legislation to end greyhound racing at the federal level would only be the last and final blow to an industry already facing steep declines in revenue and increased scrutiny related to animal welfare.
Arkansas, Florida, West Virginia and Iowa are the only states with greyhound race tracks still operational today. Texas also had greyhound racing betting as recently as this year, but its last active racetrack closed for good in June due to decreases in betting handle over the past few years.
The tracks in Florida and Iowa are also living on borrowed time. Florida’s greyhound racing industry is set to come to an end on January 1st, 2021 following the passage of Amendment 13 in 2018.
The Arkansas greyhound racing industry is similarly set to come to an end by the end of 2022. Last year, Southland Casino Racing in West Memphis announced it would phase out greyhound racing over the course of 2022 following a successful amendment permitting the casino to decouple its gaming operations from racing.
That leaves just West Virginia and Iowa as the only states not on track to end greyhound racing over the next couple years. With most other states either already opposed to greyhound racing or lacking active race tracks, the viability of the industry was already in question even before Congress takes up the issue at the federal level.
Wes Burns has more than a decade’s worth of experience as a writer, researcher and analyst in the legal gambling industry and is co-founder of BettingUSA.com. As a former professional online poker player, Wes approaches his work from the viewpoint of players.
