Arkansas Bans Greyhound Racing and All Related Betting

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has signed a bill officially banning greyhound racing in the state. According to Gambling News, the new law also prohibits Arkansas residents from placing bets on greyhound races — even if the events take place outside the state.

With this legislation, Arkansas joins the growing list of states outlawing greyhound racing, bringing the total number to 44.

Arkansas also becomes the sixth state to ban all betting on dog races. Similar restrictions are already in place in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Kansas, Colorado, and Arizona. However, the full ban on out-of-state simulcast wagering will not take effect in Arkansas until 2028.

Animal welfare advocates led the push for the ban, arguing that greyhound racing is both dangerous and inhumane. In 2023, tracks at Wheeling Island Casino & Racetrack and Mardi Gras Casino & Resort in West Virginia reported 568 injuries among racing dogs. Meanwhile, public interest in the sport continues to decline across the U.S.