Greyhound racing supporters are celebrating after a North Dakota bill seeking to ban online wagering was soundly defeated 69-19.
North Dakota greyhound betting ban defeated in House vote
Efforts to ban online wagering on greyhound racing in North Dakota have been soundly defeated, in a decision welcomed by the top greyhound betting operators and supporters of the global greyhound racing industry.
The proposal, tied to Senate Bill 2384, was struck down by a convincing 69-19 margin in the North Dakota House of Representatives on March 31.
While one section of the bill dealt with minor gaming regulation updates, the contentious portion aimed to ban Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) companies from taking bets on greyhound races, regardless of where the events occurred.
North Dakota is one of the major licencing hubs for ADW platforms in the United States, and many of those top betting sites offer wagering on greyhound meetings.
The bill, backed by US animal rights group GREY2K USA, would have impacted global turnover and raised concerns among international stakeholders.
Republican Senator Claire Cory, who introduced the bill, claimed greyhound racing lacked regulation and had links to criminal activity overseas.
But local lawmakers and members of the US racing industry pushed back strongly, warning that the bill would hurt the state’s economy and put live horse racing in jeopardy.
Bruce Johnson, executive director of North Dakota Racing, told lawmakers that nearly 10% of the state’s racing turnover came from greyhound betting.
He said the bill would likely force licensed ADW operators to relocate, reducing the tax revenue that funds North Dakota’s live racing programs.
Horse racing representatives, including Rep. Bill Tveit, defended the role of ADW platforms in supporting rural communities.
Tveit argued the bill was driven by out-of-state activist groups and had no direct benefit for North Dakotans, especially since greyhound racing is not held in the state.
While some lawmakers suggested exploring alternative funding methods for live racing, the majority agreed that removing greyhound betting from ADW platforms would pose too great a risk.
The result means ADW operators licenced in North Dakota can continue offering bets on greyhound races — a positive outcome for punters and the broader international greyhound racing ecosystem.
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