​Greyhound Racing is part of West Virginia's Dog Pack

 

West Virginia has a long history, deeply rooted in greyhound racing.  In 1975, the West Virginia Legislature passed a bill that amended the state code on pari-mutural racing.  Wheeling Downs, transitioned from horses to the faster paced dog racing in 1976 and Mardi Gras Casino and Resort, then known as Tristate, joined the racing pages. 

 

Tracks diversified their gambling holdings in 1994 to expand to video lottery slots, which voters approved, provided that the greyhound industry was allocated a shared portion to expand and promote their in-state breeding program. This was designed to support West Virginia farmers, protect green space, enhance agricultural diversity and broaden tourism thru gaming venues.
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Greyhound racing has a $31.2 million dollar direct and indirect impact on West Virginia economy, supplying a payroll to 1700 full time workers.  The most immediate, direct impact Direct Economic Impact by county: $5.5M in Kanawha, $7.4M in Ohio (WVU BBER 2014, Page 55). 
 

While live handles are down, they do not tell the whole story.  Compared to other horse racing in the state, greyhound racing is down 5% from 2013 to 2015.  Where as horses are down a staggering 30%!  

 

Because of lack of foresight by lawmakers on the federal level, insignificant money is made by the dog owners on interstate wagering. Virtually nothing is done to document or tax wagers on West Virginia greyhound racing going out of state.  Since 2004, this casino cash cow, the export handle, has increased 166 percent, to $80 million from $30 million.  With mainstream going the way of the internet, the only re-coup on costs is the allocated share of the video lottery slots.  This money goes to fund farms, staff, feed, adoption, relocation, breeding, payroll expenses, college tuition, taxes, dance lessons, health insurance, morgages, and is reinvested into the community.  This is NOT subsidized money but rather money repurposed back to the West Virginia economy.