North Dakota House rejects bill targeting greyhound racing bet platforms

A bill aimed at limiting a betting platform from taking wagers on greyhound races worldwide failed to make it through the North Dakota House on Monday (Mar. 31).

Senate Bill 2384 had been split into two sections before the vote. One part dealt with updating the wording around maintenance for gaming machines. The other part was more controversial as it would’ve banned Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) from accepting bets on greyhound racing.

The bill was sponsored by Republican Senator for North Dakota, Claire Cory, who said that the “sport is not well regulated, unlike horse racing, and has been tied to (bad actors) cartel groups and illicit drugs.” Cory said she doesn’t think the change would have much impact on North Dakota’s horse racing industry, since the ADW amendment was designed to be phased in gradually over two years.

GREY2K USA Worldwide, an advocacy group, has been supporting the bill. It had previously claimed that North Dakota “hosts one of the largest simulcast hubs in the country. Millions in bets are processed each year.”

Yesterday, our team lobbied for the greyhounds in Bismarck! Even though dog racing is illegal in the state, North Dakota hosts one of the largest simulcast hubs in the country. Millions in bets are processed each year. Stay tuned for ways to help end greyhound gambling. pic.twitter.com/hlQmVBcuaS

— GREY2K USA Worldwide (@GREY2KUSA) June 20, 2024

However, Bruce Johnson, the executive director of North Dakota Racing, wrote in his testimony opposing the bill that it was “directly aimed at our licensed and regulated Account Deposit Wagering companies.”

Johnson continued: “If allowed to pass, SB 2384 will shut off approximately 10% of the race wagering processed through our 16 ADW partners. This would then trickle down to affect the same 10% in the amount we tax our licensed ADWs. The amount wagered on Greyhound racing in our state is small when compared to how much is wagered on horse racing.”

He argued that if the bill passed, Advance Deposit Wagering platforms would have no choice but to relocate to other states just to keep offering bets on greyhound racing. Johnson said: “The effect on our live racing program in the state of North Dakota would be devastating.”

During the House floor discussion, Rep. Bill Tveit, a Republican from Hazen, said horse racing is a valuable part of the agricultural industry in North Dakota and exactly the kind of thing the Legislature wants to see more of. He added: “It’s creating jobs and income for family horse operations and is a huge tax earning for our state.”

ADWs are online betting platforms licensed in states like North Dakota, which collect taxes and charitable contributions from them. These taxes then support the state’s general fund and racing commission.

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