Grey Hound Racing Betting: Facing An Uncertain Future

The face of grey hound racing betting is changing. Unfortunately the sport appears to be on the decline in the US. This is mainly thanks to greater awareness of animal rights. But both Ireland and Australia have started taking animal welfare more seriously, leading to a resurgence in the sport. 

Introduction

Next year will mark the centenary of the opening of the worlds first grey hound racing track in California. And yet this months marks the banning of the sport in Florida.  Maybe it also marks the beginning of the end for the sport in the US.

American Problems

Today dog fighting is quite rightly illegal across the whole of the US. That shouldn’t come as a surprise.  Greyhound racing is illegal in all but five US states, Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Texas and West Virginia. This is because, in the US, the sport is in an  irreversible decline. This fact will probably help to kill off the single remaining track left in Mexico, located in the border town of Tijuana. The reasons for it’s decline are more or less the same the world over. Animal welfare concerns coupled with the fact that punters are no longer making grey hound racing betting profitable, with the same story from online sportsbooks in the UK which are offering them less and less .

Animal Rights

Consequently, animal welfare concerns and it’s declining economic relevancy have not been kind to the sport. Between 2013 and the present day, over 460 greyhounds have died from inhumane treatment. Almost as bad as bear baiting. Or pitbull fighting. This turned many people towards banning the sport altogether. To think back to 1931, when Florida first legalized Grey Hound racing. Then over 40,000 people turned up to see the celebrated Grey hound, Mick the Miller, retire at the old Wembley Stadium.

Grey Hound Racing Betting in Ireland

Though the sport has deep and historic roots here, the largest direct threat to it’s very existence come from gambling itself. As with horse racing, technology has made the placing of grey hound racing bets easier. For example we use betway sports. But online sportsbooks in the UK offer live television feeds offer the punter plenty of other betting fare to chew on. As result, dog racing tracks are being converted into casinos. Along with kennels being replaced with poker tables. Banks of plasma TV’s showing races from around the world. Unfortunately the last track in the UK, at Plough Lane, Wimbledon, closed last year.

Australia’s Grey Hound Racing Revival

Australia has taken the welfare of the dogs as of paramount importance. Thus being able to continue the sport under the watchful gaze of the public, which is now taking animal welfare very seriously. Now the government  is involving itself in all aspects of the sport. From retired dog welfare to anti doping and fostering to dog adoption. As a result the sport is now flourishing, with grey hound racing betting with betway sports offering up the richest prize of AUS 1 Million.

Real World Problems

Unfortunately there are still unacceptably large numbers of on-track injuries and deaths. The grey hounds race at extremely fast speeds on an oval track, 6 abreast. Also poor living conditions with many living in solitary kennels lead to inadequate socialization with other dogs. This is just bad for the dogs’ welfare because dogs are social pack animals and need others for company. Having said that, it is still possible to have a punt. Or even bet on virtual greyhound races. For ease of use, we like betway sports.