Connecticut bill proposes to ban greyhound racing

Bill HB 5174 has passed its first reading in the state’s House of Representatives.

US.- A bill that would prohibit greyhound racing in Connecticut has passed its first reading in the state’s House of Representatives. Bill HB 5174 was introduced on February 17 and was referred to the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Security. It is due for a public committee hearing today (February 22).

More than 40 US states have already banned greyhound racing. Connecticut’s bill was introduced by state representative Nicole Klarides-Ditria last week. The bill would remove all allowances for dog racing. A similar bill reached the state Senate in 2017 but was rejected at House level.

If the bill receives the vote of the House and Senate and gets signed into law, it dog racing will be prohibited from October 1 and the Department of Consumer Protection will not issue any licences allowing any dog racing in the state. Operators of off-track betting facilities would still be allowed to conduct wagering on dog racing held outside of the state.

See also: Mohegan Sun to open FanDuel sportsbook in Connecticut