In thirty-five (35) states, commercial dog racing is per se illegal.

In six (6) states, all dog tracks have closed and ceased live racing, but a prohibitory statute has yet to be enacted. Those states are Oregon, Connecticut, Kansas, Colorado, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

In just nine (9) states, pari-mutuel dog racing remains legal and operational. These states are identified in dark purple on the map below.

The following are the most recent states to pass legislation prohibiting dog racing: Maine (1993), Virginia (1995), Vermont (1995), Idaho (1996), Washington (1996), Nevada (1997), North Carolina (1998), Pennsylvania (2004) and Massachusetts (2008, effective 2010).