PRIA Logo™
West VirginiaSB 5762025 Regular SessionSenate

Authorizing fixed odds racing in horse and dog racing

Sponsored By: Jason Barrett (Republican)

Signed by Governor

§29-22D-3§29-22D-4§29-22D-15A§29-22D-17A§29-22D-17B§29-22D-17c§29-22D-25

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Racetracks can fund operations and improvements

Beginning July 11, 2025, licensed racetracks can use their fixed-odds racing distributions for authorized West Virginia operations or capital improvements. Improvements must be at West Virginia facilities on or directly next to the racetrack’s property. Operating spending must support activities allowed by the state gambling and racing laws listed in the act. Money directed to race-prize or breeding funds remains subject to those funds’ purposes.

Betting limits for people in races

Beginning July 11, 2025, operators cannot knowingly accept bets from specified people participating in the race being bet on. This covers horse or dog owners and trainers, jockeys or their employees, and listed racing officials. The restriction applies only to the event they participate in, not to other customers generally.

Licensed providers can offer fixed-odds racing bets

Beginning July 11, 2025, West Virginia allows fixed-odds bets on horse and dog races. Only licensed operators, licensed gaming facilities, or management services providers can accept these bets. Out-of-state horse-racing content must follow the federal Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978. In-state horse and dog racing requires the host racetrack’s consent. In-state horse racing also requires consent from a recognized horsemen’s group.

Racing betting levy funds tracks and prizes

Beginning July 11, 2025, operators pay a 10% levy on adjusted gross receipts from fixed-odds horse and dog bets. Each sport has a separate, interest-earning purse supplement fund. For straight bets, 25% of levy collections goes to that sport’s fund, and 25% is shared equally among its licensed tracks. These shares also apply to collections attributed to that sport’s part of combined bets, called parlays. Within 30 days after each fiscal year begins, each fund distributes its balance. Half of the horse fund goes to regular race-prize funds, based on each thoroughbred track’s prior-calendar-year betting total. Half of the dog fund goes to the West Virginia Greyhound Breeding Development Fund, with allocations based on prior-calendar-year betting totals. Each fund’s remaining half is shared equally among licensed tracks in its sport.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jason Barrett

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 102 • No: 63

Senate vote • 4/12/2025

Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 552)

Yes: 23 • No: 11

House vote • 4/11/2025

Passed House (Roll No. 510)

Yes: 55 • No: 43

Senate vote • 3/29/2025

Passed Senate (Roll No. 219)

Yes: 24 • No: 9

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter 221, Acts, Regular Session, 2025

    8/8/2025Senate

  2. Approved by Governor 4/28/2025

    4/28/2025Senate

  3. To Governor 4/21/2025

    4/21/2025Senate

  4. House Message received

    4/12/2025Senate

  5. Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 552)

    4/12/2025Senate

  6. Communicated to House

    4/12/2025Senate

  7. Completed legislative action

    4/12/2025Senate

  8. To Governor 4/21/2025 - Senate Journal

    4/12/2025Senate

  9. To Governor 4/21/2025 - House Journal

    4/12/2025House

  10. Approved by Governor 4/28/2025 - Senate Journal

    4/12/2025Senate

  11. Approved by Governor 4/28/2025 - House Journal

    4/12/2025House

  12. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

    4/11/2025House

  13. Read 3rd time

    4/11/2025House

  14. Motion to table the motion to postpone indefinitely rejected

    4/11/2025House

  15. Passed House (Roll No. 510)

    4/11/2025House

  16. Communicated to Senate

    4/11/2025House

  17. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

    4/10/2025House

  18. Read 2nd time

    4/10/2025House

  19. Amendment reported by the Clerk

    4/10/2025House

  20. Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

    4/10/2025House

  21. With amendment, do pass

    4/9/2025House

  22. Immediate consideration

    4/9/2025House

  23. Read 1st time

    4/9/2025House

  24. House received Senate message

    3/31/2025House

  25. Introduced in House

    3/31/2025House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation