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For years, activists in Florida have campaigned against efforts to bring slot machines and poker to greyhound tracks. We were convinced that these activities would allow Florida’s struggling dog tracks to stay in business. Although we have been largely unsuccessful in fighting the expansion of gambling, the results for the greyhounds have been unexpected.

Last week, the Tampa Greyhound Track made a surprise announcement that live racing would be suspended indefinitely beginning this Saturday. The track explained that dismal attendance at dog races, along with the popularity of its cardroom, were behind the decision. An article in the Tampa Tribune noted that on a typical day most of the small crowd watching live races at the track only came outside for a smoke break. Instead of racing, the track’s poker room will remain open year-round.

The Melbourne Greyhound Park recently made a similar decision, cancelling live racing during the summer months. What has changed? In June, a new law came into effect that allows greyhound tracks (as well as horse tracks and jai alai frontons) to operate cardrooms seven days a week as long as they also allow betting on pari-mutuel events (via television screens). Previously, cardrooms could only be open on live racing days.

If dog tracks make more money with cardrooms, slot machines and video-lottery games, it is inevitable that they will curb live racing or eliminate it entirely. That would be a significant blow to greyhound racing kennels, and would decrease the number of dogs that are bred- and killed- by the racing industry.

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