Changes How Horse Betting Money Is Split
Virginia · HB49 · Introduced Dec 29, 2025
Why it matters
The split of betting money decides how much goes to the state, localities, race prizes, and horse groups. Those amounts could change who gets money from horse betting.
What it does
- Keeps a 1.25 percent cut of live horse race bets at racetracks for the state and local areas
- Sends 1.0 percent of those racetrack bets to the state as a license tax
- Sends 8 percent of win, place, and show pools to race purses, or prizes
- Sends 1 percent of those pools to the Virginia Breeders Fund
Status
Latest action (2026-07-21): Continued from last session
About this bill
Would update how horse betting money is split among the state, localities, race prizes, and horse groups. It sets set percentage shares for live and simulcast bets at racetracks and satellite sites.
Pari-mutuel wagering; historical horse racing, percentage retained for distribution.
Perspectives
💬 The case for
Horse industry groups would likely say the bill keeps funding steady for purses and breeding programs. They may argue the clear shares protect race prizes.
💬 The case against
Some government watchdog groups would likely say the complex shares make it hard to track where betting money goes. They may also argue the state should get more.
Sponsored by
Sponsor details for this state bill are at the source link.
News
Loading coverage…