Each year, the Pennsylvania horseracing industry receives roughly $200 million from a tax on track-based slot-machine revenue – a massive subsidy that should be going back to state coffers for far more important matters like education, mass transit, etc. This allows the industry to continue the exploitation, suffering, and killing of horses for gambling and entertainment.

Since 2004, when these subsidies were enacted, PA Racing has been gifted over $3.5 billion. That’s $3.5 billion to an unequivocally failing industry: almost 90% of purse money – the winnings that go to owners and trainers, many or most of whom are from out of state – comes from the slot machines, not betting on the races, and most assuredly not from attendance. In fact, attendance at the six PA tracks is so bad they don’t even bother to charge anymore.

Now, the industry is coming back for even more. House Bill 2071 intends to “increase funding to the Race Horse Development Trust Fund” (the subsidy fund that was established by the 2004 law) through a 3% “redirection of internet slot machine revenue.” Again, this is but another raid on public coffers.

Enough is enough.

Lawmakers must stop forcing Pennsylvanians to bankroll animal cruelty. Contact your Pennsylvania state legislators today and ask them to oppose HB 2071 and demand an end to these subsidies.

Tell them: Stop funding cruelty. End taxpayer support for horseracing now.