Oregon Race Wagering

Pari-mutuel betting on horse racing began in Oregon in 1931. The Oregon Racing Commission was established in 1933 by the Pari-Mutuel Wagering Act and is responsible for regulation of the racing industry. Simulcast betting, ontrack betting, and online and telephone advance deposit wagering are available in the state.

Greyhound racing was held from 1933 to 1955 at Multnomah Stadium and then at Multnomah Greyhound Park, until it closed in December 2004 due to declining popularity.

In 1997, Oregon was one of the first states to legally accept electronic wagers from out-of-state bettors on horse and dog races.
Portland Meadows is the only commercial racetrack in Oregon, though there are several multi-jurisdictional hubs and offtrack betting facilities operating in the state. Multi-jurisdictional simulcasting and wagering hubs are mandated by law to give 1% of their gross receipts to the Oregon Racing Commission. One-third of this money is distributed to the state's general fund, with the remainder retained by the Commission.

On 23 May 2013, the Oregon Senate unanimously passed a bill allowing Portland Meadows to operate instant racing devices on its premises. These electronic machines are similar to slots, but bets are placed on videos of past races, with horse names withheld to conceal the winner from the bettors. Similar to live horse racing, bets are pooled against other players rather than against the house. Track officials are hoping the electronic machines will draw a younger crowd to the track.