Wales’ Senedd has approved a motion that will ban greyhound racing in the country in an effort to improve animal welfare.

Wales is now the only country in the UK to have banned the sport, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026.

Issuing an official communiqué, the Senedd added: “The Bill reflects a clear policy choice: that the injuries, fatalities, and poor post-racing outcomes associated with greyhound racing can no longer be justified. Despite efforts within the industry, harm to greyhounds has remained a consistent reality.”

Comments were also provided by the bill’s sponsor, Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister overseeing Climate Change and Rural Affairs matters, who highlighted that as a ‘progressive nation’, Wales has the obligation to protect its reputation as a leader in animal welfare – delivering the standards “that people in Wales rightly expect.”

The ban will enter into force on 1 April 2027, with an additional transition period until 1 April 2030 set out in the bill to allow for the industry to wind down its operations responsibly, ensure that rehoming arrangements for retired greyhounds are taken care of, and prepare all relevant authorities to adapt accordingly.

Currently, the Valley Greyhound Stadium in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, is the only regulated greyhound racing track in Wales, overseen by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB). The ban will likely impact independent and on-course bookmakers the most.

Opponents end up on the losing side

The decision to ban the sport comes after in-depth consultations with members of the public, campaigners, and industry stakeholders, whose testimonies have been central to the development, the Senedd said.

However, the consultation process has been previously criticised by opponents who have labeled it as highly selective to fit Irranca-Davies’ agenda.

Gareth Davies, Welsh Conservative MS for the Vale of Clwyd, said: “Many such as myself would have liked a more in depth analysis of the economic and cultural impact on planning the sport.

“As members of the Culture Committee, we saw evidence not just from campaigners, but from regulators, from those working in the industry and from communities directly affected.

“What became increasingly clear was that much of the case for this bill rests on outdated assumptions, selective evidence and a failure to properly engage with the current regulatory reality in Wales.”

Additionally, a legal challenge was launched by the GBGB last year to try and reverse the ban, with CEO Mark Bird alleging that the regulatory body had not been consulted with.

With the Senedd’s decision now finalised, the ban could end up having a wider impact on the greyhound industry, with a similar motion currently being reviewed in Scotland.

The ban follows the prohibition of greyhound racing in New Zealand last year. This leaves the UK (minus Wales), Australia, Ireland and the US as the only countries in the world where greyhound racing is still legal and practiced.