Tennessee Sports Betting
Tennessee online sports betting is legal and regulated by the Sports Wagering Council, which replaced the Tennessee Education Lottery on January 1st, 2022.
Under state law, customers 21 or older may bet on professional and college sports at licensed Tennessee sports betting sites and claim welcome bonuses totaling over $7,000.
Tennessee is unique among states as it possesses legal online betting options but lacks traditional in-person gambling venues such as casinos, race tracks, and poker rooms.
Online horse racing betting sites and daily fantasy sports apps are also legal and regulated in Tennessee.
Legal Tennessee Betting Sites
$1500 In Bonus BetsBetMGM Bonus Code: BUSABONUS
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (available in the US). Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). 21+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800- 981-0023 (PR). First bet offer for new customers only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for terms. US $1500 promotional offer not available in New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
Bet $5 Get $300FanDuel Promo Code: Not Needed
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RG-Help.com. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ D.C.) and present in select states (for KS, in affiliation with KS Star Casino). First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com.
Up to $1000 in Bonus BetsFanatics Sportsbook Promo Code: Not Needed
Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
(CO/DC/IL/KS/KY/LA/MD/OH/MI/NC/NJ/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV/WY), (800)-327-5050 or http://gamblinghelplinema.org (MA), Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), (888) 789-7777 or http://ccpg.org (CT), or 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), or 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), or www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), or morethanagame.nc.gov (NC), or 1800gambler.net (WV). $1,000 No Sweat Bets offer for customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV, or WY only. Must apply this promotion in your bet slip and place a $1+ cash wager with odds of -500 or longer each day for 10 straight days. Your 10 days begin the day you establish your account. Wager must settle as a loss to qualify for Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets will equal the amount of the losing wager(s) (up to $100 in Bonus Bets per day) and expire 7 days from issuance. This offer is not available in IL, NY, & NC. Terms apply- see Fanatics Sportsbook app.
21+ and present in TN. T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789.
While most states with legal online sportsbooks require operators to partner with local land-based casinos and race tracks, Tennessee authorized online sports betting exclusively due to its lack of an established gambling infrastructure.
As a result, Tennessee was the first state to adapt an online-only sports betting model.
As for in-person gambling, Tennessee has a state lottery and limited forms of charitable gaming.
Tennessee Online Sports Betting Apps
The first Tennessee sports betting apps launched in November 2020, and several other online sportsbooks have opened since.
Tennessee bettors can read our reviews of popular online sports betting apps in TN and learn more about each operator.
All Tennessee online sportsbooks detailed below hold valid sports betting licenses in the state. Bettors can also verify which Tennessee betting sites are legal and licensed at the SWAC website.
Bettors 21 or older may download the following sports betting apps in Tennessee today:
- Bet365 Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- Fanatics Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- Hard Rock Bet
- ESPN Bet
- Action 24/7
- BallyBet
- Betly
- ZenSports
Tennessee Sports Betting Bonuses
Online sportsbooks in Tennessee require new customers to deposit to claim a welcome bonus, and most TN betting apps offer new customer bonuses in the form of bonus bets.
A bonus bet invites customers to sign up, make a deposit, and place their first bet. If the wager loses, the sportsbook will refund the user’s loss with an equal amount in bonus bets.
New customer bonuses at Tennessee online sportsbooks can also take other forms:
- First deposit match bonus: The sportsbook matches the customer’s first deposit on a percentage basis. DraftKings’ welcome bonus is the most prominent example of a deposit match bonus, offering a 20% match up to $1,000.
- First bet match: The sportsbook matches the customer’s first bet, not their first deposit. For instance, Caesars Sportsbook offers a $1,001 first bet match. First bet match bonuses are preferable to bonus bets because sportsbooks pay the former win or lose. By contrast, bonus bets only pay if the customer’s first wager loses.
Tennessee Sports Betting Promotion Regulations
Tennessee law regulates sports betting bonuses and signup promotions to ensure operators treat new users fairly.
Under guidelines established by state regulators, licensed sportsbooks must submit all promotional materials and bonuses to the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council for approval before extending offers to new customers.
As a result, Tennessee sportsbooks are unlikely to offer predatory or unfair welcome bonuses to new customers.
Furthermore, the single best thing bettors can do to ensure they receive fair bonuses is to wager exclusively with licensed betting apps.
DraftKings Nashville Sportsbook
Tennessee is an online-only sports betting state, but DraftKings is interested in establishing a retail location in Nashville.
In 2021, DraftKings announced plans to build a sportsbook-themed lounge in partnership with Sports & Social. The result would be a venue that looks and feels a lot like a Vegas-style sportsbook but without betting windows.
Instead, fans will simply place their wagers through the DraftKings app.
Sports & Social operates sports and entertainment venues that often include sports betting elements like big-screen TVs and stadium seating.
A DraftKings press release indicated the plans were contingent on receiving the approval of local regulators, but neither company has provided an update since.
Currently, it’s unclear if DraftKings still intends to open the Nashville sports bar or has abandoned the idea due to regulatory snags.
Tennessee Sports Betting Law
Tennessee legalized sports betting with the passage of HB 0001 in May 2019 and the first online sportsbooks opened in November 2020.
The law gave the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation (TEL) responsibility for regulating sports betting and issuing licenses to operators. Under the law, operators could apply for sports betting licenses from TEL to accept wagers from customers located in Tennessee.
In 2021, Tennessee legislators voted to install the Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Council (SWAC) as the state’s new sports regulating body.
The shift may have stemmed from the scandal involving Action 24/7, where in January 2021 Action’s license was suspended (and later restored) due to numerous credit card fraud allegations.
SWAC officially took over on January 1st, 2022, and is now in charge of reviewing sports betting license applications and providing regulatory oversight.
Additional legislation (SB 0475) approved in 2023 changed the name of the Sports Wagering Advisory Council to the “Sports Wagering Council,” removed a controversial mandatory minimum 10% hold rule, changed the tax rate from a flat 20% tax on revenue to 1.85% on each operator’s handle (the total sum of wagers taken), and removed a provision requiring operators to rely on official league data to settle in-play wagers.
Key Things To Know About Tennessee Sports Betting Law:
- Bettors must be 21 or older and located within state lines to bet online
- Customers may register and deposit from anywhere in Tennessee
- Licensed operators may accept wagers online and through mobile betting apps
- Licensed online sportsbooks in Tennessee may accept wagers on professional sports, college sports, and esports but may not accept prop bets on individual college athletes
- Operators pay a 1.85% tax on the sum of all wagers taken
Tennessee Daily Fantasy Sports
Play $5, Get $50PrizePicks Promo Code: BUSA
$50 provided as promo funds, only for use on PrizePicks. Promo funds provided under this promotion must be played within 90 days of receipt or shall become null and void at PrizePicks’ discretion. Promo ends 12/31/25. Void where prohibited. If you or someone you know has a gaming problem, get help. Crisis services and responsible gaming counseling can be accessed by calling 1-800-426-2537 or online at www.ncpgambling.org. 18+ in most eligible jurisdictions, but other age and eligibility restrictions may apply. Valid only in jurisdictions where PrizePicks operates. See prizepicks.com/terms for full PrizePicks terms of service.
Tennessee legalized daily fantasy sports and implemented consumer protection regulations in 2016 via the Tennessee Fantasy Sports Act.
Under the Act, only licensed daily fantasy apps may serve Tennessee residents. Additionally, licensed Tennessee fantasy sports apps must adhere to wide-ranging consumer protection regulations pertaining to financial security, fairness, and responsible gambling.
Fans can read more about fantasy sports in Tennessee here:
Tennessee Horse Racing Betting
$200 Welcome BonusTwinSpires Offer Code: BET200
Void where prohibited. Terms and conditions apply. Offer for TwinSpires Racing only. See TwinSpires.com for details. Must be 18+ (21+ where applicable). For help with a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Parimutuel horse wagering is legal in Tennessee but there is nowhere to place bets in person because there are no tracks in the state. The state has never formally legalized online horse racing betting, but most major advance deposit wagering sites are currently allowed in Tennessee.
Read more about the current state of horse racing betting in Tennessee here:
Tennessee Office Pools
Tennessee formally legalized casual sports pools with a piece of legislation passed in 2019. Under SB 1057, “low level sports entertainment pools” are legal as long as they meet the following requirements:
- Are run by an individual rather than a business entity
- Max entry no greater than $25
- Total prize pool no greater than $1,000
- Does not involve laying odds
Before the passage of this law, even low-level sports pools in TN could be considered unlawful gambling.
Tennessee Online Gambling
35 Free Sweepstakes CoinsWOW Vegas Promo Code: None Needed
No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. 18+, T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Online casinos and poker sites are not legal in Tennessee, but Sweepstakes casino sites offer casino-style games that are close to the same experience.
Tennessee also prohibits all forms of poker, even playing poker at home games with friends. A 2005 message from the Attorney General outlines its opinion that the state’s definition of “gambling” applies to poker.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-501 defines gambling as follows:
Gambling is contrary to the public policy of this state and means risking anything of value for a profit whose return is to any degree contingent on chance, or any games of chance associated with casinos, including, but not limited to, slot machines, roulette wheels and the like
The phrase “to any degree contingent on chance” broadly defines gambling.
Because poker includes an element of chance, it is classified as gambling in Tennessee and is therefore illegal. Furthermore, the law provides no exception for social gambling among acquaintances.
In one case, 48 members of a local Veterans of Foreign Wars organization were arrested in a police raid on a poker game. The players were all charged with misdemeanors and police confiscated nearly $10,000.
A lack of evidence prompted police to offer the players a deal: let the police keep the confiscated money and no charges will be filed.
It should be noted that this poker game was played among the players only. The house did not take a profit or charge anyone a fee to play. Even though charges were eventually dropped, this whole story goes to show that the authorities treat poker as a serious offense.
Tennessee gambling laws make no distinction between playing poker on the internet or in person; any poker game played for real money is illegal. Participation in any poker game anywhere in the state is illegal if real money is involved.
Everything mentioned so far also applies to Tennessee online casinos.
Players cannot offer casino games privately with friends or play at unregulated online gambling sites. Participation in gambling or poker anywhere in Tennessee is classified as a Class C misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $50 fine.
Tennessee also has a statute titled “Gambling Promotion” that makes it a Class B misdemeanor to host an unlawful gambling game, entice others to gamble or to make a profit.
The punishment for a Class B misdemeanor in the state is up to 6 months in jail and a $500 fine.
Responsible Gambling In Tennessee
Tennessee online sports betting regulations prioritize responsible gambling.
For example, state law requires every sportsbook operator to submit a “Responsible Gaming Plan” for approval before regulators may even consider it for licensure.
Additionally, all TN online sports betting operators must provide simple, easily accessible responsible gambling tools that allow customers to do the following:
- Set limits on deposits, amounts wagered, and time spent logged in
- Initiate account cooling-off periods
- Self-exclude from betting on sports
- Retrieve information about their account history, including past wagers and money spent
Tennessee sports betting apps must also provide responsible gambling training to any employees who interact with customers.
Bettors who have questions about responsible gambling or are worried that they or a loved one has a gambling problem can find information and support from the following local resources:
- Tennessee REDLINE: Call or text 1-800-889-9789 24/7 for help finding problem gambling resources and treatment
- Problem Gambling Programs: List of problem gambling programs and contacts maintained by the TN Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services
- The Gambling Clinic: Outpatient gambling addiction treatment program offering educational resources, free confidential phone consultations, and one-on-one therapy
- Gamblers Anonymous TN: Find local Gamblers Anonymous meetings in Tennessee
- Gam-Anon TN: Local Gam-Anon meetings for the friends, family, and loved ones of problem gamblers in Tennessee
- National Problem Gambling Helpline: Call 1-800-GAMBLER, text 800GAM, or chat online at 1800gamblerchat.org 24/7
Tennessee Sports Betting Self-Exclusion
The easiest way to self-exclude from online sports betting Tennessee bettors have is to submit a request online.
Bettors can fill out this short form and upload a photo of their driver’s license to self-exclude from all sports wagering operations in Tennessee.
Alternatively, bettors can self-exclude via mail by printing this self-exclusion form, completing it, and mailing it along with a copy of your driver’s license to the following address:
Tennessee Sports Wagering Council
C/O: Self-Exclusion Program
312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., 8th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
Bettors may also send the completed self-exclusion form and a photo of their driver’s license to the Tennessee Sports Wagering via e-mail:
Subject: self-Exclusion Program
SWAC.Tech@tn.gov
Important Tennessee self-exclusion points:
- If you self-exclude from sports betting in Tennessee, some sportsbook operators may also restrict you from using their platforms or visiting their land-based properties in other states
- Bettors may self-exclude from individual sportsbooks by logging in to their mobile sportsbook accounts with any licensed operator and submitting a self-exclusion request
- Bettors who self-exclude may forfeit any loyalty rewards points they have accrued with licensed Tennessee betting sites
Tennessee Sports Betting FAQ
Wes Burns has more than a decade’s worth of experience as a writer, researcher and analyst in the legal gambling industry and is co-founder of BettingUSA.com. As a former professional online poker player, Wes approaches his work from the viewpoint of players.
Steve Ruddock is the content director for BettingUSA and the Editor-in-Chief of Gaming Law Review.
Steve has covered the legal and legislative developments in the US gambling sector for more than a decade for online and print publications.
Robert Dellafave is an expert sports bettor, professional gambler, and advocate for the fair treatment of sports bettors.