TN Sports Betting
There’s so much to love about the Volunteer State, from the Smoky Mountains and Dollywood to the nation’s best BBQ. Even more so, sports betting is officially legal in Tennessee and launched on Nov. 1, 2020.
For now, some of the nation’s biggest online sportsbooks are live. Still, more new TN sportsbooks are coming soon. PlayingLegal gives you the most comprehensive TN sports betting guide for all the best TN sports betting apps, plus a look at all the generous welcome bonus offers for new TN bettors.
Best Tennessee Sports Betting Sites
As the nation’s first state to legalize online sports betting with no physical retail sportsbooks, we need to scrutinize each available operator. At PlayingLegal, our team of sports betting enthusiasts ranks each top TN online sportsbook for the biggest bang for your buck in terms of welcome bonuses and betting interfaces.
BetMGM Sportsbook
- Must clear in 7 days
- Available for BetMGM Sports only
- Bet must be qualifying
- Bet must lose
- Free Live Streaming
- Crisp in-play betting
- Boosted parlays
- Easy Navigation
- Shortage of special market odds
- Slow customer support response
With their moniker, ‘The King of Sportsbooks,’ BetMGM offers a fantastic sports betting experience. Quickly and easily string together parlays or use the Parlay Generator. A variety of enhanced betting odds along with ongoing promotions await you after taking advantage of a generous welcome bonus.
DraftKings Sportsbook
- Valid 1 per new customer.
- Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 bet.
- $150 issued in bonus bets.
- Opt in req. 1 No Sweat token issued per day.
- SGP/SGPx bets only. 3+ legs req.
- Max. wagering limits apply.
- Must use funds from cash balance. Must select token BEFORE placing bet.
- Bet must lose after applying Token. Paid as one Bonus Bet based on amount of losing bet.
- Tokens expire at start of the last game each day when offered.
- No Sweat cannot be used to redeem Bet $5 Get $150 offer.
- Rewarded bonus bets expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded.
- Bonus bets must be wagered 1x and stake is not included in winnings.
- A reputable and historic brand
- Live Streaming
- In-play betting
- Cashouts
- Slow customer support
- Mobile app stability issues
- High wagering requirements for the bonus
Another all-around solid online sportsbook, DraftKings, also began as a DFS site. Access a wide range of betting markets along with consistently updated lines. New TN bettors can also take advantage of a welcome bonus offer.
TN Sports Betting Law
Tennessee Sports Gaming Act (HB0001) officially became law after Gov. Bill Lee did not veto the bill, legalizing sports betting in the Volunteer State. The Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation (TELC) regulates the Volunteer State’s sports betting industry and operators. However, there is also a 10-person Sports Wagering Advisory Council that specifically offers input to the TELC.
Here are the key points to TN sports betting law:
- $750,000 initial licensing fee for all online operators.
- Annual $750,000 renewal fee after the first year.
- 20% tax rate for sportsbooks.
- No approval for retail sports betting.
- Mandatory 10% hold or capped max payout of 90%.
- Official league data requirement for in-play wagers.
Mandatory 10% Hold
Essentially, TELC released the initial draft of TN sports betting rules in Nov. 2019. Included was a problematic proposed payout cap at 85%. In other words, if these preliminary regulations passed, TN sportsbooks would face an astronomical mandatory hold of 15%.
For comparison, New Jersey sportsbooks hold (win or keep) 5.8-5.9% on average since June 2018, returning over 95% to customers. Similarly, Nevada averages in the 5.5% range, returning 94.5% to sports bettors.
Thankfully, TELC lowered the problematic hold figure to 10% in the final version of TN sports betting rules. While overall, an improvement is better than nothing, Tennessee is the only state to impose such a rule on sports betting operators.
Sports betting operators that do not comply with this rule can be fined up to $25,000. While this fine, in theory, is small, a repeat offender can be suspended or licensure revoked by TELC.
In other words, a higher payout cap or mandatory hold means inferior pricing for TN sports bettors. Undoubtedly, parlays, futures, props, live in-play wagers, and niche sports are affected.
Official League Data Requirement
Technically, TN sports betting law requires official league data to settle in-game wagers. Notably, Indiana was the first state to list an official league data requirement, but the final sports betting bill did not include the provision.
While the law requires any statistics, data, or outcomes associated with sports leagues, the TN Lottery has not yet defined how sportsbooks need to acquire the official data, other than the phrase of “commercially reasonable terms.” Therefore, it is likely that TN sportsbooks will use a third-party provider, such as Sportradar, to comply with the official league data requirement.
Sports Available
The TN Lottery approved an impressive catalog of approved sports events.
| Available Sports to Bet on in Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|
| Aussie Rules | Motor Sports | Baseball |
| Basketball | Billiards | Bowling |
| Bull Riding | Cricket | Cycling |
| Darts | eSports* | Football |
| Golf | Hockey | Lacrosse |
| UFC/MMA | Olympics | Rowing |
| Rugby | Sailing | Skiing |
| Snowboard | Soccer | Softball |
| Table Tennis | Tennis | Track and Field |
| Volleyball | ||
For eSports, each league and game/matches must be submitted for prior approval by the TELC. Moreover, you can wager on draft picks in the NFL, MLB, NBA, and WBNA, along with approved seasonal awards.
Restrictions
Overall, there are restrictions on sports betting in TN. However, most of the restrictions actually are on operators and licensees, such as monetary safeguards for players and advertising rules. Nonetheless, TN has several restrictions on sports betting:
- No live in-play prop wagers on college sports based on an individual athlete's performance.
- Cannot offer live in-play prop wagers on individual college team performances.
Geo-location
To successfully place a sports wager in Tennessee means that you must be located within physical state borders. As in other states that legalized sports betting, it is the TN online sports betting site's responsibility to prevent any unauthorized wagers from players outside state borders.
Most online sportsbooks use a third-party company called GeoComply, which provides geolocation technology. Essentially, a geofence or a virtual boundary is set up to detect where your mobile device is physically located.
For mobile devices, geolocation uses the GPS technology already connected to the device. Whereas desktop users may need to download an additional plugin. Most importantly, the state of Tennessee requires the online sportsbook to recheck the location every 20 minutes or every five minutes if you are within one mile of state borders.
Minimum Legal Age Requirement
In Tennessee, the minimum legal age requirement for online sports betting is 21 years old. Therefore, when you sign-up for a new sports betting account, legal and licensed TN sportsbooks will ask for information to verify your identity. Moreover, the same identity verification process may apply when you request a TN sports betting site withdrawal.
All TN Online Sportsbooks
Also, there is a locally owned and operated startup with an online sportsbook called Action 24/7.
New Online Sportsbooks
The following online sportsbooks are in the process of waiting to launch with license approval from TELC.
- No rollover required
- Qualifying first bet must lose
- Free bet must be used within 7 days
- Valid for new customer accounts only
- Live Streaming
- Transparent terms of use
- Generous welcome bonus
- Responsive customer support
- Complete odds offer
- Cash Out not available yet
- The user interface could be improved
WynnBet Sportsbook will launch shortly.
Additionally, there are online sportsbooks that completed applications or strongly indicated a desire to launch in Tennessee:
- BetRivers Sportsbook
- ZenSports
- New player accounts only
- Expires 30 days after issue
- The initial bet has to lose
- 1x wagering requirement
- Custom prop bets available
- Cash Outs are available on certain bets
- Various bet boosts and ongoing betting promotions
- Interactive In-Play betting platform
- No Live Streaming
- Email-only for customer support
- Slow server during high traffic hours
Land-Based Retail Sportsbooks in Tennessee
Overall, there are no land-based retail physical sportsbooks in Tennessee. Moreover, there are no plans to build or offer physical retail sportsbooks in the Volunteer State.
Tennessee sports betting law only allows for online sports betting. Thus, do not expect that any gambling brick-and-mortar facilities, including casinos, to be available.
Finally, the initial legislative discussion surrounding sports betting expansion included betting via kiosks in select locations. However, this idea did not progress to the final TN sports betting law. To emphasize, sports betting in Tennessee is only available online.
TN Sports Betting Apps
Definitely, TELC approved some of the nation’s top online sportsbooks first. With that, the TN online sportsbooks listed below offer some of the best mobile apps for betting. Additionally, don’t forget more TN online sportsbooks either waiting to launch or currently applying for approval.
Thus, there are more new online sportsbooks on the way to Tennessee, which means more betting apps will be available soon. For now, here are the top TN sports betting apps available.
BetMGM Sportsbook Mobile App
- Must clear in 7 days
- Available for BetMGM Sports only
- Bet must be qualifying
- Bet must lose
- Free Live Streaming
- Crisp in-play betting
- Boosted parlays
- Easy Navigation
- Shortage of special market odds
- Slow customer support response
Overall, the BetMGM Sportsbook mobile app offers fantastic features, bonuses, and promotions. Some key highlights include the ability to ‘Edit My Bet’ directly on the app to change your bet, rather than just using Cash Out. Moreover, bonuses and promotions remain generous compared to the competition.
How to Bet Online in Tennessee
To begin with, sports betting is solely available either online or via a mobile device in Tennessee. Because there are no physical retail sportsbooks, registration is completely remote for all the legal TN online sports betting sites. Even more, you do not need to be physically located with TN state borders to register for a sports betting account. The only requirement is that you physically be located within state borders when actually placing a sports wager.
Signing-up and how to bet online in Tennessee is a fast and simple process:
- For starters, carefully select one of the TN online sportsbooks from the PlayingLegal top list.
- Next, go to the TN sports betting site with your web-based browser.
- If you are on a mobile device and wish to download the app, the download links displaying Android or iOS platforms are usually located at the bottom of the site. Alternatively, look for a ‘Download Now’ section.
- Provide your personal details to create your personal TN betting account. The following information is typically required:
- Email Address
- Full Name
- Date of Birth
- Mailing Address
- Last Four Digits of Your SSN.
- Now, double-check before clicking submit that any available welcome promo codes are entered.
- Deposit into the TN online sportsbook with your preferred available payment option.
- Now, browse the available odds and markets. Pick your desired bet(s) and add to your bet slip.
Definitely, as sports betting enthusiasts, we cannot put more emphasis on how important it is to have multiple sports betting accounts at different operators. By opening various accounts, you can access the best bonuses, promotions, and more as TN sportsbooks compete for your business.
TN Betting Bonuses and Promotions
While there are only a handful of TN online sportsbooks available now, keep in mind that TN sports betting law does not specify a maximum of operators. Thus, all sportsbooks in the Volunteer State will provide various betting bonuses and ongoing promotions for existing customers.
Overall, the best betting bonuses and promotions in TN will revolve around major sporting events. For example, the Super Bowl, March Madness, NBA Finals, and World Series. Below, here are some of the TN bonuses and promotions that you will typically find at sportsbooks.
| TN Sports Betting Bonuses | |
|---|---|
| No-deposit bonus | Deposit match bonus |
| – | Free bet |
| TN Sports Betting Promotions | |
|---|---|
| Parlay boost | Betting reload bonus |
| Odds boost | Leaderboard races |
Payment Methods
Easily fund and withdraw from your sports betting account with various payment options. Although, please note that not all payment options are available at each online operator. Also, there are typically deposit limits attached to each method. Finally, there are usually withdrawal restrictions, such as you need to have used it as a deposit method along with limits.
| TN Sportsbook Payment Methods | ||
|---|---|---|
| Play+ Prepaid Card | PayPal | Skrill |
| Bank Transfer | eCheck/ACH | Wire Transfer |
| Casino Cashier | PayNearMe | Major Credit/Debit Cards |
Most Popular Sports in TN Sportsbooks
NCAA
Overall, NCCAF and NCAAB betting in Tennessee are popular, considering the Volunteer State is home to multiple Division I teams. In particular, there are three big college teams Tennesseans follow loyally:
- University of Tennessee Volunteers
- Memphis Tigers
- Vanderbilt University Commodores
TN NCAAB betting:
- Regular season
- Conference tournaments
- Final Four
- March Madness
TN NCAAF betting:
- Point spreads
- Moneylines
- Totals
- Futures
- National Championship
However, note that TN sports betting has restrictions on props involving college players.
NFL
The South means football country, and TN sports bettors are extremely loyal to the home team, the Tennessee Titans. Moreover, the Titans officially partnered with BetMGM in the Volunteer State. Particularly, the NFL Playoffs and Super Bowl are the most popular events, with TN sportsbooks often offering great promotions or boosted odds.
The following types of bets are available for TN NFL bettors:
- Moneyline
- Point spreads
- Over/under
- Props
- Parlays
- Futures
- Live in-play betting
NBA
The home team to Tennessee, the Memphis Grizzlies, only moved to the Volunteer State a few decades ago. The Grizzlies partnered with FanDuel.
Popular TN NBA bets are:
- Point spreads
- Moneylines
- Totals
- Props
- Live in-play betting
Additionally, NBA futures are extremely popular in TN. For example, bet on which team will win the NBA title, conference winners, MVP, DPOY, or Rookie of the Year.
NHL
Tennessee has a home team, the NHL Nashville Predators. Also, the Predators signed a partnership with DraftKings.
Popular TN NHL bet types include:
- Moneyline
- Puck line
- Totals
- Parlays
- Futures
- Props
- Live in-play betting
MLB
While there is no home team for Tennessee, MLB betting is prevalent due to the sheer number of available games played in the regular season. Futures and props such as to win the World Series and individual awards such as Cy Young and MVP are available as well in TN.
Popular TN MLB bet types include:
- Moneyline
- Run line
- Totals
- Futures
- Alternate run lines
- Innings lines
Types of Sports Betting in Tennessee
In Tennesee, you have the standard types of sports betting available as in other legal, regulated states:
- Moneylines
- Points Spread
- Totals (Over/Under)
- Futures
- Props
- Live in-play betting
- Parlays
- Teasers
History of Sports Betting in Tennessee
Overall, Tennessee is not a proponent of gambling in any form. For example, there are no retail casinos or sportsbooks in the state. Nor do retail outlets ever look to become a reality in the Volunteer State. The legalization and launch of online sports betting took many by surprise. Not to mention, there was much back-and-forth on finalizing the state’s final sports betting rules and regulations.
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2003
Tennessee Lottery was approved through a voter referendum, with the first drawing held in 2004.
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2016
Tennessee House Bill (HB0001), referred to as the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, is introduced to the General Assembly by Rep. Rick Staples. SB0016, a sister bill introduced by Sen. Steve Dickerson, also aims to legalize online sports betting.
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Apr. 24, 2019
Both bills pass with HB0001 at 58-37 and Senate approval with a 19-12 vote after amendments. Thus, bill passage marks TN as the first state to allow online sports betting only.
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May 24, 2019
TN Gov. Bill Lee returns the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act to the legislature, but remarkably, missing his signature. However, Lee did not veto the bill; rather, it became law without his approval.
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July 1, 2019
The legislation officially becomes law.
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Nov. 2019
TN Sports Betting Advisory Council, composed of 10 people, is finally set. Also, the first draft of TN sports betting regulations is proposed.
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Jan. 2020
A 45-day period for the public to comment on the initial draft of sports betting regulations yields a bevy of over 300 comments.
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Feb. - Apr. 2020
During this period, state legislators, interested groups, and the TN Lottery Board and Advisory Council attempt to smooth any discrepancies in the proposed regulations. Additionally, lawmakers concerned over the TN Lottery Board’s oversight and the criticisms surrounding the draft regulations introduced HB2844 and SB2216 to switch regulatory power to the Advisory Council. While these bills did not pass muster in Subcommittee, no doubt TELC worked towards compromising the final regulations.
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Apr. 15, 2020
Final TN sports betting rules and regulations are set by the Lottery Board. A few days later, online sports betting operators could begin the licensing process.
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May -July 2020
The TN Lottery begins processing and approving licenses. Unfortunately, the $750,000 licensure fee brings pause to potential operators. The Lottery Board discloses that no operator fully completed an application in June 2020. Preliminary licenses are given to vendors first, rather than sportsbooks.
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Aug. 2020
The TN Lottery Board announces that four potential sportsbooks would be first launched in the Volunteer State by Nov. 1, 2020.
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Sept. 23, 2020
The Lottery Board conditionally approves BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings to launch on Nov. 1.
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Oct. 5, 2020
Action 24/7, a local TN sportsbook startup, also receives conditional approval for the Nov. launch date.
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Nov. 1, 2020
Legal sports betting officially launches on a Sunday with FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings, and Action 24/7, accepting the first wagers in Tennessee.
The Future of TN Sports Betting
Overall, the future of TN sports betting appears cloudy with a chance of sunshine. Chiefly, there are concerns within the TN sports betting law plus the final rules and regulations set forth by TELC.
The mandatory hold percentage of 10% or max payout cap of 90% is among the most problematic. No other states that legalized sports betting requires a mandatory hold. Mainly, imposing this requirement translates to worse odds offered by sportsbooks for bettors, hurting the long-term viability and growth of the TN sports betting market.
TELC will revisit the mandatory hold requirement after one year of sports betting. Additionally, the Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Council, whose sole role is to advise TELC advocates for doing away with this requirement. Thus, there is hope that TELC reverses course in the future.
TN Sports Betting FAQs
What is the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act?
The Tennessee Sports Gaming Act is otherwise known as House Bill 1 (HB0001), was first introduced to the TN General Assembly in Jan. 2019. Officially, the Tennesee Sports Gaming Act became law after Gov. Bill Lee did not veto the bill, legalizing sports betting in the Volunteer State.
Is William Hill Sportsbook legal in Tennessee?
William Hill Sportsbook is legal in Tennessee. The TN Lottery Board lists William Hill as an approved licensee in the Volunteer State. However, the William Hill Sportsbook has not yet launched. Expect William Hill to officially launch shortly as soon as TELC grants approval to do so.
When does the Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Council meet?
The Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Council meets approximately every three months. These meetings are typically held at 12 pm ET in the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation Board Room located at 26 Century Blvd. Suite 200 in Nashville, TN.
Can you bet on sports in Tennessee?
Yes, officially, legal sports betting in Tennessee launched on Nov. 1, 2020. However, note that sports betting is only available online or through a mobile device. Moreover, there are no plans for the Volunteer State to build out casinos or physical retail sportsbooks.
Can I gamble online in Tennessee?
Yes, you can gamble online in Tennessee with sports betting or DFS. However, note that for sports betting specifically, there are no retail sportsbooks, so online gambling is the only option. Thankfully, some of the nation’s best online sportsbooks are available in the Volunteer State.
Does FanDuel work in Tennessee?
Yes, FanDuel Sportsbook is available and legal in Tennessee. Moreover, FanDuel was among the first online sportsbooks to receive approval and launch in the Volunteer State on Nov. 1, 2020. As one of the top online sportsbooks in the nation, new TN sports bettors receive a fantastic welcome bonus offer and various ongoing promotions.
Is DraftKings legal in Tennessee?
Yes, the DraftKings Sportsbook is legal in Tennessee. TN bettors can sports bet with DraftKings either online or with their mobile app. The TN Lottery Board approved DraftKings as one of the first online sportsbooks to launch on Nov. 1, 2020.
Who are the approved Tennessee sports betting operators?
The TN Lottery Board approves sports betting operators. Initially, before launch on Nov. 1, 2020, the TN Lottery Board approved four sports betting operators: FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings, and locally owned and operated Action 24/7. Notably, TN sports betting laws and regulations do not set a maximum number of sportsbooks available. Therefore, other approved sportsbooks are waiting to launch, such as WynnBet, TwinSpires/BetAmerica, and William Hill.
What were the final Tennessee sports betting rules and regulations approved?
On Apr. 15, 2020, the TN Lottery Board announced that final sports betting rules and regulations were approved. After a period of nine months, final rules became available after much back-and-forth of controversial regulations, such as a max payout cap (90%) or mandatory hold (10%). Notably, the TN Lottery Board notes that it may revisit regulations after the initial legal sports betting year.
