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You got to credit the state of Tennessee. While most states in the south were resisting sports betting, Tennessee was one of the first to embrace it. It legalized early on, which created a small domino effect in the traditional South where betting is a little more common now.

We’re giving them due not only for that, but also creating a thriving market. There’s a LOT of ways to get action in the state now, all of which we’ll be covering. This is your one-stop guide to Tennessee betting so stick with us:

Is Sports Betting Legal In Tennessee?

Yeah, it’s legal. Tennessee went live with it in November 2020. Again, that was early among the Southern states so you can have to tip the hat to them.

Not only that, but Tennessee went live purely as a mobile-betting play. That’s because there are no casinos in the state. Zero! Not even tribal casinos or anything like that.

There are 10 betting apps that are licensed in the state. That’s more than plenty for a mid-sized state like Tennessee. But out of all those options, which are worth the time and money or most bettors? We’ll answer that shortly so hang on tight.

International Online Sportsbooks Available In Tennessee

Tennessee has recently entered the legal sports betting landscape, offering residents a range of wagering opportunities through online platforms. However, bettors should be mindful of specific limitations associated with state-regulated sportsbooks. In Tennessee, while you can bet on a variety of major sports, state law prohibits wagers on political events and entertainment props. Additionally, there are restrictions on betting involving in-state college teams, such as the University of Tennessee, which can limit options for local fans eager to support their teams.

For those looking to broaden their betting horizons, international sportsbooks present a compelling alternative. These offshore platforms allow for more diverse betting options, including wagers on political outcomes and a full range of college sports without the restrictions imposed by Tennessee’s regulated sportsbooks. This means if you’re interested in betting on local college games or significant political events, international sportsbooks can significantly enhance your betting experience.

While concerns about the safety of offshore betting are common, the international sportsbooks we recommend have been rigorously vetted for reliability and security. Our team has utilized these platforms over the years, ensuring they offer prompt payouts, fair treatment, and excellent customer service. By opting for these trusted offshore operators, Tennessee bettors can confidently expand their options while ensuring the safety of their funds and personal information.

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Legal Online Sportsbooks Available In Tennessee

Tennessee legalized sports betting in 2020, with the first bets officially placed in November of that year. The state permits only online wagering through licensed sportsbooks, allowing bettors to place wagers from their mobile devices or computers while within state lines. Tennessee's sports betting market is unique as it does not allow in-person betting, making it primarily focused on online platforms. The market offers a variety of options across numerous sports, with several major sportsbooks having established operations. Tennessee's regulatory framework ensures a secure, fair, and user-friendly betting environment for all participants.

Name of Bookie Launch Date Online Betting Available?
DraftKings Nov. 2020 Yes
FanDuel Nov. 2020 Yes
BetMGM Nov. 2020 Yes
Caesars Nov. 2020 Yes
BetRivers N/A No
Fanatics N/A No
ESPN Bet 2023 Yes
WynnBet N/A No

Tennessee Online Sportsbook Comparison

Tennessee-Sports-Betting

Rather than say one sportsbook is the best in Tennessee, we’re going to cut it straight, there are a lot of good apps to choose from. We could argue multiple of them as "the best." But rather than do that, we’ll pick out the best options based on specific features they excel at:

Best sportsbook for bonuses: Fanatics is making a name for itself in the Tennessee betting scene, and it’s easy to see why. Check out their standout new-player bonus: Fanatics will match your first bet of the day, dollar for dollar, up to $100. Even better, this offer lasts for 10 consecutive days, allowing bettors to collect up to $1,000 in bonus bets. It’s a fast and effective way to build up your betting bankroll right from the start. The deal could change, but it's reflective of Fanatics giving ways.

Best sportsbook for betting options: Most of these sportsbooks are somewhat clones in the sportsbook department. The bets and odds are nearly identical. However, FanDuel manages to stand out just slightly. They are constantly churning out boosted odd promotions, ensuring bettors get the best “bang for their buck.” That’s enough to earn our recommendation here.

Best sportsbook for live betting: DraftKings is a top pick for live betting in Tennessee, thanks to its near real-time updates and wide variety of in-play betting options. Whether you're following the action in the NFL, NBA, or any other sport, DraftKings keeps the odds updated quickly so you can make informed decisions as the game unfolds.

Best sportsbook for rewards: For the second time, Fanatics gets the nod from us. The Fanatics Sportsbook offers something unique for Tennessee bettors. Unlike its competitors, which focus solely on gambling, Fanatics is first and foremost a major sports merchandiser. This means that bets made on the sportsbook qualify for FanCash, which can be used for free bets or redeemed for physical sports gear. Having the option for real, licensed gear is tough to compete against.

Best sportsbook for user experience: If you're an NFL fan (high chance you are), Caesars should be your go-to in Tennessee. They offer NFL game streaming directly through the app, allowing you to catch local Titan games and prime-time matchups without needing a TV subscription (yes, it’s free). Betting and streaming on a single app is truly the dream, hence the pick.

Tennessee Quick Facts

FactTennessee
Launch date:2020
Legal age:21 Years Old
Online sports betting✅ Yes
Number of licenses10
Remote registration✅ Yes
Retail sportsbooks❌No
Retail casinos❌No
Online casino sites❌No
Online poker❌No
Betting on college sports✅ Yes
Betting on esports✅ Yes
State population7 million
State regulatorThe Sports Wagering Council
Last verified✅ September 8
Last updated on: September 30, 2024

What You Can’t Bet On In Tennessee?

Tennessee is pretty forgiving with the majority of sports betting. However, you also can’t just put money on anything. Here’s a few things that won’t be allowed on inside the state:

College player props: No props can be had on collegiate players. This is nationally too, not just on Tennessee area teams. College sports is still where regulators are more cautious on because they are more susceptible to payouts for “fixed” outcomes than pro athletes making millions of dollars.

Casino betting: We said it before, but we’ll say it again: Tennessee has zero casinos — either physical or online. They are vehemently against it so slots or table game players will have to look elsewhere.

Non-sports events: Non sports are exactly as it sounds — events that have no athletic component. This includes things like American political outcomes or results or award shows like the Grammys and Oscars.  You won’t find any of it at Tennessee sportsbooks.

Want to bet on those options in Illinois? You can with offshore sportsbooks. While not licensed in the state, they still operate and often offer fewer restrictions compared to local apps.

Who Can Legally Bet In Tennessee?

So there are a few things off limits to Tennessee bettors, big whoop. This pales in comparison to the things that ARE bet-able.

Legal age: 21 years old is the minimum gambling age in Tennessee, and really, the country as a whole.

Mobile betting: Of course, Tennessee allows mobile betting. This is the state’s bread and butter, and by that, what drives the the entire betting market that lacks physical sportsbooks.

Remote registration: Yes, Tennessee allows remote registering for online betting. We mean, it has no retail sportsbooks so it HAS to be done online or else this whole thing falls apart.

Taxable winnings: Money made betting is not yours to keep entirely. No, it’s supposed to be reported in your income taxes. Tennessee has no income tax, but the federal government does and will get its share as betting earnings count as taxable income. No one beats Uncle Sam in the long run, folks.

Sep 26, 2024 11:56 AM

According to LSR projections, the Super Bowl betting handle in Tennessee is expected to reach approximately $34.4 million, potentially ranking among the top 15 states in terms of handle.

Tennessee Sports Betting Timeline

Here are some quick-hit news items about Tennessee's betting scene the past few years:

2024

January 17, 2024 - The sports betting handle in Tennessee decreased to $495 million in December, marking a 4% month-over-month decline. Despite this, it still secured the second-highest total ever recorded for the state.
 

2023

December 14, 2023 - Tennessee's sports betting handle reached a new record high of $517 million in November, reflecting a significant 16% increase from October.

November 17, 2023 - The sports betting handle in Tennessee achieved a new record high of $445.1 million in October, representing a 6% increase from September.

November 15, 2023 - Underdog Fantasy introduces peer-to-peer pick 'em games in Tennessee and three other states. However, some states continue to prohibit player vs. house pick 'em games.

Tennesee Casinos & Sportsbooks

We said it before, but we'll say it again: the state of Tennessee has neither physical casinos nor retail sportsbooks. Zero! Zilch! Bettors who want this will have to travel out of state to, say, Mississippi which has some physical properties.

How To Bet On Sports In Tennessee?

Tennessee-betting-odds

Tennessee bettors will have their pick at what to bet. This is because all sports are readily available to bet on. Sportsbooks compete with each other to offer more options, which has raised the bar on the number of odds available to wager on.  Still, a few of those markets are going to drive most of the betting attention as we’re about to explain:

How To Bet On Football In Tennessee?

It’s the South — is anyone surprised to learn that football is absolutely king in Tennessee? We sure hope not. Football dominates the local sports scene and we’d even argue it’s more for the college team (the Vols) than the pro sports one. Both will be bet-able during the Fall and Winter time. This is also the time of year when the state gets most of its tax revenue.

How To Bet On Basketball In Tennessee?

Outside of the Super Bowl in February, the next biggest sporting event in terms of betting interest is March Madness. This three-week tournament brings the Tennessee bettors in droves, especially if the Vols are qualified — which they usually are. The NCAA Tournament is a betting spectacle we hope you don’t miss out on.

How To Bet On Baseball In Tennessee?

The state might not have a team in the MLB but Tennesseans still get action on the sport. We mean, how could you not when the MLB has a 162-game playing schedule? This sport offers the most betting opportunities of all. So it would be wise of Tennessee bettors to learn the ins and outs of betting baseball. It has the highest ceiling of all sports to wager on.

How To Bet On Fighting In Tennessee?

UFC has a card almost every Saturday — sometimes even in the state (Nashville has hosted cards before). These make for great betting opportunities, especially when a big name like Conor McGregor or Jones Jones is fighting. The same can be said about boxing, which has weekend cards most of the year. Combat sports cards of all kinds are easy to find at Tennessee betting apps, which carry lines for just about every matchup.

Betting On Tennessee Teams

Tennessee has two big cities in Memphis and Nashville. Each city has at least one major city that represents them. Here’s how you can bet on all of those:

Betting On Tennessee NFL Team

The Music City lives and breathes the Titans. Maybe the franchise has yet to win a Super Bowl — though they were a yard away in the past — but the state hasn’t budged on its love for the Titans. That love has now translated into betting volumes because Tennessee game matchups are commonplace at sportsbooks. Moneylines, over/unders, props, you’ll get it all when the Titans play.

Betting On Tennessee NBA Team

The Memphis Grizzlies get slept on, by the national media sure but even its own state since Tennessee is so football-obsessed. However, the Grizzlies have a solid foundation going right now, thanks to Ja Morant. If Morant finds a way to keep his head on straight, he could be the state’s first big superstar player since Steve McNair.

Betting On Tennessee NHL Team

You don't always think of Tennesee and picture a hockey team — not in a state that's hot most of the year. However, the Nashville Predators call the state home and they have a sneaky-good fanbase. If you're a part of it, you'll be able to wager on the Predators with ease at Tennesse sportsbooks. All of them will carry the usual assortment of bets (moneyline, over/under, props) when they play games.

Tennessee Betting Revenue Statistics

Tennessee is coiling up for a record football betting season. All trends are hinting it’ll set records in 2024 and onward.

Let’s go back to December 2023 — the last time NFL betting was in full swing with all 32 teams. That month, the state hit $517.1 million in total bets, topping a half billion dollars in the monthly betting handle for the first time ever.

Two months later in February — which coincides with the Super Bowl — the handle totaled  $378.2 million. Here’s what’s most impressive though: handle was up 15.6 percent compared to February 2023. It’s evidence that betting is steadily growing, which makes us confident that 2024/25 numbers will be bananas too.

Other Types Of Betting In Tennessee

Tennessee came around to sports betting, but not many other forms of gambling. As we mentioned before, there are zero casinos in the state. Certainly, no online casino betting. It doesn’t appear this is changing anytime soon either.

Horse-race betting is allowed. But there are no tracks in the state. Therefore, all of it has to be done online. Not to sound like boomers, but half the fun of horse-race betting is doing it live and seeing the race unfold on the dirt. This isn’t possibly in Tennessee.

Daily fantasy sports (DFS) has the green light too. This shouldn’t come as a surprise since it’s essentially sports betting dressed up as fantasy sports. But really, the two are sides of the same coin.

Lottery is also a thing in Tennessee. It works in the state like everywhere else — there are national draw games or scratch-off tickets. Neither have high chances of hitting but that hasn’t stopped needy gamblers before.

Sports Betting Rules In Each State

Heading outside of Tennessee? Wondering what the betting situation will be? Read one of our guides then. We’ve written these for all 50 states. So just pick one to get up to speed with betting there!

Responsible Gaming In Tennessee

This should be a non-negotiable thing for every bettor: setting a betting budget. In our experience, it’s the best thing a bettor can do to stay in control of this hobby — rather than letting betting control you. There’s a dark side to betting, of course. You know what it is, it’s financial ruin, it’s torched relationships, it’s addiction. Most of those things happen when bettors lose control of betting. Welp, budgets maintain some semblance of control.

How does one go about setting a budget? For starters, determine how much disposable income you’re okay with losing — it’s key that this is money you don’t need for essentials like bills, groceries, or savings. Once you’ve set that figure, break it into smaller amounts for each day or week, and stick to it. Chasing losses is a slippery slope, so once your budget or time limit is up, it’s important to cut yourself off. This way, betting stays enjoyable and doesn’t become a burden.

If betting starts to impact your life negatively, don’t ignore it — there are resources that can help. Tennessee offers several support systems for anyone dealing with problem gambling, including these two:

Tennessee REDLINE (https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/substance-abuse-services/prevention/tennessee-redline.html)

Available 24/7, this confidential helpline provides support, resources, and treatment referrals for individuals facing gambling issues. Call 1-800-889-9789 for immediate assistance.

Nashville Gamblers Anonymous (http://www.gamblersanonymous.org)

This peer-led support group holds meetings throughout the Nashville area and across Tennessee. It provides a confidential space for individuals to share their experiences and seek support from others facing similar challenges with problem gambling. Visit their website for more information on meeting times and locations.

As for national resources, these ones work too:

Gambling Addiction Support Network (https://www.gamblingaddictionsupport.org/)

A non-profit organization providing resources and support for individuals struggling with gambling addiction.

Center for Responsible Gaming (https://www.centerforresponsiblegaming.org/)

The Center for Responsible Gaming (CRG) is a research institution dedicated to promoting safe gambling practices and addressing gambling-related issues.

24/7 Gambling Support Line (https://www.gamblinghelponline.org/24-7-helpline)

A round-the-clock helpline offering immediate assistance and guidance for those experiencing gambling-related problems."