Online Sports Betting in Tennessee
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Tennessee might be the home for Elvis Graceland in Memphis and the heart of country music in Nashville, but Tennesseans are also big sports fans. To learn more about Online Sports Betting in Tennessee, continue reading below.
Tennessee is nicknamed the Volunteer State because of its eagerness to step forward, and they’ve certainly done it for the gambling industry too. Tennessee became the first state in the southeast to legalize ONLY sports betting. The Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation was given the authority to regulate the industry, and sports betting is only allowed online in the state. There are no plans to regulate in-person betting facilities.
If you want to start betting on sports online in TN, it is crucial to ensure you do so legally and safely. The state requires that you use an authorized mobile sports betting operator, and there are several options to choose from. Some popular options include FanDuel and BetMGM. These operators have been licensed by the state and thoroughly tested to ensure they are safe and secure.
Here is the list of legal and trustworthy sites that we have acknowledged as safe and regulated:
How does legal gambling help the state of Tennessee?
Tennessee distributes money from online betting taxes and licenses in the following way:
- 5% goes to resources for problem gambling at the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
- 15% goes to the General Fund
- 80% goes to State Education
The SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) is responsible for creating a report each year about how 5% of online sports betting tax dollars are being used to prevent problem gambling in the state. This report will be given to the governor and the leaders of the senate and house. It will include details about how the money is used and progress updates on addressing problem gambling.
Popular Bets in Tennessee
Some popular choices include the Tennessee Titans (professional football) and the Tennessee Volunteers (college football). If you want to learn more about NFL bets in TN, check out our NFL betting tips. In addition to traditional sports, Tennessee sports bettors can also wager on esports and other events.
The state also allows in-game betting, which lets you bet on specific events or actions during a game. However, there are some restrictions on in-game betting in Tennessee. The state does not allow in-game prop bets on individual college athletes or teams or any prop bet on college athletes. To make in-game bets, the state regulation requires operators to have an agreement with sports leagues to use official data.
That said, it’s legal to bet on both pro and college sports in Tennessee as long as you abide by the rules laid out above.
Overall, sports betting in Tennessee is an exciting and new legal way to enjoy your favorite sports. Just be sure to do so safely and responsibly, and you’ll be able to join in on all the fun!
10 fun facts about sports betting in Tennessee
- Tennessee legalized sports betting in 2019, and operators went live in 2020.
- The Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, which legalized sports betting in the state, was made law without Governor Bill Lee’s signature.
- The Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation was given the authority to regulate sports betting in the state.
- During the launch month of mobile sports betting in Tennessee, the total amount wagered (handle) exceeded $131 million.
- In November 2022, the sports betting industry in Tennessee had a record $439.5 million in total bets and made $47.2 million in revenue. The state received a record $9 million in taxes from this.
- The minimum age to bet on sports in Tennessee is 21.
- Sports betting is only allowed online in Tennessee, and there are no plans to allow brick-and-mortar sportsbooks.
- In Tennessee, it is not allowed to bet on specific actions or events involving college athletes or teams or on college athletes in general.
- The Tennessee Titans, a professional football team based in Nashville, are a popular team to bet on in the state.
- In Tennessee, it is legal to bet on esports, which is not the case in many other states.
Professional and Collegiate Sports in TN
Professional and CollegiaTennessee is host to a number of both professional and collegiate sports teams. There are three professional sports teams based in Tennessee. The Memphis Grizzlies (NBA), the Nashville Predators (NHL), and the Tennessee Titans (NFL, based in Nashville).
The Memphis Grizzlies (NBA) were founded relatively recently (1995) and have won only a singular divisional title (2022). The Nashville Predators (NHL) were founded even later (1998), yet have had more success – winning two division championships (2017-2018, 2018-2019), a Presidents’ Trophy (2017-2018), and a conference championship (2016-2017). The Predators even advanced to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, though they lost in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Tennessee Titans (NFL) have seen the most success – winning 11 divisional championships, 1 conference championship, and 2 AFL championships. The Titans also have a number of players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including QB/K George Blanda, RB Earl Campbell, S Ken Houston, OT Bruce Matthews, and QB Warren Moon.
There are many collegiate teams in-state, but the top athletic programs belong to the University of Tennessee (the Volunteers or Vols), the University of Memphis (Tigers), and Vanderbilt University (Commodores).
The Tennessee Volunteers have the most storied athletic history as a school, often finding their teams ranked in the top 25 for their respective sports. Their baseball program has reached the NCAA tournament nine times and the College World Series four teams, producing MLB stars and a number one overall draft pick (Luke Hochevar, 2006). Their basketball team has consistently been a top-25 program, though they’ve never advanced further than the Elite Eight of March Madness. They do, however, have a Basketball Hall of Famer in Bernard King. Most importantly, the Vols have sported some incredible NFL talent, including future Hall of Fame players Peyton Manning and Reggie White.
Most Popular Athletes (Actively) in Tennessee Sports
- Derrick Henry
- A running back known by his moniker of “King Henry,” Derrick Henry is the driving force behind the Titans offense. His imposing stature (6’3″, 250 lbs) and tendency to overpower opponents has earned him much praise from the Titans fanbase. The NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2020, Henry became one of only eight players in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season. He’s a 1x 1st-Team All-Pro, 1x 2nd-Team All-Pro, 3x Pro Bowler, 2x Rushing Yards and Rushing Touchdowns Leader. He also won the Heisman Trophy as an RB at Alabama in 2015.
- Ja Morant
- Lightly recruited by NCAA Division 1 Programs, Morant was the first player in NCAA history to average 20+ points and 10+ assists per game. Drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies with the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Morant immediately established himself as a future star. He won Rookie of the Year in his first year, then was named a 2022 NBA All-Star, along with being named to the All-NBA Second Team and being named the Most Improved Player. Known for his high-flying dunks initially, Morant has developed a well-rounded game. He’s the Grizzly’s all-time leader in triple-doubles and has increased his scoring and rebounding averages on a per-game basis in each of his first three years in the NBA.
- Roman Josi
- Drafted by the Predators in 2008, Josi is the longest-tenured Tennessee athlete on this list. He’s the first player in franchise history to win the James Norris Memorial Trophy (2019-2020) as the NHL’s best defenseman. He also holds the Predators’ record for most points in a single season (96). With 574 points and counting, he’s also the Predators’ all-time record holder for career points and assists and is 6th in all-time goals scored as well.
Ja MorantResponsible Gambling in TN
If you don’t want to reach out locally to the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, you can call the National Problem Gambling Hotline at 1-800-522-4700. The call is anonymous, and the phone hotline is available 24/7/365. You can also text the number 1-800-522-4700 or enter the website chat here.
Want to learn more about online casinos and sports gambling? Follow our Online Gamblers Academy and learn how to have fun responsibly!
Yes, legal sports betting has been available in Tennessee since 2020.
To legally place a bet, you have to be 21 years or older, have a social security number and be located in the state of Tennessee. The operator will require you to verify your location with a geolocation program, and you will have to supply documents to verify your identification. Bets can be placed through mobile and desktops. Retail betting is not allowed. Read more about Sports betting and learn how to bet on sports.
Yes, it’s legal to bet with licensed operators in the state of Tennessee. In addition to sports, you can also bet on e-sports in The Volunteer State. Betting is only legal online with licensed operators. In-person betting is not legal yet.
