Tennessee

The Volunteer State joined the list of states with legal sports betting when they launched mobile-only wagering in November 2020. Due to the state’s lack of retail betting facilities, Tennessee’s sports betting scene is strictly online, as there are currently 10 mobile sports betting apps available.

Each state has different rules when it comes to betting on collegiate sports. In Tennessee, bettors can wager on in-state college like the Tennessee Volunteers, but they cannot bet on individual college player props. Outside of college player props, bettors in TN also do not have the option to bet on politics.

In addition to sports betting, residents of the Volunteer State can use daily fantasy sports apps. While there aren't any racetracks in Tennessee, bettors can legally bet on horse racing in other states using racebooks.

Online sports betting in The Volunteer State

The process of getting sports betting off the ground in Tennessee went a bit differently than it does in most other states. After PASPA was overturned in 2018, many states rushed to get a sports betting bill passed. Tennessee waited a year until lawmakers introduced HB 0001, which moved through the state's Senate and House without much of a problem.

Based on Tennesse state law, the Governor had ten days to either sign or veto the bill. By taking no action, the bill will automatically become law without a signature, which was the case with the state's sports betting bill. All sports betting in Tennessee is done online. This is not a standard layout among states with legalized sports betting, but it has worked well for Tennessee.

By November 2020, four mobile sportsbooks were available to accept wagers in the state, including BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, and the lesser-known Action 24/7. Because Tennessee does not have casinos or retail betting locations, these sportsbooks were able to obtain a license without having to partner with a retail facility, which is common amongst most states with sports betting legislation.

The Volunteer State’s mobile betting layout has since expanded from the original four sportsbooks. In total, ten sports betting apps are now available, and more are expected to join the market over time. These additional operators include ESPN Bet, ZenSports, Betly, and the Hard Rock Sportsbook.

Further expansion of the mobile betting market seems imminent, especially since the Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Committee took over the process of granting licenses and overlooking the sports betting industry in 2022.

All legal TN sports betting apps in 2024 (from newest to oldest):

Recently Closed Sportsbooks

Sports betting & gambling legislation in TN

Tennessee’s sports betting bill requires bettors to be at least 21 to place a wager. The Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Council enforces rules such as the gambling age.

Since retail betting does not exist in Tennessee, remote registration is 100% legal and the only way to create a mobile betting account in the state. Bettors can create as many mobile betting accounts as they please; they just need to ensure they are within state lines when making a bet. Not only is remote registration fully available to Tennesee bettors, but all gambling winnings in the state are not subject to an income tax, so bettors only need to pay a federal tax of 24% if their winnings exceed $5,000.

In terms of adding more gambling legislation, the Volunteer State does look to be in much of a rush. The discussions of opening up retail betting have been practically non-existent, and the same goes for the potential of the state launching legalized iGaming.

Most recent updates from the TN sports betting scene

• October 9, 2024: Looking to build on their massive upset win over Alabama, the Vanderbilt Commodores will head on the road to play Kentucky this weekend as (+13.5) point underdogs.

• October 7, 2024: Coming off their upset loss to Arkansas, the Tennessee Volunteers will return home this weekend to host the Florida Gators as (-15.5) point favorites.

• October 4, 2024: In another primetime appearance, the Tennessee Volunteers will head on the road to Arkansas as (-14) point favorites.

• September 27, 2024: Heading into the team's bye week, Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava has the 4th best odds to win the Heisman on DraftKings at (+950).

• September 23, 2024: After a loss to the Packers, the Tennessee Titans are one of just three winless teams remaining in the NFL. The Titans did open as (-1) point road favorites over the injury-riddled Miami Dolphins.

• September 17, 2024: The Tennessee Volunteers will head on the road to Oklahoma, where they will play in primetime as (-7) point favorites.

• September 13, 2024: In search of a 3-0 start, the Vanderbilt Commodores will head on the road to Georga State, where they are (-9.5) point road favorites.

• September 4, 2024: The Tennessee Volunteers will play in primetime for their week two matchup with NC State. The Vols are currently (-8) point favorites on DK.

• September 2, 2024: Week one of the NFL season has arrived, and the Tennessee Titans will be on the road in Chicago where they will play the Bears as (+4.5) point underdogs.

• August 27, 2024: The Tennessee Volunteers will begin their 2024 football season at home against Chattanooga, where they are (-38.5) point favorites on DK.

In-person sports betting sites and locations

The amount of casinos in each state varies drastically, and Tennessee is a state that has never had casinos. Whether tribal or commercial, casinos have never been a part of the Volunteer State. As a result, when sports betting was legalized in Tennessee, it was strictly in mobile form.

This sports betting layout has worked perfectly for Tennesee, so the state is unlikely to consider implementing retail sports betting anytime soon.

Sports betting in neighboring states

Tennessee certainly has its fair share of neighboring states, with eight in total. This gives residents five states they can cross the border into and still find legalized sports betting.

The only states travelers won’t find legal sports betting in are Alabama, Georgia, and Missouri. To find out why these states have maintained strict laws on the topic, you can select them in the table below.

Sports betting revenue impact on Tennessee's economy

Online operators must pay an annual fee of $750,000 to obtain and maintain a sports betting license in Tennessee. The tax rate for mobile sportsbooks in the Volunteer State is currently set at 20%. In addition to the usual 20% tax rate, mobile operators must also pay a 1.85% tax on monthly handle. This additional tax stems from the passing of HB 1362, which was passed in 2023.

Although Tennessee only offers mobile sports betting, it is still doing well in sports betting statistics. In 2022 alone, the Volunteer State accumulated just over $4 billion in handle and $68 million in tax income. Tennessee has continually improved its handle, revenue, and tax income numbers year over year.

However, as of July 2023, the state has not reported the monthly revenue figures anymore, as the monthly reports includes only total handle and generated tax figures.

Vermont and Wyoming are the only other states with mobile betting and no retail betting, but due to their size, they do nowhere near as well as Tennesee in sports betting revenue. For comparison, Wyoming has seen over $410 million in handle since legalizing sports betting, while Tennessee has seen over $12.5 billion.

Tennessee sports betting record months:

• Sports betting handle: November 2023 ($517,141,377)

• Revenue: November 2023 ($51,714,138)

• Tax income: November 2023 ($9,513,707)

TN sports betting revenue in 2024

As a reminder, Tennessee Lottery's Sports Betting Council dropped the monthly sports betting revenue off their reports in July 2023. Therefore, the following table shows only the monthly betting handle, its change compared to the previous month, and the tax revenue for 2024.

Yearly revenue data

• * = The total gross sports betting revenue is as of July 2023. From that month on, the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council stopped publishing revenue totals in its monthly reports.