Tennessee Online Sports Betting Guide 2024
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With its rich sporting heritage, it’s not surprising that the people of Tennessee love to support their local teams through their wagering. Is online sports betting legal in Tennessee? Where can you bet, and what exactly can you wager on?
This is exactly what we’re going to explore in this article – the legality of Tennessee sports betting. We’ll walk you through the Tennessee sports betting legislation, and the specifics of each bill and law, before revealing which sportsbooks – if any – operate in the Volunteer State.
So, here’s your guide to everything you need to know about sports betting in Tennessee.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Discover whether sports betting is legal in Tennessee or not.
- Learn about the best sportsbook brands in TN.
- Reveal how to improve your sports betting in three simple steps.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Tennessee?
Sports betting was legalized for the first time in 2018 with the lifting of the PASPA Act, and several states moved quickly to introduce legal wagering on their home soil.
Of all the states where sports betting is legal, Tennessee was among the first to pass a bill that allowed for sportsbooks to move into TN. However, there’s something of a catch, in that Tennessee sports betting laws only allow for online wagering, not in-person bets.
- May 2018 – The PASPA Act is overturned, handing the power of legalizing sports betting to each individual state.
- May 2019 – Governor Bill Lee signs off on Tennessee’s first legal sports betting bill.
- April 2020 – Tennessee sports betting law is decided, and applications for the state’s first gambling licenses are received.
- November 2020 – The first legal sportsbooks in TN – BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel – begin accepting wagers from Tennessee bettors.
- May 2023 – A Tennessee sports betting update sees sportsbooks taxed based on their betting handle, rather than their revenue. This revised Tennessee sports betting bill, HB 1362, sees operators taxed 1.85% on their handle, rather than 20% on their revenue.
Fun fact: By January 2024, the total betting handle in Tennessee reached $467.4m – making it the 13th most popular state for wagering in the US.
10 Quick Facts About Tennessee’s Sports Betting Laws
- Name of Tennessee state law: The Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, created in July 2019, is the set of rules that governs legal wagering in TN.
- Legal age: Sports betting in Tennessee is legal, though you need to be aged 21+ to legally place a bet on TN state soil. Each online sportsbook in the state will verify your identity during the registration process, so you’ll need to submit a form of ID that proves your age.
- State borders: Tennessee is bordered by eight states: Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri. Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Mississippi have legalized in-person and online sports betting (but in Mississippi, you have to be in a casino to bet online). Georgia, Alabama, and Missouri have yet to legalize any form of sports betting.
- Retail bookmakers: Only online sports betting is legal in Tennessee – so you won’t find any retail bookmaking properties. There are no plans to update the law right now.
- Taxes: Sportsbooks in Tennessee are taxed 1.85% of their betting handle. There’s no state-level income tax for bettors, so the federal rate of 24% applies to winnings over $5,000.
- Regulator: The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council is tasked with regulating the sports betting industry in TN. It decides which sportsbooks are granted licenses while ensuring that state law is complied with.
- Betting licenses: Currently, there are 12 legal sportsbooks operating in Tennessee, while a 13th – Bally Bet – has been granted a license and will likely begin accepting wagers in 2024.
- Betting markets: You can wager on all the most popular sports and markets in Tennessee. This includes moneyline, spreads, and totals, as well as futures and prop bets (professional sports only).
- College sports: You can legally wager on college sports in Tennessee, including on colleges/players from TN. However, college sports prop betting (football and basketball) is prohibited.
- Mobile sports betting: Bettors in Tennessee can engage in legal sports betting on any of their internet-enabled devices, including smartphones and tablets.
How to Bet on Sports in Tennessee
It only takes a few moments to get your Tennessee sports betting journey up and running. You’ll first need to select a sportsbook to join – don’t worry, we’ll reveal the best Tennessee sports betting sites later in this article – before registering for a new customer account.
Here are the steps that I, personally, took to sign up for my first sports betting account in Tennessee:
- Click the ‘Join now’ button (or similar) on the sportsbook site/app.
- Complete the registration form (this only took a minute or so in my experience).
- Wait for your account to be verified (in seconds!).
- Once confirmed, head to the cashier and make a deposit.
- Enjoy!
As soon as your new customer account is live and funded, you can place your first bet in Tennessee.
Don’t forget, there are typically Tennessee sports betting promos to be claimed at your new sportsbook. Often, these are automatically paid out when you have made your deposit. However, it’s always worth checking the fine print beforehand to ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria.
I can still remember my first wager in TN: unsurprisingly, I backed the Grizzlies on the spread against the Dallas Mavericks – as I recall, it’s not a bet that went well! Hopefully, you’ll have more joy with your first selections.
Top Tennessee Sports Betting Sites and Apps
In this Tennessee sports betting guide, we’ve learned that wagering in the Volunteer State is legal. However, as you can probably imagine, not all Tennessee sports betting sites are built the same – some are more worthy of your time than others.
So, in my personal experience, these are the sportsbooks that you can join with absolute confidence, given the strength of their offering.
BetMGM
- Welcome Offer: Up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if your first wager loses.
- Minimum Deposit: $10
- Wagering Requirements: Place a qualifying wager of a maximum of $1,500 that only needs to be played through once.
Along with offering one of the most generous Tennessee sports betting bonuses available, BetMGM also has one of the most innovative and user-friendly betting sites/apps in TN.
One of the first sportsbook brands to be allowed to operate in the state, BetMGM offers new customers up to $1,500 back in bonus credits if your first wager loses. The amount you stake is the amount you will be credited if your selection is unsuccessful.
As well as offering the complete A to Z in sports and betting markets, BetMGM also has a game-changing rewards program – every wager you place earns points, which can later be exchanged for free bets, bet credits, and other goodies.
Caesars Sportsbook
Disclaimer: Open to new users in Tennessee who are 21 or older. If qualifying bet loses, bet amount returned as a Bonus Bet. Bonus Bet expires 14 days after receipt. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms.
- Welcome Offer: Up to $1,000 back if your first wager loses.
- Minimum Deposit: $10
- Wagering Requirements: Place a qualifying wager of a maximum of at least $10.
Like BetMGM, when you join Caesars Sportsbook, you’ll be given the chance to place a completely risk-free opening bet – if it wins, you get paid out in full. If it loses, your stake will be refunded in free bet credits.
A Caesars account adds so much value to your betting experience – not least because it offers NFL live streaming via its website and app. There have been times when I’ve watched the game and then bet live based on what I’ve seen out on the field.
Many bettors will also love their rewards program, which pays out points for placing bets, making deposits, etc. These credits can be exchanged for sportsbook rewards, hotel stays at Caesars casinos, and even gift cards for selected retailers.
FanDuel
- Welcome Offer: Bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets if your pick wins.
- Minimum Deposit: $10
- Wagering Requirements: Place a wager of a minimum of $5 and play through once.
Ask any sports bettor across America what their favorite site/app is to use, and FanDuel is a name that crops up particularly often.
And with good reason – it offers a comprehensive range of sports and betting markets, many of which are supported by pre-event and in-play odds, as well as live streaming. There are daily odds boosts and pre-built same game parlay tickets, so you can wager with just a single tap of your screen.
You don’t have to take our word for it – the FanDuel app scored 4.9/5 in the App Store from more than one million reviews, which is as much evidence as you could possibly need!
Popular Sports and Teams in Tennessee’s Betting Scene
Of the ‘big four’ sports in the US – namely football, basketball, baseball, and hockey – Tennessee is represented at the highest level in three of them.
Tennessee Titans
When the Houston Oilers relocated to Nashville in 1997, they probably had no concept that within two years they’d have set up permanent residence at the Nissan Stadium and been renamed as the Tennessee Titans.
Since then, the Titans have won a stack of AFC divisional titles – the most recent was in 2021, after losing in the AFC Championship game in 2019.
Tennessee last made it to the Super Bowl in 1999, when they lost 16-23 to the St. Louis Rams.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies moved from Vancouver to Memphis for the 2001-02 NBA season, setting up home at the FedEx Forum. After a fallow start in Tennessee, the Grizzlies have since become a regular in the playoffs, making three consecutive appearances between 2021 and 2023.
In 2012-13, they made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals – losing in four to the San Antonio Spurs.
Fun fact: In 2023, the Grizzlies’ cumulative home game attendance was over 700,000.
Nashville Predators
Top-tier hockey finally came to Tennessee in 1998, with the Nashville Predators playing their maiden NHL season. And it wasn’t long before they started to enjoy success, either – they won the Western Conference during the 2016-17 season.
Sadly, the Predators couldn’t take that extra step – they lost 2-4 to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the Stanley Cup.
In addition to that trio of elite representatives, Tennessee has a local interest in other sports:
- Memphis Redbirds: Although Tennessee doesn’t have a representative in Major League Baseball, it does at least have the Memphis Redbirds, a successful Triple-A team. A regular winner of the Pacific Coast League, the Redbirds also triumphed in the Triple-A National Championship game of 2018.
- Nashville SC: Tennessee’s sole MLS representative didn’t even play their first season until 2018, but they’ve reached the postseason playoffs in every campaign since. Their best effort was their run of reaching the quarter-finals between 2019 and 2021.
- Tennessee Volunteers: One of the premier college sports programs in TN, the Volunteers have won 24 national championships over the years, which includes sports such as basketball, baseball, and track and field. They’re also closing in on a staggering 150 SEC titles.
Tennessee has also produced a stack of Olympic gold medalists over the years – including sprinter Wilma Rudolph and swimmer Tracy Caulkins – while NFL defensive great Reggie White and 39-time PGA TOUR event winner Cary Middlecoff also hail from the Volunteer State.
The Impact of Local Teams on Sports Betting
The popularity of the Titans and the Grizzlies – combined, they are watched each season by a home attendance of more than 1.3 million – is such that the sports betting industry in Tennessee can only be positively impacted.
In fact, the state representatives in the ‘big four’ sports, as well as interests in soccer and college sports, ensure that many Tennessee natives are wagering on their local teams.
This is usually the impact of local teams on sports betting: optimistic fans want their teams to do well. This manifests itself as line movements in the futures market, as well as support in the moneyline and spread lines in particular. In turn, people follow the Tennessee sports betting news for their own betting strategies.
Fun fact: Tennessee has seen a regular increase in its sports betting market, with a betting handle of over $4bn in 2023!
Upcoming Events
The beauty of Tennessee sports betting is that there’s always something going on – the sporting calendar very rarely runs dry, even during the holidays! To help mark your card with some betting opportunities on the horizon, let’s take a look at the highlights of the upcoming schedule.
Are There More Gambling Options in Tennessee?
As we know, online sports betting is legal in Tennessee, but in-person wagering isn’t – so what other gambling options are allowed in the Volunteer State?
Horse Racing
As part of the legalization of sports betting in TN, the ban on horse racing wagering was also lifted. So, you can use your chosen regulated sportsbook sites/apps to bet on races across America and overseas.
Fantasy Sports
Many jurisdictions consider fantasy sports to be skill-based gaming, rather than gambling, which is why it is allowed in so many more states than sports betting.
Tennessee is no exception – you can join sites such as DraftKings and FanDuel and begin drafting your lineups in football, basketball, baseball, and more.
Sweepstakes Casinos
Online casino gaming is prohibited in Tennessee. However, sweepstakes casinos – where the games are free to play, but there are occasionally cash-based prizes to be won – aren’t.
Maximizing Your Bets in Tennessee
If you’re looking to get started with Tennessee sports betting, read on for some handy hints and tips to get you up and running.
Tips and Strategies for Tennessee Bettors
The first tip to improve your betting – and it’s one I personally wished I had followed when starting out – is to concentrate on the sports you are particularly knowledgeable about.
Know Your Stuff
This way, you’re betting more with context and insight than you are with gut instinct and pure luck – those latter two attributes are far from being a shortcut to success in sports wagering!
You can also supplement your knowledge by reading up on the latest stats. Look beyond the league standings: consider recent form, strength of schedule, and home/away splits to gain a better understanding of how the teams are faring.
For sports such as football, where the performances of individuals are so vital, consider the form of key players. How has a quarterback been performing lately? Does he have a strong connection with his main pass targets? Is the starting QB injured, or likely to be rested?
Seek Out Value
Sometimes, you will have identified a strong bet, but after inspecting the betting odds, decide that the ‘value’ isn’t there.
Over time, understanding the value of betting odds will become instinctive – you probably know fair value when it comes to buying a new TV or car, and sports betting lines will also become second nature.
However, never bet when you feel that the odds aren’t fair and reflective of the probability of an outcome happening.
Stake Smart
Once you have made a deposit into your betting account, it would be foolish to wager it all on one single selection.
Instead, consider breaking your bankroll up into small chunks of maybe 2% to 5% per wager. That way, you can maximize your betting enjoyment without having to continuously top up your account with new deposits.
For more tips on how to be better at sports betting, follow the link to our expert 101 section.
Understanding Taxes and Payouts
As part of the Tennessee sports betting bill, no local-level or state tax was imposed – meaning that you can wager with complete freedom in that regard.
Sportsbooks and operators have to pay a tax on their betting handle, but ultimately that’s their problem – for bettors like us, we don’t have to worry about our winnings being taken away.
Well, that is, unless you win $5,000 or more. If your winnings equal or exceed that amount, you will need to declare it in your federal tax return – a tax of 24% will be imposed.
You can learn more about taxes on sports betting by reading our expert article.
What About Physical Betting Locations?
Unfortunately, betting in person remains prohibited in Tennessee. If the law changes, we’ll be certain to update this section of the article.
So, Will You Bet from Tennessee Tonight?
Great news: online sports betting is legal in Tennessee, and many of the leading sportsbook brands are live and ready to take your bets.
You can now head out, register for an account or two at the best Tennessee sportsbooks mentioned in this article, and begin wagering on your favorite sports and teams.
Remember, we’ve got stacks of useful information on this very website, as well as handy betting tools, to help you make the most of every single wager you place in Tennessee.
For a complete betting masterclass, take a look at our Betting 101 guide now!
