Legal Online Sports Betting in Tennessee

The first legal sportsbooks launched in November 2020, and there is now a wide choice of sites and apps for TN sports fans. Some of the biggest names in the business like BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel and Caesars are available to bettors in the Volunteer State.

On this page, we’ll answer all your questions about Tennessee legal betting sites, and give you a little background info on the journey to legal online sports betting in TN.  

To learn how to get started with your chosen legal sports betting app or website, and read up on the many different types of bets you can make, be sure to check out the main Sports Betting in Tennessee page. 

Before you dive in though, we suggest you also take a look at our Safe Sports Betting in Tennessee page, where we share our top tips for keeping your private information and your funds safe and secure. 

Last but not least, you certainly won’t want to miss our Best Sports Betting in Tennessee page, where we spill the beans on just where to find the hottest promos, free bets, and juiciest welcome bonuses!

Let’s get started!

Top legal betting sites in Tennessee

Caesars Sportsbook

$1,000 First Bet on Caesars

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BetMGM Sportsbook

Get up to $1,500 Paid Back in Bonus Bets

No Code Needed

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DraftKings Sportsbook

Get a Play-Through Bonus up to $1,000

No Code Needed

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A brief history of legal online sports betting in Tennessee

Tennessee took quite an unusual path to legal online betting. Like many states, Tennessee was originally opposed to any form of gambling, including sports wagering. In fact, it wasn’t until 2004 that it allowed for a state lottery to start operating. 

Given that history, it’s not all that surprising that the state still doesn’t have any physical land-based gambling establishments like racetracks and casinos. When legal sports betting was finally allowed in the state, Tennessee made history by becoming the first US state to allow legal sports betting only online or via mobile apps. 

How did we get here? It all started in 2018, when the US Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (aka PASPA Act) of 1992. This gave states the option to decide for themselves whether sports wagering would or wouldn’t be allowed within their borders.  

In November of 2018, Representative Rick Staples introduced Bill HB 0001, which after several amendments would go on to pave the way for legal online betting in Tennessee. In May of 2019, Governor Bill Lee allowed the Sports Gaming Act to pass into law, and sports betting was officially legal. 

Unusually again, Lee wanted the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation to be in charge of overseeing operations, rather than forming a new body to regulate the industry. This turned out to be helpful for the newly fledged industry, as it allowed regulations to be introduced more quickly than they would have otherwise.

Today, the special Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Council, a division of the Tennessee Education Lottery, oversees legal sports betting in the state and issues new licenses. 

It’s thought that thanks to the progress made with sports betting, Tennessee may soon see other forms of gambling permitted (currently you’re not even allowed to legally play a game of poker at home, even when no money is up for grabs). 

This would be a welcome source of tax income for the state, but overturning old laws and ways of thinking takes time. For sports fans at least, the news is good – despite very high entry costs, the market is growing rapidly, with new legal betting sites entering Tennessee all the time.

Legal online betting FAQ:

We hope you found our look into the history of legal online sports betting in Tennessee interesting and informative! Be sure to watch this space for new legal betting sites entering the Tennessee market. 

If you’re ready to get started, head on over to the main Sports Betting in Tennessee page to learn about the many different types of legal sports bets you can make. 

If you’d like to read up on our top tips for protecting your privacy, you’ll find them on our Safe Sports Betting in Tennessee page. 

And finally, don’t miss our Best Sports Betting in Tennessee page, where we give you the inside scoop on where to find the very best welcome bonuses, free bets, special offers and more! 

Thanks for reading and may luck be on your favorite sports team’s side!