Online gambling and sports betting in Tennessee

• Only online/mobile sports betting is legal; no retail sportsbooks
• Online casino and online slots are not authorized in Tennessee
• Regulator is the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (state entity)
• Market launched Nov 2020 as online-only, no physical betting locations
• Regulator took over from Tennessee Education Lottery on Jan 1, 2022
• Sports betting operators must be licensed by the Council
• Tennessee is a “purely mobile” sports betting market
• Council is sole authority for sports betting licensing and enforcement

Tennessee Sports Wagering Council — www.tn.gov/swac.html

Tennessee Code Title 4, Chapter 49 (sports wagering); detailed section references unconfirmed.

Not confirmed. unconfirmed.

Offshore and unlicensed sports betting is illegal; advertising such services is likely prohibited under general aiding and abetting and gambling promotion provisions, but specific Tennessee advertising clauses were not located.

National rules also apply — see online gambling regulation in United States.

The regulator publishes a list of licensed or authorised operators.

• Regulation transferred from Tennessee Education Lottery to Sports Wagering Advisory Council effective Jan 1, 2022
• Body renamed Tennessee Sports Wagering Council; “Advisory” dropped in 2023 legislation
• Hold requirement and 20% AGR tax replaced by 1.85% tax on handle; 10% hold cap removed
• Council maintains and updates public list of licensed operators and registrants on its website

• Exact statutory text on advertising or promotion of offshore/unlicensed gambling not confirmed
• Precise URL structure for the Council’s licence list may change
• Whether any limited retail or on-premise kiosks have been piloted is unconfirmed
• Whether Tennessee courts or regulators have expressly addressed sweepstakes/social casinos.
• Whether Tennessee has any recent 2026 action specifically on loot boxes/mystery boxes.
• Whether prediction markets like Kalshi/Polymarket are treated as gambling, securities, or CFTC-regulated products in Tennessee.

1. tn.gov/content/dam/tn/swac/documents/rules-laws/License_Rules-Regulations.pdf
2. publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules_all/2018/1350-01.20220620.pdf
3. foxsports.com/stories/betting/tennessee-sports-betting
4. legalsportsreport.com/sports-betting/states/tennessee/
5. actionnetwork.com/online-sports-betting/tennessee
6. tennessee.bet/about-us/gambling-regulations/
7. drf.com/sports-betting/state/tennessee-sports-betting
8. sportshandle.com/tennessee/
9. legaluspokersites.com/state-laws/tennessee/
10. allowedhere.com/legality/online-casinos/tennessee/
11. bookmakersreview.com/usa/tennessee/online-poker/
12. highrollpoker.com/guides/tennessee-usa-online-poker-guide
13. pokerwebsites.com/tennessee/
14. usgambling.com/tennessee/
15. pokerfuse.com/online-poker/tennessee/
16. highstakesdb.com/news/high-stakes-reports/tennessee-online-poker-sites-can-i-play-online-poker-in-tennessee
17. lines.com/sweepstakes-casinos/states/tn
18. sweepskings.com/sweepstakes-casinos/legal/tennessee/
19. mlive.com/sweepstakes-casinos/2026/01/sweepstakes-casinos-tennessee-becomes-latest-state-to-issue-shutdown-orders.html
20. covers.com/industry/tennessee-governor-signs-anti-sweepstakes-bill-into-law-may-26-2026
21. thegamingboardroom.com/2026/01/06/tennessee-attorney-general-shuts-down-38-online-sweepstakes-casinos/
22. tokenpost.com/news/regulation/18270
23. yellow.com/001thm!www.supergirl.therapywww.tv897.comwwww.0374tv.com!www.xjxjxj38.cc.cnm;eeesuuwww;www211uu.commwwww.k4455.com/news/tennessee-orders-polymarket-kalshi-and-cryptocom-to-halt-sports-prediction-markets
24. yellow.com/001thm!wwww.kkss78/news/tennessee-orders-polymarket-kalshi-and-cryptocom-to-halt-sports-prediction-markets
25. weex.com/news/detail/old-orders-backlash-market-predicted-to-be-paused-in-tennessee-304870
26. tradingview.com/news/cointelegraph:ec460f7e3094b:0-tennessee-sends-cease-and-desist-letters-to-kalshi-polymarket-crypto-com/

Researched 2026-09-21 from public sources and summarised by the Brandfense team. Not legal advice — confirm with the regulator or your counsel before acting.