Sometime in 2020, the state of Tennessee will finally offer you legal sports betting.

However, the Volunteer State will do things a bit differently from the other states where gambling is legal, like New Jersey or Colorado.

 It turns out that there won’t be any brick-and-mortar places to go and place a bet on your favourite sports team – everything will be held online. This means that Tennessee sports fans will have to register on a sportsbook page or download a sports betting app instead of going to a land-based facility.

Additionally, the state imposed a 10% vigorish on all the bets you place, which is twice as high as the usual vigorish applied to real money games across the US.

But do not let this fact put you off gambling in Tennessee – it is said that this law will most likely be revised. And for a good reason, as such high fees might not encourage people to bet at legal sportsbooks, especially during the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.

There is one more thing that the sports fans of Tennessee need to know: the anticipated launch of Tennessee sports betting in September 2020, will most likely be delayed for an unknown period of time. However, it is clear that it will happen by the end of 2020, so the wait won’t be that agonizing.

 And, actually, we’ve waited for quite a while already – the Tennessee legislature passed the law to legalize sports betting in spring 2019, while the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act itself was enacted back on July 1, 2019.

 As the law excludes any brick-and-mortar options for the time being, the residents of Tennessee will have to choose from an approved variety of sports betting options online.

 However, the operators remain unknown. Luckily, we can guess some possible options based on the availability in other US states.

 There is a high chance that we will witness 888, BetMGM, and DraftKings entering the market of Tennessee sports betting in 2020.

Tim Dent, the Chief Compliance Officer of DraftKings, was quite enthusiastic about expanding the brand into Tennessee: “We are committed to working with the Tennessee Lottery throughout the application and licensing process and, pending successful licensure, look forward to offering our top-rated sports book to sports fans in Tennessee”.

 Other potential operators include Fanduel, Pointsbet, Betrivers, BetAmerica, and William Hill.

Tennessee Sports Betting FAQ: All You Need to Know

 
Is sports gambling legal in the state of Tennessee?

Yes, it was legalized back in 2019. However, none of the sportsbooks have launched yet, so we still have to wait for legal betting options to appear. Most likely, you’ll be able to place a wager for your favorite Tennessee sports teams by the end of 2020.

What are the sportsbook operators available in Tennessee?

It is yet unknown which sportsbooks will launch in Tennessee. However, it is likely that we’ll have 888, BetMGM, DraftKings, and some of the other popular options like William Hill.

What is the legal gambling age in Tennessee?

You must be at least 21 to legally gamble on sports in Tennessee. In this regard, the laws of Tennessee don’t differ from the rest of the states.

Do I have to be physically located in Tennessee to bet on sports?

Yes. In order to place a wager at the upcoming sportsbooks, you will have to physically reside in the state. You may also need to provide a proof of your residence when registering a new sports betting account.

Will it be possible to bet on my mobile phone?

Yes. As all of the sports betting in Tennessee will be held online, mobile gambling will be one of the options. You might play online or download an application if one is available for the operator of your choice.

Are there any other states that only allow sports betting online?

No. At the time being, Tennessee is the only state in the US that allows online sportsbooks but prohibits land-based gambling properties.

Which sports will be available to bet on?
 

Right now, there is no official list with the types of sports allowed in Tennessee. However, we know that college football, college basketball, and college player props will be off-limits.

How much does a Tennessee sports betting license cost?

It will cost $750,000 annually for the operators that want to launch and maintain their sports betting products in Tennessee.

I want to bet on sports in Tennessee. Where should I begin?

It’s understandable that you might have no idea how to bet on sports in a state that prohibited gambling before.

First of all, wait until at least one operator launches their sportsbook or app. Then, create a new account. Usually, this is a very quick process but sometimes you need to verify your account by providing a driver’s licence or a similar document.

Then, deposit with your preferred banking method. Beforehand, don’t forget to check whether the same method is available as a withdrawal option.

Finally, choose the sport and the line you want to bet on. Go to the bet slip, enter the amount of money you want to bet, and submit.

Note: After registration, don’t forget to claim your first deposit bonus.