Tennessee Sports Betting

Ten companies hold a sports gaming operator license from the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council. The Council publishes the register and updates it as licenses issue and renew. If a book doesn't appear on that page, it cannot legally take your bet in Tennessee.

A license means a company may operate in Tennessee, not that its app currently accepts new customers. Check the app itself. The Council's register also still lists espnbet.com as Penn's consumer website; Penn Entertainment closed ESPN Bet on December 1, 2025, and moved every US customer, balance, and open bet to theScore Bet that day.

Tennessee's Market Has Shrunk From 13 Operators to 10

The Comptroller of the Treasury recorded every licensed Tennessee operator as of February 5, 2024 in its performance audit of the Council. Comparing that list against the current register shows four brands gone and two renamed.

Tennessee Action 24/7 was the state's only locally owned sportsbook. It no longer holds a license.

The Council names the offshore books it treats as illegal, including Bovada, MyBookie, BetOnline, BetUS, and Xbet. Betting with them in Tennessee is a crime under T.C.A. section 39-17-502, and the Council states plainly that no regulator can recover your money if an offshore book refuses to pay you.

Verify the register at tn.gov/swac/licensees-registrants.html before you deposit anywhere. Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call or text the Tennessee REDLINE at 800-889-9789.

What are the Current Tennessee Sportsbook Promos, and What Do the Terms Mean?

Sportsbook	Current Promotion
bet365 Sportsbook	Bet $10, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose!
Fanatics Sportsbook	Bet $20, Get $350 in FanCash!  OR Get Up To $1000 Matched in FanCash!
BetMGM Sportsbook	Get Up To $1,000 In No Sweat Tokens Over 10 Days Promotion!  OR Get up to $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win!
Draftkings Sportsbook	Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets!
FanDuel Sportsbook	Get $350 in Bonus Bets!
Caesars Sportsbook	Bet $1+, Double Your Winnings Your Next 10 Wagers!
theScore Bet	Bet $10, Get $100 in Bonus Bets If You Win!

Read the terms before you claim anything, because the headline number is rarely what you receive. A first-bet offer that returns your stake in bonus bets if you lose is worth less than face value, since bonus bets return the profit and not the stake, and since you have to lose the qualifying bet to get them. A deposit match ties up money you must turn over before you can withdraw it.

All offers require you to be 21 or older and physically inside Tennessee. Gambling problem? Call or text the Tennessee REDLINE at 800-889-9789.

Why Does Tennessee Tax Betting Differently From Every Other State, and Does it Change Your Prices?

Tennessee taxes sportsbooks on handle. Every other state taxes them on revenue. That single difference explains most of what makes betting in Tennessee feel different from betting in Kentucky, and it is why people keep asking whether Tennessee apps price worse.

What the Law Says

Sen. John Stevens (R-Huntingdon) and Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) filed Senate Bill 475 on January 25, 2023. Rep. Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville) carried House Bill 1362. The bill did three things that reach you:

1. It replaced the 20% tax on adjusted gross income with a flat 1.85% privilege tax on gross handle, which means total gross wagers less canceled and voided wagers and less federal excise tax paid.

2. It deleted the requirement that operators hold at least 10% of handle or pay a penalty.

3. It removed the mandate that operators buy official league data to offer in-play markets.

Farmer told the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee in March 2023 that the handle tax takes the state "from a complicated structure to something that's very clear and concise."

The legislature agreed almost unanimously. Senate State and Local Government moved it 9-0 on March 14, 2023. Senate Finance, Ways and Means moved it 10-0 on April 5. The Senate passed it 30-0 on April 13. The House passed it 75-7 on April 21, 2023, with 11 members present and not voting, and the Senate concurred in both House amendments the same day, 26-2 and 27-0. That day was the scheduled adjournment of the 2023 session, so Tennessee created the only handle-based sports betting tax in the country in the closing hours of the year. All seven House no votes came from Republicans. All twenty Democrats who voted, voted yes. Gov. Bill Lee signed it on May 17, 2023 as Public Chapter 450, effective July 1, 2023.

The 10% hold requirement collapsed because operators couldn't meet it. A fiscal note filed with the bill recorded that nine of Tennessee's eleven licensed sportsbooks had paid the state a combined $25,000 in penalties for missing the minimum hold.

The Number that Explains Everything: 9.25%

The old system and the new system produce identical state revenue at exactly one hold rate. Twenty percent of 9.25% equals 1.85%.

• When sportsbooks hold above 9.25%, Tennessee collects less than the old model would have delivered.

• When sportsbooks hold below 9.25%, Tennessee collects more.

June 2026 shows this working. The World Cup compressed sportsbook margins nationally, and states taxing revenue watched receipts fall. Tennessee's didn't move. The Council reported gross wagers of $460,518,733, adjustments of $4,389,475, gross handle of $456,129,258, and privilege tax of $8,438,391. Handle rose 30.0% year over year. Tax rose 30.0% year over year. The two move together by arithmetic, because the tax attaches to the wager rather than the outcome.

What this Means for the Odds on your Screen

A standard two-way market priced -110 on both sides carries a theoretical hold of about 4.55% of handle. Tennessee's tax takes 1.85 points of handle off the top whether the book wins or loses that market. So on a flat -110 market, the state takes roughly 41% of the book's theoretical margin before the book pays any other cost.

Kentucky charges 14.25% of adjusted gross revenue on online wagers. At the same 4.55% hold, that works out to about 0.65% of handle. Tennessee's structure costs an operator nearly three times as much per dollar staked on a low-margin market.

That pressure shows up in specific places rather than as a blanket worse price:

• Thin-margin products cost operators the most. A market where the book expects to keep 2% of handle still pays 1.85% in tax.

• Promotional play carries the tax. Gross handle contains no deduction for promotional credit. A $200 bonus bet generates $3.70 of privilege tax for the operator. Under the pre-2023 model, promotional spend reduced the taxable base.

• Headline lines on major markets move less than you would expect. Sportsbooks price NFL sides and totals nationally, and a Tennessee-only shade would cost them volume against competitors on the same screen.

We haven't sampled every book's Tennessee prices against its Kentucky prices, so we aren't going to claim we have. What holds regardless: on any given game, the best available price in Tennessee moves between books more than any tax structure does. Line shopping across three apps beats every sign-up offer on this page.

Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call or text the Tennessee REDLINE at 800-889-9789.

DraftKings vs FanDuel in Tennessee: Which One Should You Use?

Both hold Tennessee licenses issued November 1, 2020 and have operated here since the market opened. They are the two largest books in the state and they aren't interchangeable.

Same-game parlays. DraftKings runs the more flexible builder, combining more correlated legs and more cross-market selections. It also displays a combined price without showing what each leg costs, which makes auditing a DraftKings SGP harder than auditing the same bet built leg by leg. FanDuel's builder accepts fewer combinations and shows cleaner pricing.

Market depth. DraftKings carries more markets per game, particularly outside the NFL and NBA. FanDuel's catalog is narrower once you leave the majors, and its props sit several taps deep inside each game page.

College markets. Both operate under the same Tennessee restrictions, so neither can offer a college player prop or an in-game college team prop. Depth differences show up in the pre-game college catalog, not during the game.

Withdrawals. Both support PayPal and instant bank transfer, which clear faster than card returns at either book.

Our verdict: if you bet mainly NFL and NBA sides and totals and you want one app, take FanDuel for the cleaner interface. If you build same-game parlays or bet outside the four major leagues, take DraftKings for the catalog.

The better answer is both. Prices differ between them on most games, and taking the better of two numbers across a season is worth more than either welcome offer. Two accounts cost nothing. Must be 21+ and physically in Tennessee. Gambling problem? Call or text the Tennessee REDLINE at 800-889-9789.

FanDuel vs BetMGM for Live Betting in Tennessee

Both offer in-play betting on every major league available in Tennessee, and both operate under a restriction that catches people out: Tennessee prohibits in-game proposition bets on college events, so neither book can offer a live quarter spread or a live half total on a Vols game. Live college betting in Tennessee means the full-game line and nothing else.

Where they differ. BetMGM offers cash-out across a wider range of bet types, including more parlays. FanDuel offers a deeper in-play catalog and a stronger in-play same-game parlay product. Both apply an acceptance delay on live wagers, so both will sometimes return a changed price for you to confirm.

Our verdict: FanDuel for the live catalog, BetMGM if cash-out coverage matters more to you than market count.

Now the answer underneath the question. If live betting is the reason you are choosing a book, look at bet365, which the Council licensed on February 11, 2025 and which went live in Tennessee on March 16, 2025. Its Early Payout offer runs as a standing feature of the product rather than a limited promotion, paying your pre-match moneyline as a winner once your team leads by a set margin regardless of the final result. Check the current terms in the app, since availability varies by market. No other Tennessee book carries an equivalent as a permanent term.

Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call or text the Tennessee REDLINE at 800-889-9789.

Which Tennessee Sportsbook is Right for You?

bet365

Strongest live product in the state, with Early Payout running as a standing feature rather than a promotion. Low minimums suit smaller bankrolls. bet365 went live in Tennessee on March 16, 2025 after the Council licensed it that February. Drawback: the newest major arrival here, so it carries the least brand familiarity and takes longer to learn than FanDuel. Verdict: the best in-play product in Tennessee and the least used because of it.

Learn more about the bet365 Tennessee bonus code in our review.

bet365 Tennessee Promo

1) Bet $10, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose! 

2) Get a First Bet Safety Net up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets!

bet365 Tennessee Promo Code

TAN365

bet365 Tennessee T&C

1) Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Must be 21+ and physically present in IL, or TN. Please gamble responsibly. New customers only. Claim via app. $10 min. Deposit required. Bonus Bets are non-withdrawable and expire 7 days after receipt. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. Time limits, min. Odds and T&Cs apply. This code is used for marketing and tracking purposes only. Void where prohibited.

2) Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Must be 21+ and physically present in IL, or TN. Please gamble responsibly. New customers only. Claim via app. $10 min. Deposit required. Bonus Bets are non-withdrawable and expire 7 days after receipt. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. Time limits, min. Odds and T&Cs apply. This code is used for marketing and tracking purposes only. Void where prohibited.

Action Network Score

9.5/10. See our bet365 Bonus Code and review for more sportsbook details and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up.

Category	Star Rating
Bonuses & Promotions
Mobile App & Website
Registering & Cashiering
Betting Options
bet365 vs Other Sportsbooks

Fanatics Sportsbook

Simple interface with very little clutter, and FanCash suits people who already buy team merchandise. Fanatics launched in Tennessee in August 2023. Drawback: the shallowest catalog among Tennessee's major books. Verdict: a fine additional account, not a book to run your betting through.

Fanatics Promo

1) Bet $20, Get $350 in FanCash!

2) Get Up To $1000 Matched in FanCash!

Fanatics Promo Code

1) ACTION350

2) ACTION26

Action Network Score

9.8/10. See our Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code for more in-depth information and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up.

Terms & Conditions

_{1) New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY. Must toggle on this promotion in your bet slip and wager $20+ cash on any market (min. odds -500) within 7 days of account opening to receive $50 in FanCash each day for your first 7 days. Must opt in each day to claim FanCash. FanCash issued in connection with this Promotion expire 24 hours from issuance. Terms apply-see Fanatics Sportsbook app.}

_{2) New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY. Apply promotion in bet slip and place a $1+ cash wager (min odds -200) daily for 10 consecutive days starting day of account creation. FanCash rewards will equal the qualifying wager amount (max $100 FanCash/day). FanCash issued under this promotion expires at 11:59 p.m. ET 7 days from issuance. Terms, incl. FanCash terms, apply—see Fanatics Sportsbook app.}

BetMGM

Wide catalog, straightforward app, the broadest cash-out coverage of the Tennessee books, plus some favorable house rules including ties paid in full on golf finishing position bets. Drawback: it doesn't lead on any single dimension, which makes it a reasonable second account and a weak only account. Verdict: worth holding alongside another book, not instead of one.

BetMGM Promo

1) Get Up To $1,000 In No Sweat Tokens Over 10 Days Promotion!

OR

2) Get up to $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win!

BetMGM Bonus Code

1) TANGET

2) AN1500

BetMGM Terms & Conditions

_{1) 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA). Please Gamble Responsibly. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. New player offer for new players only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in NJ, MA, MI, NV, NY, ON, PA, PR, and WV.}

_{2) 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. AZ, CO, DC, IA, IL, IN, LA, KS, KY, MA, MD, NC, OH, TN, VA, WY. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-470 (KS, NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA). First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in MS, NY, NV, ON, PR, MI, NJ, PA, or WV. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions.}

Action Network Score

9.8/10. See our BetMGM Bonus Code and review for more in-depth information about BetMGM and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up.

Category	Star Rating
Bonuses & Promotions
Mobile App & Website
Registering & Cashiering
Betting Options
BetMGM vs Other Sportsbooks

DraftKings

Strongest at market depth and same-game parlay flexibility. No Tennessee book gives you more to bet on. Drawback: its SGP builder shows a combined price without individual leg odds, so you cannot see what each leg costs you. Verdict: the best book in Tennessee for choice, and the hardest one to audit a parlay in.

DraftKings Promo

Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets!

DraftKings Promo Code

No code needed!

Action Network Score

9.2/10. See our DraftKings Promo Code and review for more in-depth information about DraftKings and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up.

Category	Star Rating
Bonuses & Promotions
Mobile App & Website
Registering & Cashiering
Betting Options
DraftKings vs Other Sportsbooks

DraftKings Terms & Conditions

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/NH/PR/WY). Void in CAN. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets. Stake removed from payout. Reward issued as $50 in Bonus Bets every 7 days via click-to-claim for 21 days. Bonus Bets and click-to-claims expire 7 days (168hrs) after issuance. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 9/20/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.

FanDuel

Strongest at everyday usability. The cleanest path from opening the app to placing a bet, and a strong in-play product. Drawback: the catalog thins out fast outside the major leagues, and props sit buried deep inside each game page. Verdict: the right single app for most Tennessee bettors, the wrong one if you bet anything niche.

FanDuel Promo 

Get $350 in Bonus Bets!

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ D.C., WY) and present in select states (for KS, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino). First online real money wager only. Min $5 wager required for 7 consecutive days. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Call 1-877-770-7867 (LA).

FanDuel Promo Code

There is no promo code required to claim the FanDuel offer.

Action Network Score

9.6/10. See our FanDuel Promo Code and review for more in-depth information about FanDuel and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up.

Category	Star Rating
Bonuses & Promotions
Mobile App & Website
Registering & Cashiering
Betting Options
FanDuel vs Other Sportsbooks

Caesars Sportsbook

Strongest rewards program in Tennessee, converting betting activity into value usable across Caesars properties. Drawback: the app lags DraftKings and FanDuel on speed and layout. Verdict: worth an account for the rewards.

Caesars Sportsbook Promo

Bet $1+, Double Your Winnings Your Next 10 Wagers!

Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code

ACTION22DYW

Caesars Sportsbook Terms & Conditions

Must be 21+ and physically present in AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, or Washington, DC. New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. Min. qualifying bet amount: $1. Tokens max. bet amount: $25 per token. Tokens bet max. add'l winnings: $2,500 per token. Token(s) expire 14 days after receipt. Not reissued for voided/pushed bets. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Know When To Stop Before You Start®. Gambling Problem? CO, IL, KY, MD, MI, MO, NJ, TN, VA, WV, WY, KS, ME, NC, PA: If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER ( 1-800-426-2537 ) or MD: visit mdgamblinghelp.org or WV: visit 1800gambler.net; AZ: Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP; IN: Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT; IA: Call 1-800-BETSOFF; LA, Washington, DC: Call 1-800-MY-RESET. ©2026, Caesars Entertainment

Action Network Score

9.3/10. See our Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code and review for more in-depth information about Caesars and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up.

Category	Star Rating
Bonuses & Promotions
Mobile App & Website
Registering & Cashiering
Betting Options
Caesars Sportsbook vs Other Sportsbooks

theScore Bet

Penn Entertainment rebranded ESPN Bet to theScore Bet on December 1, 2025, moving every account, balance and open bet across on the same day. The app integrates with theScore media app. Drawback: the smallest market share of Tennessee's national brands, and a third brand change in three years for the same underlying product. Verdict: worth an account if you already use theScore for scores and news.

theScore Bet Promo

Bet $10, Get $100 in Bonus Bets If You Win!

theScore Bet Promo Code

TANBONUS

Action Network Score

8.8/10. See our theScore Bet Promo Code and review for more in-depth information about theScore Bet and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up.

All offers require you to be 21 or older and physically in Tennessee. Read the terms before you claim anything. Gambling problem? Call or text the Tennessee REDLINE at 800-889-9789.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Tennessee, and Who Regulates It?

Yes. Sports betting has been legal in Tennessee since November 1, 2020, under the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, which the legislature passed in 2019.

The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council regulates it. Don't use the older name: the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation regulated Tennessee sports betting only until December 31, 2021. Public Chapter 593, which became law on May 27, 2021, transferred all regulatory powers to a dedicated council effective January 1, 2022 and made it an independent state entity. Public Chapter 450 dropped "Advisory" from the name in 2023.

Mary Beth Thomas serves as Executive Director. Billy Orgel chairs the Council. Nine members govern it, appointed in equal numbers by the Governor, the Senate Speaker and the House Speaker from Tennessee's three grand divisions, in staggered terms. Five members make a quorum, and the Council must meet at least quarterly. Thomas told the Tennessee State Funding Board on November 3, 2025 that the agency employs a staff of 20. The Council sits at 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., 8th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243.

What the Council does that reaches you directly:

• Licenses operators and publishes the register you can check before depositing.

• Runs Tennessee's statewide self-exclusion program.

• Handles player grievances that operators fail to resolve, under Rules 1350-02-.09 and 1350-02-.10.

• Audits operator reserves, checking that each book holds enough cash, cash equivalents, letters of credit, and bonds to cover player balances.

• Audits privilege tax by comparing each operator's wagering data against the tax it calculated.

• Investigates and removes illegal operators. Thomas reported to the Funding Board that the Council had served cease-and-desist orders on 20 illegal sportsbooks and assessed $700,000 in fines, that seven illegal books had left Tennessee, and that in the preceding fiscal year the Council referred 296 cases to law enforcement for Sports Gaming Act violations and resolved a further 192 without referral.

The Comptroller of the Treasury audited the Council for the period January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 and reported no findings and no observations.

Tennessee has no retail sportsbooks. No casinos, no racetrack books, no kiosks, no counter anywhere in the state. Tennessee was the first state to launch online-only, and Thomas told the Funding Board it remains the largest online-only market in the country, ahead of Vermont and Wyoming. If a page lists Tennessee casino sportsbooks, it is describing a different state.

Do You Have to be in Tennessee Every Time You Bet?

Yes, every single time. Tennessee requires you to be physically inside the state at the moment you place each wager, and your app checks your location before accepting the bet.

You don't have to live in Tennessee. Residency plays no part. A Georgia resident standing in Chattanooga can bet legally. A Tennessee resident standing in Atlanta cannot.

Three consequences people get wrong:

• Your account travels, your betting rights don't. One DraftKings or FanDuel account works nationwide and switches to the Tennessee market when your phone confirms you are here. You don't need a second account, and you don't move money.

• Open bets settle wherever you are. A bet placed legally in Tennessee settles normally even if you have driven home before the game ends.

• Withdrawals work from anywhere. Location rules govern placing wagers, not cashing out.

What Do You Owe in Tax on Tennessee Betting Winnings?

Tennessee takes nothing. Tennessee levies no state income tax on individuals, so your betting winnings carry no state tax bill.

That is where most pages stop. The federal picture changed for 2026 and that is the part that costs you money.

What Changed for 2026

Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on July 4, 2025. Two provisions reach bettors:

1. You can deduct only 90% of your gambling losses, for tax years beginning January 1, 2026, under an amended Internal Revenue Code section 165(d). Losses still cannot exceed winnings on top of that. The Joint Committee on Taxation projected the change raises about $1.1 billion over ten years.

2. The general reporting threshold rose from $600 to $2,000 for payments made after December 31, 2025, with inflation indexing after 2026. You will receive fewer Forms W-2G and owe exactly the same tax.

Withholding didn't change. A payer withholds 24% when proceeds exceed $5,000 and pay at least 300 times your stake.

Repeal has not happened. The FAIR BET Act, H.R. 4304, would restore the full deduction. The House Rules Committee declined to advance it as an amendment to the 2026 defense bill in May 2026 and it sits with Ways and Means. File on the basis that 90% is the law.

The Two Points that Matter Most

You report gross winnings, not net profit. The IRS doesn't let you subtract losses from wins and report the difference.

You only get the loss deduction if you itemize. Most filers take the standard deduction. If you do, you deduct nothing and owe tax on the full amount you won.

Worked Example: a Nashville Bettor in 2026

You won $12,000 across your winning bets in 2026 and lost $11,500 across your losing ones. You finished up $500.

The itemizer pays $363 on $500 of real profit. The standard-deduction filer pays $2,640 on $500 of real profit and finishes the year more than $2,100 down.

You can owe tax on a break-even year. Win $20,000, lose $20,000, finish level. An itemizer deducts $18,000, reports $2,000 of taxable income, and owes $440 at 22% on zero profit.

Keep a contemporaneous log of wins and losses. The 90% rule makes accurate records worth more than they used to be.

This is general information, not tax advice. Talk to a tax professional about your own return.

Do Tennessee Promos Actually Give You an Edge?

Over one weekend, sometimes. Over a season, no.

A first-bet offer that returns your stake in bonus bets if you lose is worth less than face value, because bonus bets return the profit and not the stake, and because you have to lose the first bet to receive them. A deposit match ties up money you must turn over before you can withdraw it. Odds boosts are the one category that regularly beats the house price, which is precisely why books cap your stake on them.

Tennessee's tax structure shapes what you see. Because gross handle includes promotional wagers with no deduction, every bonus bet issued in Tennessee generates privilege tax when you place it. Under the pre-2023 model, promotional spend reduced the taxable base. That is a real cost on Tennessee promotions that Kentucky books don't carry.

Three rules that hold regardless of the offer:

• Never bet a market you would otherwise skip in order to clear a promotion. The bad price costs more than the bonus returns.

• Read the expiry. Most Tennessee bonus bets expire within days.

• Line shopping beats every offer. Saving a few cents of vig on every bet all season is worth more than any welcome bonus, and it keeps working after the bonus is gone.

Sports Wagering Council rules require promotions to state their material terms clearly, carry responsible gambling messaging and display the 21+ requirement. Must be 21+ and physically in Tennessee. Gambling problem? Call or text the Tennessee REDLINE at 800-889-9789.

What Can a Casual Tennessee Bettor Realistically Expect to Win or Lose?

You should expect to lose, and the state's own data tells you roughly how much.

Across fiscal year 2026, Tennessee bettors staked just under $6 billion and Tennessee sportsbooks kept close to a tenth of it. Applied to you: staking $100 a week across an NFL season means roughly $2,000 staked and an expected loss somewhere near $200. That is the average outcome, not the worst one. Parlays hold considerably more than straight sides, so a bettor who only plays same-game parlays should expect to lose a larger share.

None of that makes betting pointless. It means treating the expected loss as the price of the entertainment and setting the number before the season rather than after a bad Sunday. A sensible budget is an amount you can lose entirely without changing anything about your month. If you are chasing a loss, you have already passed it.

Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call or text the Tennessee REDLINE at 800-889-9789.

What are Prediction Markets, and Can You Use Kalshi and Polymarket in Tennessee?

Kalshi and Polymarket aren't sportsbooks and Tennessee doesn't license them. They are exchanges regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and they sell event contracts, which are financial instruments that pay out on an outcome. You trade against other users rather than betting against a house. The Sports Wagering Council has no authority over them, collects no privilege tax from them, and cannot help you if a trade goes wrong.

Tennessee has spent 2026 trying to change that, and the two platforms sit in different positions today.

The Council ordered both to leave. On January 9, 2026, Executive Director Mary Beth Thomas sent cease-and-desist letters to Kalshi, Polymarket and Crypto.com's North American Derivatives Exchange, copying Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. The letters demanded each platform stop offering sports event contracts to Tennessee customers, void existing contracts held by Tennesseans and refund customer funds by January 31, 2026. They set civil fines up to $25,000 per violation and warned that continued violations could lead to a criminal referral.

Kalshi sued and won in district court, and Tennessee is appealing. Kalshi filed against the Council, Thomas, and Skrmetti the same day, in a case captioned Kalshi v. Orgel, No. 3:26-cv-00034, in the US District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. Judge Aleta A. Trauger granted a temporary restraining order, then on February 19, 2026 a preliminary injunction. She found Kalshi's sports event contracts likely qualify as swaps under the Commodity Exchange Act, enjoined the state officials, dismissed the Council from the case and required a $500,000 bond. Central to her reasoning was that Kalshi runs an exchange rather than a sportsbook and so "doesn't set the odds (they are determined by the market)."

Attorney General Skrmetti filed an opening brief in the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, announced on May 26, 2026, asking the court to reverse. He argued Kalshi's contracts function as sports betting under the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, and that federal law wouldn't preempt Tennessee even if the contracts were swaps. Skrmetti said the state would keep fighting to protect Tennesseans from operators who want "all the benefits of this market and none of the accountability."

The appeal is expedited and consolidated with a case from Ohio, where the Southern District reached the opposite conclusion and held that Kalshi hadn't shown its contracts qualify as swaps. The Sixth Circuit heard oral argument in late July 2026 before Judges Eric Clay, Rachel Bloomekatz and Julia Gibbons, and hasn't yet ruled. Whichever way it goes, one of two federal district courts inside the same circuit gets reversed.

So Kalshi's protection in Tennessee is provisional. A preliminary injunction holds today and a Sixth Circuit ruling could remove it.

Polymarket didn't sue in Tennessee and holds no Tennessee court order. Its January 9 cease-and-desist has never been set aside by a Tennessee court.

What You Give Up Compared with a Licensed Tennessee Sportsbook

Thomas told the Tennessee State Funding Board on November 3, 2025 exactly what event contracts lack that a licensed Tennessee book must provide: self-exclusion, integrity monitoring, and the credit card prohibition. Tennessee's statewide self-exclusion list doesn't reach these platforms. If you have excluded yourself from every licensed Tennessee sportsbook, that exclusion won't stop you trading a sports event contract.

She also gave the Board a number that explains why the state is fighting this. Event contracts were already generating an estimated one-third of the total wagering volume of Tennessee's entire legal, state-regulated market. Asked by Secretary of State Tre Hargett how much revenue the state stood to lose, Thomas said it could be significant. Tennessee collects 1.85 cents on every dollar wagered with a licensed sportsbook and nothing at all on an event contract.

That age row deserves attention if you are between 18 and 21. Tennessee sets the sports betting age at 21 with no exception, and every licensed book verifies it. Event contract platforms operate at 18. So a 19-year-old in Knoxville or Memphis cannot open a DraftKings account and can trade a sports event contract on the same game. Tennessee didn't choose that outcome; federal regulation did. If you are in that window, understand what you are stepping around: the state's self-exclusion program, its integrity monitoring, its credit card prohibition, and its complaint process were all built for people betting on sports, and none of them apply to you on these platforms.

Trading event contracts still produce taxable income. Federal rules apply, and the 2026 changes to loss deductions reach wagering gains regardless of the platform. Tennessee levies no state income tax either way.

Kalshi

Kalshi is a prediction market regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, not a Tennessee-licensed sportsbook. A federal judge granted Kalshi a preliminary injunction on February 19, 2026 blocking Tennessee from enforcing its sports wagering laws against the platform. Tennessee has appealed to the Sixth Circuit on an expedited basis and the court heard argument in late July 2026, so that protection is provisional.

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Polymarket

Polymarket is a prediction market regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, not a sportsbook licensed by Tennessee. The Sports Wagering Council ordered Polymarket to stop offering sports event contracts to Tennessee customers in January 2026. Unlike Kalshi, Polymarket has not obtained a Tennessee court order blocking that enforcement, and the Council's order has never been set aside by a Tennessee court.

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Must be 18 or older and read the platform's terms before depositing. Gambling problem? Call or text the Tennessee REDLINE at 800-889-9789.

Daily Fantasy Sports in Tennessee: What is Allowed and Who is Licensed

Tennessee regulates daily fantasy separately from sports betting, under the Tennessee Fantasy Sports Act. The Sports Wagering Council took over fantasy regulation on July 1, 2023 under Public Chapter 143, and the Department of Revenue collects a 6% tax on adjusted revenues. That tax grew from $444,751 in fiscal year 2024 to $1,535,013 in fiscal year 2025, which Thomas reported to the State Funding Board as year-over-year growth of 245%.

Tennessee licenses eighteen fantasy operators, and its register is broader than what several other states allow. Pick-style products that other jurisdictions have banned or restricted since 2025 hold Tennessee licenses, including PrizePicks (licensed as SidePrize LLC), Underdog Sports, Betr Picks, Sleeper DFS, ParlayPlay and Dabble, as well as DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo, Splash Sports, FFPC and OwnersBox.

Three things separate fantasy from sports betting in Tennessee and catch people out:

The age is different. Tennessee sets the sports betting age at 21 with no exception. Fantasy contests run at 18. That gap is worth understanding rather than exploiting, because the protections built into Tennessee's sports betting regime were designed around the 21+ market.

Your sports betting self-exclusion doesn't cover fantasy. Council rules define a wager to exclude anything placed under the Fantasy Sports Act. Tennessee runs a separate fantasy self-exclusion program at tn.gov/swac/fantasy/fantasy-sports-self-exclusion.html and you have to enroll separately.

Complaints go somewhere different. Sports betting complaints follow the operator grievance route at tn.gov/swac/inquires/complaint.html. Fantasy complaints go to SWAC.Fantasy@tn.gov with your attachments.

Read the terms and the age requirement before you enter a contest. Gambling problem? Call or text the Tennessee REDLINE at 800-889-9789.

Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Tennessee?

No. Tennessee banned them in 2026.

Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti sent cease-and-desist letters to nearly 40 sweepstakes operators in December 2025, saying the platforms "work hard to make these sweepstakes casinos look legitimate." Most, including Chumba Casino, McLuck, Stake.us and Crown Coins, left Tennessee before the law passed. The legislature then passed SB 2136 and HB 1885 on the final day of the 2026 session, the House voting 69-17 with one member present and not voting. Gov. Bill Lee signed it on May 22, 2026.

The law amends the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977 to treat dual-currency online sweepstakes games as unlawful and gives Skrmetti enforcement authority. It expressly excludes licensed sports betting, licensed fantasy sports, and the Tennessee Education Lottery.

Tennessee licenses no online casino, and no regulated iGaming bill reached introduction in the 2026 session.

Signing Up, KYC, and Getting Money In and Out in Tennessee

Every Tennessee book asks for your full legal name, home address, date of birth, email, phone number, and the last four digits of your Social Security number, and may ask for a photo of your driver's license if the automated check fails. Federal anti-money-laundering law and the Council's age-verification rules require this. Council rules also require multi-factor authentication on player accounts, effective June 30, 2025.

One Tennessee rule catches people out: no credit cards. Tennessee prohibits credit card funding of sports wagering accounts. Debit cards, bank transfers, PayPal, and prepaid options all work. A credit card won't.

If speed matters, fund and withdraw through PayPal or online banking rather than a debit card.

To place the bet: open the app inside Tennessee, let it confirm your location, pick your market, enter your stake, check the price against a second app, and submit.

Responsible Gambling Tools in Tennessee, and How Self-Exclusion Actually Works

Every licensed Tennessee book must offer deposit limits, wager limits, loss limits, time limits, session reminders, and cool-off periods under account settings.

Tennessee runs two distinct self-exclusion mechanisms:

Licensee-specific self-exclusion shuts you out of one book. You set it up inside that app. Council rules require each licensee to send its licensee-specific list to the Council electronically at least once a week, even when the list contains nobody.

Statewide self-exclusion shuts you out of every sportsbook licensed in Tennessee at once. You apply to the Council rather than to an app, for a term of one, three, or five years. Download the application from tn.gov/swac/inquires/exclusion.html and send it with a copy of your driver's license and a photograph of yourself holding that license, either to SWAC.Tech@tn.gov with the subject line "Self-Exclusion Program," or by mail to:

Tennessee Sports Wagering Council

C/O: Self-Exclusion Program

312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., 8th Floor

Nashville, TN 37243

Four things to understand before you enroll:

1. Removal is not automatic. You must apply to the Council, and Council rules state expressly that submitting the application doesn't guarantee removal.

2. It covers sports betting only. Council rules define a wager to exclude anything placed under the Tennessee Fantasy Sports Act. Daily Fantasy runs a separate program at tn.gov/swac/fantasy/fantasy-sports-self-exclusion.html.

3. It stops at the state line. Tennessee's list binds Tennessee licensees. It doesn't reach Kentucky, and Kentucky's doesn't reach Tennessee.

4. It doesn't reach unlicensed operators or prediction market platforms.

Tennessee resources:

• Tennessee REDLINE: call or text 800-889-9789, 24 hours a day, all year.

• National helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER.

• The Gambling Clinic, University of Memphis: memphis.edu/gamblingclinic. Free treatment for Tennessee residents, working with families as well as bettors.

• East Tennessee State University runs gambling treatment services for the eastern half of the state.

Five percent of Tennessee's privilege tax funds these programs through the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, directed by T.C.A. section 4-49-119 primarily to problem gambling and gambling disorders and secondarily to juvenile addiction and mental health disorders. In fiscal year 2026, collections that share came to roughly $5.55 million.

If you are a student in Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis, or Chattanooga: the legal age is 21 with no exceptions. Set a deposit limit before you set up an account rather than after. If you find yourself betting money set aside for rent, tuition, or food, call the REDLINE at 800-889-9789. It is free and doesn't require you to give a name.

A Tennessee Book Won't Let You Self-Exclude or Set a Loss Limit. What Do You Do?

Treat it as a consumer-protection failure and escalate. Tennessee gives you a defined route.

Step 1: File a formal grievance with the operator, within 30 days. Council Rules 1350-02-.09 and 1350-02-.10 require you to raise it with the sportsbook first, in writing, within 30 days of the incident. Use the operator's grievance contact rather than general support chat. The Council publishes a phone number and email for every licensee at tn.gov/swac/inquires/operator-contact.html.

Step 2: Escalate to the Council, within 30 days of their answer. If the operator's decision doesn't satisfy you, register the grievance at tn.gov/swac/inquires/complaint.html within 30 days of receiving it. Keep screenshots showing the tool failing, with dates, and the operator's response. Council staff gather your information, obtain the operator's explanation and documentation, review it against the rules, and mediate.

Step 3: If you need to stop betting now, don't wait for either clock. Apply for statewide self-exclusion directly to the Council. That doesn't depend on the operator cooperating, and it covers every licensed Tennessee book at once.

Don't skip step 1. Council rules require the operator grievance first, and an escalation filed without one goes back to the start.

Betting in Tennessee as a Georgia Visitor

Georgia has no legal sports betting, and the 2026 session ended that debate for another year. House Resolution 450, a constitutional amendment that would have put legalization to Georgia voters, failed 63 to 98 in the state House on March 6, 2026. It needed 120 votes, a two-thirds supermajority, and it failed on Crossover Day, which killed it for the session. Proceeds would have gone to a fund for pre-K and other educational programs, with a portion set aside for addiction prevention and treatment.

The floor debate crossed party lines in both directions. Rep. Al Williams, a Midway Democrat who supports expanded gaming, urged his own party to vote no because Democrats had no say in how the money would be spent, telling the chamber the bill needed to "let the folks on this side of the aisle have some say." Rep. Alan Powell, a Hartwell Republican and longtime supporter of expanded gambling, urged Republicans to reject it because it didn't go far enough. Rep. Long Tran, a Dunwoody Democrat, argued for legalization on national security grounds. Rep. Kasey Carpenter, a Dalton Republican, quieted the chamber by disclosing his own gambling addiction, saying he began picking football games at eight years old and that legalizing sports betting "eliminates the chase" that offshore credit betting creates.

No legal Georgia market can exist before the 2027 session at the earliest. Here is what a Georgia resident needs to know about betting in Tennessee.

You can bet legally the moment you cross the line. Tennessee imposes no residency requirement. Physical presence is the only test.

Chattanooga is the answer, not Nashville. The Tennessee state line runs immediately south of Chattanooga, which makes it the closest legal market for north Georgia by a wide margin. Nashville and Memphis aren't realistic day trips from anywhere in Georgia. If you live in Savannah, Macon, Columbus, or Albany, no Tennessee city is close enough for this to make sense.

Your existing app already works. A DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, or bet365 account from a trip elsewhere switches to the Tennessee market once your phone confirms you are here. You don't create a second account and your balance travels with you.

Your open bets settle after you drive home. Bets placed legally in Tennessee settle normally wherever you are when the game ends.

You still owe Georgia income tax. Tennessee charges you nothing, but Georgia taxes its residents on income wherever they earn it, and gambling winnings count. Crossing into Tennessee removes the state tax at the point of the bet, not the state tax on your Georgia return. Check the current rate with the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Does the trip make financial sense? For a weekend in Chattanooga or a game you were already driving to, yes. As a standalone errand, no. Against an expected loss near 10% of whatever you stake, driving several hours to bet $50 makes no sense. Treat the drive as worthwhile only when you were making it anyway.

Must be 21+ and physically inside Tennessee when you place each bet. Gambling problem? Call or text the Tennessee REDLINE at 800-889-9789.

Tennessee vs Kentucky vs Georgia

The model should change your thinking, not the mileage. Tennessee's statewide mobile market means you can bet from a parking lot in Chattanooga. Kentucky's racetrack-tethered model works the same way online but also gives Kentucky bettors a retail option Tennessee doesn't have.

Common Tennessee Account Problems

The Comptroller of the Treasury audited the Council's complaint handling and reported what Tennessee players actually complain about: most complaints involve interpreting an operator's house rules, or an operator's anti-money-laundering policies locking an account for suspected suspicious activity. Auditors sampled 25 player complaints filed between January 1, 2022 and June 27, 2023, traced each to resolution, and found no errors. Your complaint is probably not unusual, and the Council does work them through.

The app says you aren't in Tennessee and you are. Turn location services on for the app specifically, not just for the phone. Close and reopen the app. Disconnect from any VPN, corporate network, or work profile. If you are close to a state line, move further inside Tennessee. Border accuracy is the most common cause in Chattanooga and Bristol.

Verification denied. Usually a name or address mismatch, a recent move, or a thin credit file. Upload a driver's license and a utility bill or bank statement showing the same address, with the name matching your ID exactly, including any middle initial or suffix.

Withdrawal pending for days. Most delays trace to the method rather than the book. Debit card returns take several business days by design. If you used PayPal or online banking and it has been longer than a day or two, the book is holding it for review, usually a first withdrawal or a source-of-funds check. Ask in writing what they need.

Deposit declined by your bank. Some banks block gambling merchant codes by default. Call the number on your card. A declined credit card may be Tennessee's rule working correctly.

Your limits dropped for no reason. This is account limiting. Sportsbooks reduce the maximum stake they accept from customers whose betting patterns suggest they will win long-term: consistently beating the closing line, betting only stale prices, arbitraging between books, or heavy volume on thin-margin markets. It is a commercial decision and no Tennessee rule requires a book to accept a bet of any particular size. The Council's grievance process covers disputes about how an operator applied its own terms, not an operator's decision about how much it will risk against you. Your practical options are to spread action across more books, accept the smaller limits, or both.

Moving money from an offshore book to a legal Tennessee one. You cannot transfer directly. You would need the offshore book to pay you out, which is when the Council warns that no regulator can help if it refuses.

What Has Legal Betting Actually Done for Tennessee?

We compiled this table from the Council's published monthly reports and summed it ourselves. The Council publishes each month individually and doesn't publish a running fiscal-year table. October 2025 set the twelve-month high at $653.7 million.

Tennessee Beats Its Own Forecast

Thomas gave the State Funding Board the Council's collection history and forecast on November 3, 2025: $87,568,810 in FY2024, $103,425,694 in FY2025, and an estimate of $109,391,793 for FY2026 built on an assumed 5% growth rate.

Actual FY2026 collections came in at $110,978,499. Tennessee finished about $1.6 million ahead of its own conservative estimate.

Where the Money Goes, and the Change Almost Nobody Reported

Two separate streams fund different things.

Privilege tax splits three ways under T.C.A. section 4-49-119: 80% to education, 15% to the general fund for quarterly remittance to local governments on a per capita basis, and 5% to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Applying that split to FY2026 gives roughly $88.8 million, $16.6 million, and $5.5 million.

License fees fund the Council. Statute sends fee revenue first to the Council's operating and administrative expenses, then the remainder to the Tennessee Promise scholarship endowment fund. In fiscal year 2023, the Council spent $2,859,247.60 and sent $7,600,289.75 to Tennessee Promise. Operators pay a $50,000 application fee credited against the license fee on approval. Before July 1, 2023 the annual license fee was a flat $750,000; Public Chapter 450 replaced it with a tiered fee based on gross wagers over the preceding twelve months. Vendors pay $150,000 across a three-year registration. Fines run to $25,000 per violation under section 4-49-129.

The 80% share changed destination on July 1, 2025, and it is the most consequential change to Tennessee betting revenue since the tax itself changed. For the market's first five years, that money flowed into the Lottery for Education Account, backstopping college scholarship programs including HOPE and Tennessee Promise. During the 2025 session, the legislature passed the Education Freedom Scholarship Act, the statewide private school voucher program, and lawmakers secured votes for it partly by creating a fund for K-12 public school construction and maintenance financed by redirecting 80% of the sports betting privilege tax.

The scholarship backstop survives, but only second in line. Thomas explained the new mechanics to the Funding Board: the 80% now goes to a disbursement account administered by the State Treasurer for local education agencies to build and maintain public school buildings, after deposits to the Lottery for Education account cure any deficiency in net lottery proceeds. Comptroller Jason Mumpower asked her directly whether privilege taxes would fill a scholarship shortfall. She confirmed they would.

That shortfall has arrived. Peter Abernathy of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission told the same meeting that scholarship expenditures had grown to around $500 million and that revenue projections implied a deficit between $30 million and $60 million in the current year. The Board then approved negative growth estimates for net lottery proceeds in both FY2026 and FY2027. David Thurman, the state's Budget Director, told the Board on November 24, 2025 that the lottery program was challenged, "probably due to sports wagering," and that lottery revenue wouldn't support the ongoing cost of the scholarships without using sports wagering money.

So the accurate answer to what betting funds in Tennessee is that it now funds K-12 school construction, that it still backstops college scholarships first, and that those two purposes now compete directly because lottery proceeds are falling.

Is Betting in Tennessee Worth It, or a Waste of Money?

As entertainment, it is worth what you decide. As a way to make money, no. Tennessee sportsbooks kept close to a tenth of everything staked in FY2026, and the 2026 federal changes make the after-tax picture worse for anyone who doesn't itemize. Bet what a night out costs you and stop there.

Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call or text the Tennessee REDLINE at 800-889-9789.

Tennessee places no restriction on betting your in-state college teams. You can bet on the Tennessee Volunteers, Vanderbilt Commodores, and Memphis Tigers on game outcomes before and during the game. Several states prohibit exactly that.

Tennessee restricts college betting two other ways, and the Sports Wagering Council set them out in a memorandum to licensed operators dated June 30, 2025.

All college player props, pre-game and in-game. T.C.A. section 4-49-114(a)(1) and SWC Rules 1350-01-.03(9) and 1350-01-.09(2) prohibit wagers on an individual's actions, events, statistics, occurrences, or non-occurrences during a collegiate sporting event. No passing yards, no rebounds, no receptions, for any college player at any school in any state.

In-game team props on college events. Pre-game team proposition bets on a college team are allowed. In-game team proposition bets are prohibited. The Council listed the markets operators must not offer during a college game:

• First half, draw no bet

• First quarter spread

• Second quarter, total touchdowns by team

• Third quarter, total points

• Fourth quarter moneyline

• Highest scoring quarter

• Race to ten points

• Total points, odd or even

So live college betting is narrower in Tennessee than in most states. The full-game outcome stays available because the Act defines a proposition bet as a wager on an occurrence that doesn't directly affect the final outcome (T.C.A. section 4-49-102). The quarter and half markets you would find in Kentucky don't survive that definition.

Tennessee also prohibits, for every sport:

If your app throws an error on one of these, the rule is working, not the app failing.

Rep. John Clemmons (D-Nashville) introduced House Bill 1768 on January 20, 2026, which would require sportsbooks to block betting on public college campuses and at collegiate venues for the full calendar day of a sanctioned event. It didn't become law in the 2026 session. Betting on campus remains legal in Tennessee today.

Although states don't need their own professional team to build a strong sport-specific market, it can certainly help momentum and engagement! With legal mobile betting, Tennessee bettors can attend pro games and bet and monitor in real time while watching their favorite teams.

Who Cannot Bet in Tennessee?

T.C.A. section 4-49-112 bars fourteen categories of people from wagering in Tennessee, directly or indirectly. The Council publishes the list. The ones most likely to catch an ordinary reader:

• Any professional athlete, on any sport their governing body oversees.

• Any amateur or Olympic athlete, on the sport they compete in.

• Any owner or employee of a team, umpire, referee, coach, sports union personnel, or official of a governing body, on events their governing body oversees.

• Any trustee or regent of the governing board of a public or private institution of higher education.

• Any student or employee of a college or university who has access to material nonpublic information about a student athlete or team, where that information bears on a game's outcome. The bar applies to using that information to bet on college events.

• Anyone a college team, league, or association's own rules prohibit from betting.

• Principal owners, partners, directors, officers and supervisory employees of a licensee or its vendors, and contractors directly involved in running the sportsbook or processing its payments.

• Council members and employees, except that an employee may place a nominal wager as part of an investigation or audit, with any winnings accounted for separately and returned to the operator quarterly.

• Anyone able to directly affect the outcome of a sporting event.

NFL Betting in Tennessee

Tennessee Titans

The Titans open a new era in 2026. Robert Saleh takes over as head coach after Tennessee finished 3-14 in 2025, and Cam Ward enters his second NFL season at quarterback. The franchise also rebranded in March 2026, unveiling new uniforms and a new logo for the first time since 2018.

The Titans call Nissan Stadium home, and 2026 is scheduled to be their last season there. A new domed stadium, also to be called Nissan Stadium, is set to open for the 2027 season. Need friends to bet with? The Titans have a highly engaged fan base. Join the discussion on the GoTitans forum.

Titans Odds

Recommended resource to help you bet smartly on football in Tennessee:

• How to Bet on Football Guide
• Check our Expert NFL Picks
• Keep an eye on betting activity and bet/money distribution with our NFL Public Betting data

NBA Betting in Tennessee

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are rebuilding, and the roster looks nothing like it did two years ago. Memphis traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah at the 2026 deadline and Ja Morant to Portland in the offseason. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo now leads a young group built around Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 pick in the 2026 draft out of Duke, alongside Cedric Coward and Zach Edey.

Memphis won 25 games in 2025-26. The Grizzlies made the playoffs seven times last decade with their Grit and Grind style, advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 2013. They play at FedExForum in downtown Memphis in the heart of the city's Beale Street Entertainment District.

 Grizzlies Odds

Recommended resource to help you bet smartly on basketball in Tennessee:

• How to Bet on Basketball Guide

NHL Betting in Tennessee

Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators play downtown at Bridgestone Arena. The Preds were an expansion team in 1998. They made the playoffs for the first time in 2004 and advanced to their first Stanley Cup Finals in 2017 but lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games. The following season, Nashville won its first Presidents' Trophy, given to the team with the best record in the regular season. The Predators have a rabid local fan base that loves to throw a catfish onto the home ice in support of the Preds.

Predators Odds

Recommended resource to help you bet smartly on hockey in Tennessee:

• How to Bet on Hockey Guide

MLS Betting in Tennessee

Nashville SC

Nashville SC is having its best season in club history. Under head coach B.J. Callaghan, Nashville sits top of the Eastern Conference in 2026 and reached the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Sam Surridge leads the scoring. The club won the U.S. Open Cup in 2025.

Nashville SC play their home games at Geodis Park at the Nashville Fairgrounds.

Recommended resource to help you bet smartly on soccer in Tennessee:

• How to Bet on Soccer Guide

 MLB Betting in Tennessee

Tennessee doesn't have a professional baseball team, but betting markets are available for baseball fans. Many bettors root for the Atlanta Braves. In the meantime, you can explore our guides on baseball betting.

College Sports Teams

Tennessee’s orange-blooded Vols fans have a history of rivalries, some more notorious than others. We expect big college bets to be placed on these games now that sports betting is legal! Learn more about these high-stakes games and sporting traditions for Tennessee.

College Football Betting in Tennessee

Tennessee Volunteers Football

The Volunteers claim six national championships, the most recent in 1998, which was also the last time Tennessee won the SEC. The program has 16 conference championships, 13 of them in the SEC.

Tennessee plays under Josh Heupel, who took over in 2021 and led the Vols to the College Football Playoff. The Vols play at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, the largest stadium in Tennessee and one of the largest in the country.

Volunteers Odds

Vanderbilt Commodores Football

Clark Lea, now in his sixth season, has won back-to-back SEC Coach of the Year honors and took the 2025 Eddie Robinson Award as national coach of the year. In 2024 the Commodores beat No. 1 Alabama 40-35, their first win over the Crimson Tide in 40 years and their first ever against an AP top-five team, then won the Birmingham Bowl over Georgia Tech. In 2025 they went 10-3 with six SEC wins, both program records, climbed as high as No. 9 in the AP poll, went unbeaten at home and closed the regular season by winning 45-24 at Tennessee. They lost the ReliaQuest Bowl to Iowa.

The Commodores play at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, reimagined through the Vandy United campaign and sold out six times in 2025. Quarterback Diego Pavia has moved on, which makes 2026 the test of whether the turnaround holds.

Commodores Odds

Memphis Tigers Football

Memphis enters 2026 under first-year head coach Charles Huff, who replaced Ryan Silverfield. The Tigers compete in the American Conference, formerly the American Athletic Conference, and won the league title in 2019. They play home games at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis.

Tigers Odds

Recommended resources to help you bet smartly on college football in Tennessee:

• College Football Betting Tips for Profitability
• College Football Betting Tips on Fading the Public
• Action Data/Tools: College Football Odds, Picks & Projections 

College Basketball Betting in Tennessee

Tennessee Volunteers Men's Basketball

Rick Barnes returns for his 12th season in Knoxville and his 40th as a Division I head coach. Tennessee has reached the Elite Eight in each of the past three seasons, 2024 through 2026, and the Sweet 16 in each of the past four. Barnes has led three of the program's four Elite Eight appearances. The Vols went 25-12 in 2025-26 before losing to Michigan in the Midwest Regional final.

The program is still waiting for its first Final Four. Tennessee won SEC regular-season titles in 2018 and 2024 and the SEC Tournament in 2022. The Volunteers play at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville.

Volunteers Odds

Vanderbilt Commodores Men's Basketball

Mark Byington coaches Vanderbilt, which plays on the elevated stage of Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville. The Commodores have three SEC regular-season titles and two SEC Tournament championships, most recently in 2012, with six Sweet Sixteen appearances and no Final Four.

Commodores Odds

Memphis Tigers Men's Basketball

Penny Hardaway returns for a ninth season after Memphis went 13-19 in 2025-26, the program's most losses in a season since 1970. Memphis competes in the American Conference and has three Final Fours, the most recent in 2008 when Derrick Rose led the Tigers to the national championship game. The Tigers play their home games at FedExForum rather than the Elma Roane Fieldhouse on campus.

Tigers Odds

Belmont Bruins Men's Basketball

Belmont has a new coach. Casey Alexander left in March 2026 for Kansas State after leading the Bruins to a 26-6 record and the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title, and Belmont hired Duke assistant Evan Bradds to replace him. The Bruins play in the MVC at the Curb Event Center in Nashville and have eight NCAA Tournament appearances this century.

Bruins Odds

Tennessee Lady Volunteers Women's Basketball

Kim Caldwell enters her third season leading the Lady Vols. Kellie Harper left in 2024 and now coaches Missouri. Tennessee went 16-14 in 2025-26 and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, then rebuilt almost completely through the transfer portal for 2026-27.

The Lady Vols remain one of the premier programs in the sport. Pat Summitt led Tennessee from 1974 through 2012 and is still the all-time wins leader in women's college basketball with 1,098. Tennessee ranks second all-time with 18 Final Four appearances and has eight national championships, all under Summitt. The Lady Vols play at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, nicknamed "the Summitt" in her honor.

Recommended resources to help you bet smartly on college basketball in Tennessee:

• How to Bet on College Basketball
• Trends to Know Before Betting Conference Tournaments
• Action Data/Tools: College Basketball Odds & Picks

We expect to see these major rivalries draw sports bettor attention and significant handle in Tennessee.

Other Events

In addition to its traditional sporting events, Tennessee hosts races, tournaments and more — attracting sports bettor attention. This list includes:

NASCAR at Bristol Motor Speedway. Bristol hosts NASCAR Cup Series racing twice a year, including the Bass Pro Shops Night Race in September, one of the sport's signature events. Bristol sits in the northeastern tip of Tennessee, about 300 miles from Nashville.

SEC Men's Basketball Tournament. Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville is a regular host of the SEC Tournament.