Tennessee Sports Betting: Best Legal Sportsbooks

Is online sports betting legal in Tennessee?

Yes, and Tennessee does it in a way no other state does: it is an online-only market. The Tennessee Sports Gaming Act was passed in 2019, and mobile sportsbooks launched on 1 November 2020. There are no casinos in the state and no retail sportsbooks, so every legal bet in Tennessee is placed through an app or website.

The market is overseen by the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council, which took over regulation from the Tennessee Education Lottery in 2022. You must be 21 or older and physically located in Tennessee to bet.

Why Tennessee's tax model matters

Most states tax sportsbooks on their gross gaming revenue, the amount they keep after paying out winners. Tennessee originally required operators to hold back at least 10 per cent of wagers as revenue, a rule that drew criticism from the industry, and in 2023 the state replaced it with a privilege tax of 1.85 per cent on total handle. Because operators now pay tax on every dollar bet regardless of the outcome, margins on some markets can be slightly tighter than elsewhere. For bettors, that makes comparing prices between licensed apps especially worthwhile before you commit to a wager.

Tennessee sports betting sites we review

Two of the three US sportsbooks we rank, BetMGM and bet365, are licensed in Tennessee. BetRivers is not listed for the state on this site and does not appear in our Tennessee rankings. Tennessee taxes operators on their total betting handle rather than on revenue, a model that has shaped how sportsbooks price their markets here.

Geolocation is essential in a state that borders eight others. Memphis bettors are minutes from Mississippi and Arkansas, and Bristol sits right on the Virginia line, so check that the app has confirmed your location before you submit a bet.

• Regulator: Tennessee Sports Wagering Council
• Launch: 1 November 2020, online only
• Minimum age: 21
• Licensed brands we rank: BetMGM, bet365

College props and tax

Tennessee does not permit player props on college athletes, and some in-game prop markets on college teams are restricted, so expect a narrower menu for Volunteers, Vanderbilt and Memphis games than for NFL or NBA matchups.

Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, so state tax on sports betting winnings is generally not an issue, though federal tax still applies to gambling income.

Titans, Predators and help when you need it

The Titans, Predators and Grizzlies, plus a loud SEC football culture in Knoxville and Nashville, give Tennessee bettors plenty to follow. Licensed operators must offer responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits and self-exclusion. The Tennessee REDLINE at 1-800-889-9789 provides free, confidential support, as does 1-800-GAMBLER.