Tennessee Betting Laws Explained
Is Sports Betting Legal in Tennessee?
Yes. Legal sports betting arrived in Tennessee on November 1, 2020. It came more than two years after the Supreme Court voted to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Act (PASPA), and 16 months after Governor Bill Lee allowed the Tennessee Sports Betting Bill to pass into law without his signature.
Despite the arrival of legal sports wagering and betting apps for Tennessee, it remains one of the more gambling-averse states, especially when compared to the likes of Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The new sports betting laws in the Volunteer State allow for online sportsbooks only, with no retail sportsbooks permitted to operate.
With no bricks-and-mortar or online casinos, the only other betting options inside Tennessee state lines are horse racing and daily fantasy sports (DFS). That’s not to say there isn’t plenty to keep sports bettors entertained. Sports betting operators like TwinSpires, William Hill, and WynnBet have joined the BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings sportsbooks to offer online sports betting in Tennessee, each bringing with them a full line-up of sports betting markets and betting bonuses.
Mobile Betting Apps Explained
The Benefits of Downloading a Betting App
With online sports betting the only gambling option in the Volunteer State, it’ll come as no surprise that some very smart and user-friendly options are on the menu. All the sportsbooks are optimized for your mobile web browser, so you don’t have to be stuck at your desktop when making wagers. Alternatively, you can download a Tennessee sports betting app if your chosen betting site offers one.
Available for both iOS and Android, sportsbook apps offer the same markets, sports leagues, and odds as you’ll find on a web-based platform. This means you needn’t worry about missing out on a great bet on your favorite sports team. Betting apps also offer a host of advantages over browser-based sportsbooks, not least speedy load times and the convenience of being able to bet without having to go through your web browser.
You can also opt for push notifications that flag up the latest promos and bonus codes. If that sounds good to you, you can download Tennessee online betting apps from the Apple and Google Play stores.
Mobile Apps v Optimised Sites
Mobile Betting Apps Compared to Mobile Optimised Sites
Here are the pros and cons to consider when weighing up whether you’d like to use mobile websites or Tennessee sports betting apps.
Sportsbook Apps
Pros
- Mobile apps store data on your device, so they may offer faster functionality and updates
- Push notifications alert you to the latest news and bonus offers
- TN sports betting apps are tailor-made for your mobile device, ensuring a user-friendly experience whether you use Android or iOS
Cons
- Sports betting apps have to be downloaded, which means they’ll take up storage space on your device
Mobile Sites
Pros
- As you’ll be accessing betting markets through your browser, this method doesn’t take up any storage space
- Tennessee sportsbooks are optimized for web browsing on all smartphones, so there shouldn’t be any compatibility issues
Cons
- The absence of push notifications means you may miss out on the latest promos and bonus offers at sportsbooks
- As these sites aren’t specifically designed for your device, they may not offer the same level of functionality and visual appeal as the best sports betting apps in Tennessee
Tennessee Betting Bonuses
Boost Your Bankroll at a Tennessee Betting Site
You can use Tennessee betting apps to access a range of incentives available to both new and existing customers. From risk-free bets to parlay promos, here are just some of the bonus offers you could claim.
No Deposit Bonus
As you don’t need to transfer over any money or make a qualifying bet to receive them, no deposit bonuses reward Tennessee bettors just for signing up. They’re commonly used to attract new users to a sports betting platform, though you might also see these bonus offers advertised in the run-up to popular sporting events like March Madness, the Super Bowl, and the college football playoffs. Just remember that you may need to satisfy a wagering or playthrough requirement before being eligible to draw your winnings.
First Deposit Bonus
First deposit bonuses reward bettors who deposit real money into their account for the first time. They often take the form of a deposit match — for example, ‘100% up to $500’ means that making a first deposit of $200 will give you a total bankroll of $400. Again, there may be wagering requirements to consider.
Cashback
A big hit with bettors, cashback offers will return a percentage of your stake if your bet loses. You might even get lucky and find an offer that effectively offers a risk-free bet by returning your stake in full. Bear in mind the refund will usually be in the form of free bet credits rather than real money that can be withdrawn.
Odds Boosts
A common betting bonus available on Tennessee betting apps, odds boosts increase the potential payout on certain sporting events. They might be used to attract new users, although some operators like the BetMGM sportsbook offer daily odds boosts to existing players.
Parlay Bonuses
Parlay bets allow you to combine several wagers into one betslip, giving you the chance of a big return for a small stake. But just one loss on your betslip can bring the whole thing tumbling down. A parlay bonus might work as a form of insurance and return your original stake if one of your selections loses. Alternatively, it may function like an odds boost, increasing your return when you land a successful parlay.
Tennessee Betting Opportunities
Which Sports Can I Bet On?
Here are some of the sports wagering opportunities available at the state’s online and mobile sports betting sites:
- Auto racing
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Football
- Golf
- Hockey
- Mixed Martial Arts
- Rugby
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
Bet Types
Here’s a quick glance at some of the sports bets you can place on Tennessee online betting apps.
- Futures
- Moneyline
- Point spreads
- Prop bets
- Totals (over/under)
Wagering on the Live Market
The best sports betting apps in Tennessee offer live betting options. This means that you won’t need to decide in advance if the Memphis Grizzlies will win their latest NBA match, or if the NHL’s Nashville Predators will romp home to victory at the Bridgestone Arena. Instead, you can wait to see how the event starts to play out before placing your bets while the action is underway.
Points betting, moneylines, totals and milestones are among the available betting markets for in-game wagering. It’s important to note, however, that Tennesseans can only enjoy live betting on professional sports. NCAA betting is allowed, but you must place bets on college sports like college football and college basketball before the event starts. Tennessee sports betting laws also prohibit Tennessee residents from placing prop bets on any individual college player.
Claim Your Winnings Early
Many sports betting apps offer a cash-out option for in-play bets. This means you can close bets before the result is known. Winnings are often lower than what you’d get with an outright win, and depend on how an event is progressing.
Let’s say you’ve backed the Tennessee Titans to grab victory in their latest NFL game. They are the Indianapolis Colds with 15 minutes left on the clock, but you can see their grip on the game slipping away. You can therefore cash out on the bet before the game is over so that you don’t lose any of your potential winnings. Alternatively, if your bet is destined to lose, then you can cash out early to minimise your losses.
You’ll encounter cash out options for parlay bets, too. Imagine you have six bets on your bet slip for a run of MLB games. If five out of six bets come in so far, you might consider cashing out rather than have your parlay fall at the final hurdle. Only with the benefit of hindsight will you know if taking the cash-out option was the right decision.
Yes, though they differ between apps. The FanDuel Sportsbook may have different specs to the William Hill sportsbook, for example. You can check specific requirements by visiting the App or Play Store. Often, apps will require at least iOS 10 and Android 5 at the minimum.
Yes, you’ll need to provide a passport or driver’s license or other state-issued ID, and possibly proof of address and social security number, too.
The Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation regulates and awards licenses to online and mobile sports betting sites in Tennessee. It maintains a list of approved sportsbook operators on its official website.
Often, yes. Most Tennessee online sports betting apps accept a wide range of payment methods. These include e-wallets like PayPal and Skrill, along with credit and debit cards, e-checks, and ACH transfers.
Yes. You don’t have to be a Tennessee resident, but Tennessee sports betting laws require punters be inside state lines to place legal sports bets. Geolocation technology ensures that you can’t get around the rules. You’ll also need to be at least 21 years old.
