Is sports betting legal in Tennessee? A brief guide
Let's get the fundamentals out of the way first. Tennessee sports betting is legal and has been since November 2020, putting it among the early adopter states of legalized sports wagering.
Only mobile and online wagering are permitted, meaning that you won't find any retail sportsbook units anywhere in the Volunteer States, including inside tribal casinos. However, my goal here is to help you find the top online betting sites in the state, so we don't have to worry about that too much.
The legal online betting landscape is regulated by the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (SWC). This authority is also responsible for issuing the sportsbooks' licenses and implementing the 10% minimum hold provision that TN betting sites have to meet.
Below, I've summarized all of the key information for you:
| 📝 Regulatory authority: | Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (SWC) |
| 🔞 Age limit: | 21+ |
| 📱Mobile and online sports wagering: | Yes ✅ |
| 🏈 Retail sports wagering (in-person): | No ❌ |
| 🏀 College sports wagering: | Yes ✅ (with some restrictions - see below) |
| 🗓 Legal launch date: | November 2020 |
| 🫰 Number of active online sportsbooks: | 12 |
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Bet $5 & Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
Up to $250 Bonus Bet
🏈 Is College Sports Wagering Legal in TN?
In short, yes, both professional and college sports wagering online are legal in Tennessee. However, there are a couple of restrictions when it comes to college betting.
I'll start by locking in the good news: you can bet on in-state college sports teams like the Commodores, Volunteers, and the Tigers. However, college player props are prohibited, and you cannot place in-play wagers on college sports.
🧑⚖️ Who Can Legally Bet Online in Tennessee?
To legally place an online sports wager in TN, you must be at least 21 years old. Non-residents are allowed to bet, but you must be physically located within state borders.
The 12 legal Tennessee sportsbooks use geolocation technology to determine your location, so you won't be able to access your account once you leave the state.
I know what many of you are thinking, so let me issue a quick warning: don't attempt to access a Tennessee sportsbook site from out of state. It's against the T&Cs, you will get detected, and you will get banned.
What betting sites are legal in Tennessee?
Currently, there are 12 legal sportsbooks in TN, all of which are licensed and regulated by the SWC. We'll take a closer look at my top five later, but first, here's the rundown of all the available sites:
- ✅ Action 247 Sportsbook
- ✅ Bally Bet
- ✅ bet365
- ✅ Betly
- ✅ BetMGM
- ✅ Caesars Sportsbook
- ✅ DraftKings
- ✅ ESPN BET
- ✅ Fanatics Sportsbook
- ✅ FanDuel
- ✅ Hard Rock Bet
- ✅ VIP Play
TN online sports wagering - Pros and cons
Despite a couple of college sports betting restrictions, I'd argue that Tennessee is a good state for cappers overall, with a decent selection of sportsbooks. To cover the most important ground, here's the highlights package from everything that I've explained above:
- Online sports betting is legal in TN
- Includes in-state college sports wagering
- 12 licensed mobile sportsbooks
- 21+ age limit
- No college props or live betting
Discover our must-see bookmakers
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Bet $5 & Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
Up to $250 Bonus Bet
Bet $5 Get $100 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
New Customers: Bet $5+ and get $300 in Bonus Bets if it wins!
The best sportsbooks in Tennessee - My top five rated
Whether you're a weekend warrior who just wants to put a few bucks on the Titans or a budding collegiate capper who's ready to follow my tips, the Volunteer State has a betting site or app to fit your needs. Additionally, I've also provided some key information on the top Tennessee sportsbook promos in the table below.
| 🏈 TN sportsbook | 🏆Sign-up promo | 🎁 Promo code |
| BetMGM | No-sweat first bet up to $1,500 | N/A |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Bet $1 and double your profit on the next 20 wagers | N/A |
| DraftKings | Bet $5, get $200 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins | N/A |
| FanDuel | Bet $5, get $150 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins | N/A |
| bet365 | Bet $5, get $150 in Bonus Bets (win or lose) | N/A |
BetMGM - The top Tennessee sportsbook overall
- Coverage for more than 25 sports
- Features a parlay builder and cashout
- Multiple payment methods
- Mobile applications for Android and iOS
- Delayed responses via email
- Review of withdrawal requests can take up to 5 days
BetMGM is my top-rated TN sportsbook overall thanks to the user-friendly app, high-value odds for US major league and college sports, and the welcome promo. When you download this betting app and place your first bet, you can get 100% of your stake back up to $1,500 if it loses.
With regard to betting markets and odds, BetMGM is always very competitive, especially for major league betting lines and player props. In particular, I tend to get good value here for the NFL, NBA, and NHL. However, it's also more than decent for college sports moneylines, spreads, and totals.
If you are new to this whole betting game, you don't need to look much further than BetMGM. Both the website and the mobile app are as user-friendly as they come, to the point you can almost coast through the entire process, from registration to depositing, and placing your first bet.
Caesars Sportsbooks - A unique welcome promo
- Generous welcome offers
- Wide range of markets
- Live chat support
- No esports available
As a capper, I don't take a time out until I've squeezed every possible drop of expected value out of every bet that I place. And a few welcome promos have helped me with that as much as the one at Caesars.
With a qualifying wager of just one dollar, you will get 20 x 100% profit boost tokens as a new TN customer on this sportsbook. Effectively, this means that you can double your winnings on your next 20 bets. Not bad, huh?
Besides that, Caesars has a decent market selection with competitive odds and a well-designed interface. This betting site's specialty is definitely for major league futures betting markets. So if you want to lock in the best odds on the Titans to make the playoffs next season, this is the place to do it.
DraftKings - The Tennessee capper's choice
- Great mobile apps
- Supports live streaming
- Withdrawal takes 1 to 3 days
- Subpar customer service
The fantasy sports fans among you will already be familiar with the DraftKings name. And if you loved it for DFS contests, you certainly shouldn't sleep on its sportsbook, which unsurprisingly is one of the biggest and best in the business.
To start with, you can get $200 in Bonus Bets if your first bet wins. Quick hint: make sure to stick as close to the -500 minimum odds limit to reduce the risk of losing so that you can lock and load that welcome promo.
Why DraftKings is one of my first choices, however, is the "My Stat Sheet" feature in the app. This tracks your entire betting history and neatly displays your stats, which is essential for bankroll management. You might not think you need this right now, but trust me, you will soon enough.
FanDuel - The best in TN for parlay bets
- Best in class usability
- Available in 25+ states
- Competitive odds and coverage
- Top tier brand rep
- No sportsbook VIP program
If you're up on your sportsbook brand names, you won't be surprised when I tell you that FanDuel is the biggest direct rival to DraftKings in the Volunteer State. There are a lot of parallels between these two mammoth brands, including the welcome promo.
With a $5 first bet at FanDuel, you will get $150 in Bonus Bets if the wager is a winner, clocking in 50 bucks below DraftKings. However, there are still plenty of reasons to pick this sportsbook app, particularly for parlay bets.
With the SGP feature, you can quickly create parlay bets for the same game, and with the SGP+ option, you can combine markets from different games and sports. For example, you could cap on the Titans to beat the spread and the Grizzlies to smash their points total in the same bumper wager.
bet365 - Expand your horizons
- Fast, reliable mobile app performance
- Quick deposits and fast withdrawals
- 24/7 live chat customer support
- Unavailable in some US states
- Phone support hours not 24/7
bet365 has an edge over the two sportsbooks that I've just covered above when it comes to the signup offer. Here, you will get your $150 in Bonus Bets regardless of whether your first $5 wager wins or loses.
When it comes to the betting markets and opportunities, bet365 is my go-to option for sports markets that aren't as popular in the US. This sportsbook was founded in the UK, so solid odds on soccer, cricket, and rugby come with the territory.
The design of the app is a bit bland compared to those created by our native US brands. However, what it lacks in style, it makes up for in substance, as you have competitive odds, a massive selection of betting markets, and a quick bet slip that's easy to use.
The top 5 betting sites in Tennessee - Summary and conclusion
Well, guys, it's just about time for me to blow the final whistle. But before we do that, let me quickly summarize everything that we've learned about my top five TN sportsbook picks.
BetMGM is the best betting app overall, especially if you're a beginner who's just started out and wants to focus on US major league and college football betting. Caesars Sportsbook has the best welcome promo and offers greeting capping opportunities for futures bets.
FanDuel and DraftKings are always going to be solid options, especially if you're growing in experience and want to track your P/L record. Last but not least, bet365 is the top choice of the Tennessee-based bettor with a global palette.
Have you locked in your choice? Just click one of the promo banners on this page, sign up, and get ready for kick-off!
Explore these top sports betting bonuses
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Bet $5 & Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
Up to $250 Bonus Bet
Bet $5 Get $100 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
New Customers: Bet $5+ and get $300 in Bonus Bets if it wins!
Tennessee sportsbooks FAQ
Are sportsbooks legal in Tennessee?
Yes, online sportsbooks are legal in the Volunteer States for adults aged 21+. You must be physically located in the state of Tennessee, but you don't have to be a resident to bet.
What betting sites are available in TN?
In total, there are 12 active betting sites with a valid license from the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (SWC). This includes some big names like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM, as well as Tennessee-based brands like Action 24/7 Sportsbook.
What is the best Tennessee sportsbook?
With 12 legal betting sites, it's hard to pick just one, so instead, let me give you my top five. For different reasons, I would recommend BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, and bet365 to TN-based bettors.