Tennessee Sports Betting – Is Sports Betting Legal In Tennessee?

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While Tennessee legalized sports betting in June 2019 with the passage of SB 0016, online sportsbooks didn’t launch in the state until November 2020.

Tennessee is a bit unique in that mobile sports betting is the only type of legal sports betting allowed there. There are no brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in the state, making Tennessee the first state without casino gaming to pass a sports betting bill.

Tennessee Sports Betting Sites

  • Betly: Betly launched in Tennessee in August 2022, becoming the third state the sportsbook is operational in. It has a retail sportsbook at the Southland Casino Hotel in West Memphis, Ark, which is five miles from the Tennessee border.
  • BetMGM Sportsbook: “The King of Sportsbooks” launched in Tennessee on Nov. 1, 2020, becoming one of the state’s first sportsbooks. It’s the official sportsbook partner of the Tennessee Titans.
  • Caesars Sportsbook: Caesars launched in Tennessee in August 2021. It’s known for its abundance of live bets.
  • DraftKings Sportsbook: One of the biggest names in North American sports betting, DraftKings launched in Ohio on Nov. 1, 2020. It has a state-of-the-art parlay builder tool that allows bettors to easily create parlays.
  • Fanatics Sportsbook: The new kid on the block, Fanatics Sportsbook formed through a merger with PointsBet. It launched in Tennessee in August 2023 and has a FanCash Rewards program, which is one of the best rewards programs in the business.
  • FanDuel Sportsbook: Another recognizable name in sports betting, FanDuel got its start in the DFS industry before launching a sportsbook after the U.S. legalized sports betting. It debuted in Tennessee on Nov. 1, 2020.
  • ESPN BET: ESPN BET was created through a merger with Barstool Sportsbook, featuring bets and parlays created by ESPN personalities. It launched in Tennessee on Nov. 14, 2023.
  • Hard Rock Bet: The sports betting arm of Hard Rock Casinos, this sportsbook launched in Tennessee in September 2022.
  • SuperBook Sports: SuperBook went live in Tennessee in April 2022 and is legal in nine states.
  • Tennessee Action 24/7: The Volunteer State’s version of a local sportsbook, this online sportsbook is run by Action 24/7, a betting agency based in downtown Nashville.
  • Wagr: Tennessee became the first state to approve and launch Wagr when the sportsbook opened there on Aug. 31, 2021. The sportsbook is backed by the Manning brothers.
  • ZenSports: This local sportsbook launched in Tennessee on June 9, 2023.

Legal Sports Betting Age

The legal sports betting age in Tennessee is 21, which is true for most states in the U.S. If you’re under 21, you won’t be able to sign up for a sportsbook or place a wager in the state.

You must confirm your age when signing up for a sportsbook by entering your date of birth and social security number.

Anyone aged 18+ and located in Tennessee is able to play the lottery, bingo and bet on horse racing, but you have to be 21 or older to bet on sports or visit a casino in Tennessee.

Professional Sports Teams in Tennessee

Tennessee has a handful of professional sports teams to wager on, most of which are based in Nashville.

  • Tennessee Titans

The Titans have been in Tennessee since 1997 when Bud Adams relocated his Houston Oilers to the Volunteer State. The Oilers were originally founded in 1959, winning two AFL Championships. The team changed its name to the Titans in 1999.

The Titans played in Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000, where they suffered a 23-16 loss to the St. Louis Rams in one of the best finishes in Super Bowl history. They haven’t been back to the Big Game since.

  • Memphis Grizzlies

Originally established as an expansion franchise in 1995, the Grizzlies moved from Vancouver to Memphis after the 2000-01 season. They won their first playoff series in 2011 and advanced to the Western Conference Finals in 2013, but they have yet to reach the NBA Finals or win a championship.

While the Grizzlies missed the playoffs in 2024, they’ve reached the postseason in 10 of the last 14 seasons.

  • Nashville Predators

The Predators were founded in 1997 as an NHL expansion team and played their first season in 1998-99. They first qualified for the playoffs in 2004 and advanced to their first Stanley Cup in 2017, where they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins. A year later, they won their first Presidents’ Trophy.

The Predators are still searching for their first Stanley Cup championship.

  • Nashville SC

While Nashville SC has been around since 2016, it became an official MLS team in 2020 after earning a promotion from the USL. It reached the conference semifinals in both 2020 and 2021 and plays at Geodis Park in Nashville.

Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

College Teams in Tennessee

Bettors can also wager on Tennessee’s college teams, although they are prohibited betting on college player props or live college team props in the state.

  • Austin Peay Governors

The Governors have played at the FCS level in football since 1978. They’ve bounced around conferences over the years but currently play in the United Athletic Conference, which they joined in 2023.

In basketball, the Governors previously played in the Ohio Valley Conference before moving to the ASUN in 2022. They won NCAA Tournament games in 1973 and 1987.

  • Belmont Bruins

After a 10-year run in the Ohio Valley Conference, the Bruins joined the Missouri Valley Conference in 2022. Their last NCAA Tournament appearance came in 2019, though they had already qualified for the 2020 tournament before it was canceled due to COVID-19.

  • Chattanooga Mocs

The Mocs play in the Southern Conference at the FCS level and are best known for producing Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens. They made three straight FCS playoff appearances from 2014 to 2016.

On the hardwood, the Mocs’ best season came in 1977 when they won the Division II tournament while completing their transition from Division II to Division I. They also made it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament in 1997.

  • East Tennessee State Buccaneers

The Buccaneers football program was founded in 1920 but was dormant from 2004 to 2015. The Buccaneers returned in 2015 as an FCS program and joined the Southern Conference in 2016. They qualified for their first FCS playoff in 2018, where they lost to Jacksonville State.

The Buccaneers’ best season on the hardwood came in 1968 when they made it to the Sweet Sixteen. They also advanced to the Round of 32 in 1999.

  • Lipscomb Bisons

The Bisons have had some success lately, making their first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history in 2018 after defeating Florida Gulf Coast in the ASUN men’s basketball tournament championship. A year later, they became the first ASUN team to reach the NIT Final, where they lost to Texas.

  • Memphis Tigers

The Tigers play in the American Athletic Conference and have won eight conference championships since their inaugural football season in 1912. They made their first appearance in a New Year’s Six bowl in 2019 when they played Penn State in the Cotton Bowl.

The Tigers have made more than 25 NCAA Tournaments in their illustrious history, with their best finish coming in 2008 when they lost to Kansas in the National Championship Game. That year marked the Tigers’ first No. 1 ranking in the AP poll since 1982 and resulted in Derrick Rose being the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft the following summer.

  • Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

The Blue Raiders play in Conference USA at the FBS level and have appeared in 13 bowl games. They won their first Conference USA division title in 2018 and played in six bowl games in the 2010s.

In 2016, Middle Tennessee became the eighth No. 15 seed to win a tournament game by defeating No. 2 Michigan State 90-81. They won their Round of 64 game a year later against Minnesota.

  • Tennessee Volunteers

The Volunteers’ football team plays at Nyland Stadium, the sixth-largest stadium in the country (101,915 seats). They’ve played in the SEC since 1933 and have won 12 national titles in program history. Their last win came in 1998 when they went 13-0 and defeated Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Volunteers are also one of the SEC’s top basketball teams, making 10 Sweet Sixteen appearances and two Elite Eights. They haven’t won a national championship yet, however.

  • Tennessee State Tigers

The Tigers play in the FCS in football as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. They recorded their first win over an FBS school in 2017 by defeating Georgia State. Tennessee State has played in the FCS playoffs six times.

In basketball, the Tigers won three national championships at the NAIA level and joined Division I in 1978. They play in the Ohio Valley Conference and haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since 1994.

  • Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles

Another Ohio Valley Conference school, the Golden Eagles have won 10 OVC titles in football, the most of any current member. They’ve made it to the FCS playoffs once.

The Golden Eagles haven’t appeared in an NCAA Tournament since 1963 but did advance to the NIT quarterfinals in 2002.

  • UT Martin Skyhawks

The Skyhawks have played at the FCS level in football since 1992 and have won six conference championships in their history. They won the OVC conference championship outright in 2021 and were co-champions in 2022 and 2023.

The Skyhawks have never made the NCAA Tournament but did make the Division II tournament twice in the 1980s. They made it to the CIT in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

  • Vanderbilt Commodores

The other Power Five school in Tennessee, Vanderbilt hasn’t had much success on the gridiron. The Commodores have a program record under .500 and have never had a 10-win season. They did make it to three straight bowl games from 2011 to 2013 under coach James Franklin, who left the program for Penn State.

The Commodores have made it to the Elite Eight one time on the hardwood. They’ve also played in the NIT 14 times and won the tournament in 1990.

Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Can I use a sports betting app in Tennessee?

Yes. As long as you’re over 21 and located in Tennessee, you can use a regulated sportsbook.

Is DraftKings legal in Tennessee?

Yes, DraftKings has been legal in Tennessee since the state legalized sports betting in November 2020.

How old do I have to be to gamble in Tennessee?

You need to be 21 years of age to gamble in Tennessee. If you’re under 21 years of age, you won’t be able to sign up for an authorized sportsbook in Tennessee.

How many online sportsbooks are in Tennessee?

There are 12 online sportsbooks in Tennessee for sports bettors to choose from:

  • Betly
  • BetMGM Sportsbook
  • Caesars Sportsbook
  • DraftKings Sportsbook
  • Fanatics Sportsbook
  • FanDuel Sportsbook
  • ESPN BET
  • Hard Rock Bet
  • SuperBook Sports
  • Tennessee Action 24/7
  • Wagr
  • ZenSports

Do you have to live in Tennessee to bet online?

No, you don’t have to live in Tennessee to bet online. You just need to be over 21 years of age and located within state lines.

When did Tennessee legalize online sports betting?

Tennessee legalized online sports betting in June 2019, with sports betting going live in the state in November 2020. In-person sports betting isn’t legal in the state.

How can I fund my betting account in Tennessee?

There are several ways to fund a sports betting account in Tennessee, including the following:

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