US Casino & Gambling Laws by State
US Online Casino Laws

Online Casinos in Tennessee

Tennessee runs an online-only sports betting market with no brick-and-mortar casinos. What can you actually play on your phone in 2026?

Short Answer

No. There are no licensed online casinos in Tennessee.

The Tennessee Sports Gaming Act of 2019 authorized mobile sports betting only, and lawmakers have not extended that framework to slots or table games. What is legal here: online-only sports betting through licensed mobile sportsbooks, daily fantasy sports, and a limited TN iLottery app. Sweepstakes casinos were banned in April 2026 under SB 2136 and HB 1885.

Real-money online casinosNot legal, none licensed
Online sports bettingLegal, online-only, multiple mobile operators
Daily fantasy sportsLegal, licensed by SWAC
Online lottery (TN iLottery)Limited, Powerball, Mega Millions, Cash 3 and Cash 4 via app
Sweepstakes / social casinosBanned by SB 2136 / HB 1885 (May 2026)
Commercial casinosNone, no statute authorizes them
Tribal casinosNone, no federally recognized tribes in the state
Charitable gaming501(c)(3) annual events only
Minimum age21 sports betting, 18 lottery and DFS
RegulatorTennessee Sports Wagering Council
Regulatory Timeline

How It Happened

  1. Voters approve the lottery amendment

    Tennessee Amendment 1 passed with 58 percent of the vote, rewriting Article XI, Section 5 of the state constitution to authorize the Tennessee Education Lottery. The first ticket sold on January 20, 2004.

  2. Sports Gaming Act becomes law without the governor's signature

    Governor Bill Lee said he was philosophically opposed to gambling but let the bill through. It took effect July 1, 2019 and is codified at Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-49-101 et seq.

  3. Online-only mobile sports betting launches

    Tennessee became the first US state to run a sports betting market with zero retail sportsbooks. DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Action 24/7 opened just after midnight.

  4. Sports betting moves to a handle tax

    SB 0475 dropped the 20 percent adjusted-gross-revenue tax and replaced it with a 1.85 percent tax on total handle, a first for any US state. The same bill renamed the regulator from the Sports Wagering Advisory Council to the Sports Wagering Council.

  5. Sweepstakes casino ban clears the legislature

    SB 2136 and HB 1885, sponsored by Sen. Ferrell Haile and Rep. Scott Cepicky, passed the Senate 25-5 and the House 69-17-1. Governor Lee signed the bill in May 2026, classifying dual-currency online sweepstakes games as unlawful under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act.

Where to Play

Casino Options for Tennessee

No state-licensed online casinos operate here, and the May 2026 sweepstakes ban closed the dual-currency loophole. Anything below is offshore and not regulated by Tennessee.

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The Law

Why There Are No Online Casinos

Tennessee Code Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 5 makes gambling a misdemeanor, and section 39-17-501 specifically lists slot machines and roulette wheels as casino-style games that fall outside public policy. The only carve-outs are the state lottery (added by a 2002 constitutional amendment), online-only sports betting (2019 Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, codified at Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-49-101 et seq.), the 2016 Fantasy Sports Act, and a narrow 501(c)(3) charitable-event allowance. Slots, table games, and live dealer products have no statutory home.

There is no commercial casino industry to lobby for an iGaming extension. Tennessee has zero brick-and-mortar casinos, and no federally recognized tribe has a reservation or gaming compact in the state. Governor Bill Lee has publicly opposed casino expansion and let the 2019 sports betting law take effect without his signature. The 2025-2026 legislature filed no iGaming bill and spent the session moving the other way: SB 2136 and HB 1885 banned dual-currency sweepstakes casinos, signed by the governor in May 2026.

Play Responsibly

You must be 21 to bet on sports online in Tennessee, and 18 for the lottery and daily fantasy sports. If gambling stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER for free, confidential help, or read our responsible gambling guide.

FAQ

Tennessee Gambling FAQ

Are online casinos legal in Tennessee?+

No. The 2019 Tennessee Sports Gaming Act only authorized mobile sports betting. Slots, table games, and live dealer products have no statutory authorization, and the Sports Wagering Council does not license online casinos. Any site advertising "TN online casino real money" is offshore and unregulated.

Can I bet on sports online in Tennessee?+

Yes. Tennessee runs the country's first online-only sports betting market. Mobile sportsbooks are licensed by the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council, and you have to be 21 and physically inside the state to place a wager.

Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Tennessee?+

Not anymore. SB 2136 and HB 1885 passed the legislature on April 24, 2026, the final day of session, and were signed by Governor Bill Lee in May 2026. The law classifies dual-currency sweepstakes platforms as unlawful trade practices, and major operators pulled out of Tennessee ahead of the effective date.

Are there any casinos in Tennessee?+

No. Tennessee has zero commercial casinos and zero tribal casinos. No federally recognized tribe has a reservation or gaming compact in the state, and the legislature has never authorized commercial casino licensing.

Can I buy lottery tickets online in Tennessee?+

Yes, but only a few games. The TN iLottery app, launched in January 2025, sells Powerball, Mega Millions, Cash 3, and Cash 4 to anyone 18 or older inside Tennessee. Scratchers and most other games still require an in-store visit.

Will Tennessee legalize online casinos?+

There is no iGaming bill in the 2025-2026 session. Governor Bill Lee has called casino gambling harmful, the state has no commercial casino industry to push for an online product, and tribal expansion is not an option. We update this page when the legal status changes.