Is online gambling legal in Tennessee?

1. 1SWC: Approved Licensees & Registrants
2. 2Rules 1350-05 Fantasy Sports Act (December 2023)
3. 3Public Chapter 1117 (2026), SB 2136
4. 4Tennessee Attorney General, press release PR 25-61, 29 December 2025: online sweepstakes casinos
5. 5SWC: FAQs
6. 6Attorney General Opinion 03-049

The minimum age on record for gambling in Tennessee is 21+. 21 for sports wagering, with the player physically in Tennessee. 18 for fantasy sports contests, which are licensed separately. The sources read do not state a minimum age for the state lottery.

Tennessee charges no state tax on a player's winnings: the State says it has no income tax on earned income, and its Hall tax on interest and dividends ended for periods from 1 January 2021 (its pages do not name winnings, so this rests on those two statements). Federally, winnings are taxable income. The operator withholds 24% where winnings minus the wager exceed $5,000 and the winnings are at least 300 times the wager, and files Form W-2G where the winnings reach the reporting threshold and are at least 300 times the wager (the IRS gives $2,000 as the 2026 minimum threshold for information returns including Form W-2G).

Always verify a casino holds a valid Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (SWC) licence before depositing.

Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (SWC)'s website

Prominent operators in Tennessee

If a site isn't on the regulator's licensee register, ask the regulator before you play: an unlisted site is usually not licensed here (a register can lag behind a new licence). An unlicensed site is outside the regulator's supervision, so you cannot complain to the regulator about it.

• Self-exclusion: 1, 3 or 5 years. One Council application opts you out of online sports betting at every licensed operator ↗
• Withdrawals: 5 business days. Unless a dispute or a suspicious-activity check is pending ↗
• Fantasy deposits: $2,500 a month. For a new player; raising it needs verification and proof of income or net worth ↗
• Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER. Also the Tennessee REDLINE, shown on all licensed advertising ↗

1. 1

   1. Contact the Licensed Operator Directly

   The player first files a formal grievance with the licensed sportsbook, within 30 days of the incident. The operator is the first line of resolution; the rules set no deadline for its reply, but failing to respond to player complaints in time is a violation.

2. 2

   2. File a Complaint with the Sports Wagering Council

   If the player is not satisfied with the operator's decision, they may file a formal complaint with the SWC within 30 days of receiving the operator's final response, using the form on the Council's website.

   Visit SWC Website
3. 3

   3. SWC Investigation and Decision

   The Executive Director, or a designee, investigates, beginning within three business days of receiving the grievance, and issues a decision. The Council cannot help with a dispute against an unlicensed sportsbook.

4. 4

   4. Appeal to the Full Council

   If either the player or the operator is dissatisfied with the Executive Director's decision, they may appeal to the full Council within 30 days. The Council's written decision is final; either party may seek judicial review in the Chancery Court of Davidson County.

• ✓
  Verify the License on the Official SWC Website

  Before betting, check the SWC's official list of 'Approved Licensees' at tn.gov/swac. If a site is not on this list, it is not licensed to take sports wagers in Tennessee and the Council cannot help with a dispute against it.

• ✓
  Look for the Mandatory Responsible Gaming Disclaimers

  All advertising must carry a responsible gaming message with a Council-approved helpline: the Tennessee REDLINE logo and number, 1-800-GAMBLER, or another toll-free number the Council approves. The legal age (21 and above) must also be shown on websites, apps and advertising.

• ✓
  Confirm Payment Methods are Legal

  Credit-card funding is barred in practice: the Act forbids a licensee to extend credit and the rules require every funding method to be able to block credit-card funds. The rules list the permitted funding methods (debit cards, electronic bank transfers, online and mobile payment systems and other Council-approved methods). They do not mention cryptocurrency, and no Council approval of a crypto route was found.

• ✓
  Ensure Geolocation Software is Active

  A licensee must use a geolocation system that detects the player's location and blocks wagers from outside Tennessee, re-checking every 20 minutes (every 5 minutes within one mile of the State border) and not relying only on IP addresses.

• ✓
  Avoid Sites Offering Casino Games or Online Poker

  No licence exists in Tennessee for online casino, poker, bingo or lottery, and since Public Chapter 1117 of 2026 took effect, online sweepstakes games and other online or app-based gambling are unlawful. A site offering them to Tennessee players is not licensed by the Council.

• Myth

  Since sports betting is legal, I can bet at any site I can access in Tennessee.
  Reality

  Only sportsbooks licensed by the Sports Wagering Council may take sports wagers in Tennessee. The Council publishes its list of approved licensees (nine sports wagering operators on 6 October 2026). It cannot help a player in a dispute with an unlicensed sportsbook, and it states that betting with one is a crime under T.C.A. 39-17-502.

• Myth

  My winnings aren't taxed because Tennessee has no income tax.
  Reality

  Tennessee charges no income tax on earned income, and its Hall tax on interest and dividends was repealed from 1 January 2021; the sources do not name winnings expressly. Federal tax still applies: gambling winnings are taxable and must be reported. The operator withholds 24% where the winnings minus the wager exceed $5,000 and the winnings are at least 300 times the wager.

• Myth

  I can use a VPN to bet with a Tennessee sportsbook when I'm on vacation in Florida.
  Reality

  No. Only people physically present in Tennessee may place a wager. A licensee must use a geolocation system that detects the player's location, re-checks it every 20 minutes (every 5 minutes within one mile of the State border) and does not rely only on IP addresses. Non-residents may bet while they are in Tennessee.

What you can expect from a licensed site's offers in Tennessee. The rules operators must follow are on the operator page.