Online Casinos in Tennessee — Are They Legit?

Last Updated May. 10. 2024 11:34 AM PDT

Online casinos for Tennessee residents and visitors are widely available through offshore operators, despite the state’s limited land-based gambling options. This guide to gambling in Tennessee highlights the best gambling sites for TN players, including the top online casino, best mobile gambling site, and best poker site.

Tennessee’s gambling laws will be explained as well, including how to play the Tennessee Education Lottery and information about how the state allows limited bingo, raffles, and cakewalk games. You can also keep reading to learn about the history of gambling in TN and find out what state-specific responsible gambling resources are available to help TN players curtail damaging problem gambling issues.

Disclosure: At GamblingSites.com, our mission is to connect you with the best gambling sites and informational resources available. If you click one of the links on our site, we may earn a commission payment at no extra charge to you.

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Top Tennessee Gambling Sites

Gambling Sites

EveryGame Best Gambling Site for Tennesseans

When you’re not sure what form your itch to gamble will take today, you’ll be happy to know that EveryGame has what it takes to make you happy. The site has a 500+ slot inventory, table games up the wazoo (it’s a medical condition), and a world-class poker room.

It even has a fully stocked sportsbook that gives you access to wagering on US sports (both pro and collegiate) as well as horse racing and a multitude of international games as well. Rugby, cricket, Aussie football, boxing—even darts—they all have a betting slip with your name on it.

When you’re not sure what sort of gambling suits you at this particular moment, EveryGame is the site that can help you make up your mind.

    SlotsandCasino Best Tennessee Online Casino

    Tennesseans looking for lively casino action should put SlotsandCasino at the top of their itinerary. This newer site hosts hundreds of slots from the likes of Dragon Gaming, Rival, Saucify, Betsoft, Fugaso, and Spinomenal.

    Their selection of table games includes everything from American and European roulette, single and multi-hand blackjack, Ride’em Poker, and card crash.

    For those who enjoy the conviviality of live dealer tables, SlotsandCasino teams with Fresh Deck Studios to bring Tennessee eight tables dealing various flavors of blackjack, five roulette tables (single and double zero), and don’t forget the baccarat table with two stakes levels ($1 to $200, and $10 to $1500).

    You won’t find a sportsbook at SlotsandCasino (check out our Best Sports Betting Sites for that), but everything else that makes a casino a casino is here in spades. Oh, and don’t forget to tip your dealer!

    Bovada Best Sports Betting Site for TN

    This choice is a no-brainer: Bovada has been around for decades and has only improved with age. Known internationally for its world-class sports and race books, the site offers every bet you might be inclined to make, and at competitive prices.

    A real benefit to Tennesseans betting at Bovada is that even collegiate sports within Tennessee’s borders are available. That’s right: you can bet on the UT Volunteers versus not only Kentucky and Alabama, but against Vanderbilt, as well. Get ready to sing “Rocky Top”. Don’t pretend you forgot the words.

    Bovada give Tennesseans unhindered access to 20,000 sports markets, including your favorite team competitions. They even have prices on esports and virtual sports.

    Ignition Casino Best Poker Site for Tennessee

    One of the Best Poker Sites in the world, Ignition Casino has sit & gos, tournaments, and cash games that fit your bankroll, however great or small. The games are hosted on the PaiWangLuo poker network (formerly known as the Bodog Poker Network). The interface is easy to use regardless of platform. Not only that, but you have the option of playing poker using your browser or using a downloadable poker app to play multiple tables at a time.

    Don’t forget the weekly $2500 freerolls, or the royal flush and bad beat bonuses.

    The network serves around 2,000 players at any given moment, with traffic increasing greatly on the weekends and during the many high-value tourneys. Tennessee is home to its fair share of poker legends—Kathy Liebert and Chris Moneymaker, for instance. Why not start building your own legend at Ignition Casino?

    XBet Best Mobile Site for Tennessee

    XBet puts the mobile in Tennessee online gambling. Think I’m kidding? The mobile sportsbook at XBet condenses much of the available info and options into drop-down menus, keeping the screen clear and uncluttered while you look for your best bets. Slots and table games are likewise condensed, with controls like the spin button being centrally located at the bottom of the screen. That screen, by the way, can be viewed either vertically or horizontally.

    That’s right. You can wager with your mobile device in either portrait or landscape view (whichever works best for you)—and there’s not a single game that didn’t translate well from the PC to the mobile platforms. Whether you regularly travel the triangle from Memphis to Nashville to Knoxville or you never leave town, you’ll be glad you have XBet on your phone to keep you company.

    Slots.lv Best Tennessee Table Game Site

    Most online casinos offer a handful of tables games to their patrons, but not Slots.lv. This site features 27 different table games. Some are old standards, like blackjack, American roulette, and baccarat; others are a bit more exotic, like perfect pairs or andar bahar.

    The table game selection at Slots.lv even includes two versions of teen patti (pro and rapid versions) along with craps, let’em ride, and rocket dice. Of course, there are plenty of casino poker games here, like pai gow poker, tri-card poker, Let’em Ride, Caribbean hold’em, and Caribbean stud poker.

    Incidentally, Slots.lv’s selection of Caribbean Hold’em, Caribbean stud poker, and Let’em Ride table games all feature jackpots in the tens of thousands. Tennessee has a state fruit (tomato), a state flower (iris), and even a state fish (smallmouth bass). If it had a state table game casino, it would be Slots.lv.

    DuckyLuck Casino Best Tennessee Crypto Site

    Already popular for its selection of slots, table games, and video poker, DuckyLuck Casino ups the ante by being the best gambling destination for crypto players. Cryptocurrency gambling is rewarding from the jump, as first time crypto depositers get a 600% match welcome bonus right away.

    Switching exclusively to cryptocurrency has never been more rewarding. Imagine increasing the size of reloadable megabonuses and up to 10% daily cashback, not to mention increased (and more rewarding) free spins. 

    Crypto users also gain access to rapid payouts, lower fees, and a 3% crypto rebate each time you make a deposit.

    Las Atlantis Casino Best TN Live Dealer Site

    It’s possible some patrons of Las Atlantis Casino aren’t even aware of the live dealer choices they have. Las Atlantis has a single icon on its live dealer page that, well, doesn’t look all that inviting.

    But appearances can be deceiving. Clicking on the icon reveals a screen full of live dealer games hosted by Visionary iGaming. Tennesseans will find three regular blackjack tables (minimum bet levels of $10 and $25), as well as two early payout blackjack tables that each offer three minimum bet levels of $10, $25, and $50.

    If roulette is more your game, you’ll find both European (single zero) and American (0, 00) versions here, both with minimum wagers of $1 or $5. There are also a couple of Auto Roulette tables (European and American) at the same stakes levels.

    For those in the “shaken, not stirred” mood, there two baccarat tables at three minimum wager levels each: $5, $25, and $50. When I was there, the tables were dealt by Buck and Norma. Both had charming accents and narrated the deals clearly, quickly, and professionally. I broke even, which for me is technically a win, but your mileage may vary.

    Las Atlantis also offers two live dealer tables of super 6 at those same three minimum wager levels: $5, $25, and $50.

    Tennessee Online Casino Comparison Table

    Comparison Table
    SiteB.E.S.T. RatingWelcome BonusSpecialtyReviewVisit Site
    EveryGame4.5100% up to $500Best Gambling SiteRead ReviewVisit EveryGame
    SlotsandCasino4.5300% up to $4,500Best Online CasinoRead ReviewVisit SlotsandCasino
    Bovada4.5125% up to $3,750Best Sports Betting SiteRead ReviewVisit Bovada
    Ignition Casino4.5300% up to $3,000Best Poker SiteRead ReviewVisit Ignition Casino
    XBet4.5100% up to $500Best Mobile SiteRead ReviewVisit XBet
    Slots.lv
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    300% up to $7,500Best Table Game SiteRead ReviewVisit Slots.lv
    DuckyLuck Casino4.5500% up to $7,500Best Crypto SiteRead ReviewVisit DuckyLuck
    Las Atlantis Casino4.5250% up to $9,500Best Live Dealer SiteRead ReviewVisit Las Atlantis

    How We Choose the Best Gambling Sites for Tennesseans

    Rank Criteria
    Bonuses
    Entertainment
    Safety
    Transactions

    We don’t take chances when we vet an online gambling operation. Our B.E.S.T. scoring system is how we rank each online site. The overall rating is actually an aggregate reflecting dozens of individual scores for every feature of the site; a higher score indicates the site provides a safe, friendly, and entertaining gambling environment for Tennesseans.

    • Bonuses — Bonuses are among the most important features of any gambling site. Naturally, we look first at the site’s welcome bonus, but we don’t stop there. We also look for reload, free spin, referral, and loyalty bonuses as we build this portion of the site’s overall score.
    • Entertainment Features — Long story short, if the slots or other games at a casino site aren’t fun and entertaining, this isn’t going to be a good score. We grade everything from the appeal of a site’s user interface to the speed with which various games load and play. We evaluate the site’s live dealer tables for smooth streaming and professional dealers. For sportsbooks, we look at the width and breadth of their offerings, along with the simplicity of placing a wager. And before we rank a site as worthy of Tennessee, it needs to show us a sizeable slot inventory full of quality games from reputable developers.
    • Safety and Security — The most heavily weighted ranking in our scoring system, a site’s safety and security needs to be up-to-date and fully functional to earn our highest score. This means that before we recommend a site to Tennesseans, we ensure that it uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) for data encryption. We
    • Transactions — We check the privacy and data security of all financial transactions. This includes a check that the site adheres to banking-level encryption. We also evaluate the site for the variety of its deposit and withdrawal methods. There are even components to this score concerning the speed of the site’s withdrawal processing, and whether any fees are charged for withdrawals.
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    Legal

    The Tennessee Constitution itself(1) has banned gambling in the state since 1834. Naturally, over the years, some accommodations to cultural changes have been made. The state currently permits some forms of online sports and daily fantasy sports (DFS) wagering, for example. On the other hand, horse racing was only legal in Tennessee for about a decade in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

    Note that while horse racing (with parimutuel wagering) is currently illegal in Tennessee, parimutuel horse and dog racing wagers were legal from 1987 to 1997. Currently, DFS(2) (since 2016) as well as sportsbooks and March Madness betting pools(3) (since 2019) are permitted.

    The only state-licensed online gambling you’re going to find in Tennessee are a few heavily regulated sportsbooks (no in-state collegiate wagering) and DFS offered by a number of licensed commercial operations such as FanDuel and Draft Kings. You’ll find all other forms of online gambling at any number of offshore gambling sites.

    As with many other states, Tennessee gambling law does not address online gambling itself. It does consider gambling itself to be a Class C misdemeanor(4), and being caught gambling could result in a fine of anywhere between $1 and $50. The state reserves its fury (and prosecutions) for those setting up or promoting gambling operations.

    We’re not lawyers here at GS, so if you have concerns about whether playing a slot for an hour at DuckyLuck is going to net you a fine of $50, we suggest you consult an attorney who specializes in Tennessee gambling law.

    As far as land-based gambling is concerned, Tennesseans are confined to the occasional annual charitable bingo game, church raffles, and cakewalks.

    Land-Based Gambling Options in Tennessee

    Land-Based Gambling Options in California

    Although recent years have seen Tennessee make a few moves toward legalizing various forms of online wagering, the state remains steadfastly opposed to gambling establishments existing within the boundaries of the state.

    At present, land-based gambling options are confined to the state lottery and to bingo games, raffles, and cakewalks.

    Tennessee Education Lottery

    Similar to the lotteries in other states, the Tennessee Education Lottery includes multi-state games such as Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lotto America Quick Cash. In addition, the state runs its own games, all of which feature prizes into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. While the state does not permit purchase of TEL lottery tickets on the internet, thousands of retail operations throughout the state host lottery terminals, and a nearby location to buy a lottery ticket is usually a short walk or drive away.

    Bingo, Raffles, Cakewalks

    According to the Tennessee Charitable Gaming Implementation Law(5), bingo, raffles, and cakewalks are permitted, but severely restricted. For instance, charitable organizations may apply for a license to conduct a single annual bingo event. Raffles and cakewalks are likewise curtailed.

    Tennessee History/Timeline

    California Gambling Timeline
    2021
    February

     SB1159/HB1496(6). introduced in the Tennessee General Assembly. The text of the identical bills “establishes the Tennessee horse racing commission to regulate horse racing and parimutuel wagering[…]” The bill almost immediately passed in the state senate, but remains stalled in committee in the House at the time of this writing.

    2020
    November

    Online sportsbooks licensed by the state of Tennessee began accepting wagers. The state caps payouts at 90%, with the sportsbooks retaining 10% to ensure that the state’s 20% “privilege tax” on aggregate revenue is paid.

    2019
    May

    Refusing to sign or veto a bill, Governor Bill Lee allowed the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act to become law. The act legalizes some sports wagering and March Madness pools. The March Madness pools were capped at $25 buy-ins, and $1000 prizes.

    2016
    April

     Tennessee passed the Fantasy Sports Act, authorizing Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) wagering.

    2015
    April

    The Racing Control Act of 1987 was repealed(7), officially ending in-state parimutuel wagering.

    2010
    January

    Charity bingo events were legalized with the passage of Tennessee Charitable Gaming Law Implementation.

    2008
    January

    Tennessee Attorney-General’s office clarified that poker is illegal(8) in the state.

    2004
    January

    The state lottery began selling tickets.

    2002
    November

    Tennessee voters approved Amendment 1, authorizing the establishment of the Tennessee Education Lottery (TEL).

    1997
    June

    With very little accomplished, the Tennessee State Racing Commission ceased operations, its rules expiring one year later, unofficially ending parimutuel wagering in Tennessee.

    1987
    January

    Horse racing (and parimutuel wagering therein) was legalized with the passage of the Tennessee Horse Racing Control Act of 1987(9).

    1834
    January

    The Tennessee constitution was revised to include a complete prohibition of lotteries (Article XI, Section 5). Tennessee uses the same broad definition of the word “lottery” other states used at the time, i.e., any game that involved a) consideration, b) a randomly generated result, and c) a prize. In modern terms, a quarter in a slot machine, a touch of the spin button, and a result of either a win or a loss fits the 1834 definition of “lottery.”

    Future of Gambling

    Future

    The pair of bills (SB1159/HB1496) that could one day be called Tennessee’s Horse Racing Control Act still remain stalled in the legislature, but could be resurrected at any time if its sponsors determine they have enough votes to move the bill a step or two closer to law.

    For the immediate future, it looks like state legislators intend to lay back in the tall grass and see what happens with the few gambling ventures they have legalized. Meanwhile, another bill—one that would reduce from five years to two years(10) the time a charitable organization must operate continuously in Tennessee before qualifying for licensure of an annual bingo game—remains in limbo.

    And HB1642 and HB1938(11) are two bills floating around the Tennessee state assembly that would authorize an unnamed federally-recognized Indian tribe to build a casino on tribal lands it holds in the state. Currently, there are, however, no state- or federally-recognized native tribes with lands in Tennessee.

    With numerous legislative attempts to loosen bingo restrictions and allow for the construction of casinos, it is important to remember that Tennessee’s prohibition of gambling lasted from 1834 to 1987.

    Gambling Responsibly

    Gambling Responsibly

    As you might expect, the state of Tennessee takes gambling responsibly quite seriously. According to the US Census Bureau’s 2022 estimates, the state is home to 5.5 million Tennesseans of gambling age (18).

    Of those millions, The Gambling Clinic, a project funded by Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, estimates that more than 250,000 suffer some signs or symptoms of problem gambling. If you or a loved one need help, the following organizations can help:

    Legal Sources
    1. 1834 Tennessee Constitution, Tennessee Virtual Archive
    2. Tennessee Fantasy Sports Act, Lexis
    3. Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, Lexis
    4. Charitable Gaming Law Implementation, Justia
    5. Tennessee Code § 39-17-502 (2021), Justia
    6. SB1159/HB1496, TrackBill
    7. Repeal of Horse Racing Control Act of 1987, Tennessee Secretary of State files
    8. Tennessee Attorney-General clarifies state law on poker, Tennessee Secretary of State files
    9. Tennessee Horse Racing Control Act of 1987, University of North Texas archives
    10. HB 1041 Amendment to Code of Law involving charitable events, Tennessee General Assembly
    11. HB1642 and HB1938, TrackBill

    Gambling Online in Tennessee

    There are several gambling options available to residents of The Volunteer State, with offshore casinos reigning supreme online.

    While there are numerous viable Tennessee online casinos, some are preferred for specific niches. Your best bet overall is EveryGame, as the site offers a massive slots inventory and a 200% bonus up to $7,777. In addition to an impressive casino, it also features a world-class poker room and an expansive sportsbook.

    SlotsandCasino stands out as the best option for gamblers only interested in online casinos in Tennessee, while XBet is the top mobile gambling option, and Ignition Casino is the best destination if your main focus is playing poker online.

    Beyond pointing you to the best Tennessee gambling sites, this guide also provided information about The Tennessee Education Lottery and shared details about playing Bingo in TN. Not only that, the guide also took a deep dive into Tennessee’s gambling history and made an educated guess about what the future of gambling in the state could have in store.

    Photo of J.W. Paine
    J.W. Paine

    J.W. Paine is one of the most experienced writers at GamblingSites.com. He’s written for television and the printed media, and is a published novelist (as Tom Elliott).

    Paine loves writing about Las Vegas nearly as much he loves living here. An experienced gambler, he’s especially familiar with thoroughbred horseracing, poker, blackjack, and slots.

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