Is it legal to play at online casinos in Tennessee?
As per the legal code of Tennessee, online casinos are not legal in the state and anyone engaging in gambling or promoting gambling will be penalized. If you read the Tennessee Code § 39-17-501, which lays out the definitions of gambling and its general policy in the state, you will find the following:
“Gambling is contrary to the public policy of this state and means risking anything of value for a profit whose return is to any degree contingent on chance, or any games of chance associated with casinos, including, but not limited to, slot machines, roulette wheels and the like. For the purposes of this chapter gambling does not include:
- A lawful business transaction;
- Annual events operated for the benefit of nonprofit organizations that are authorized pursuant to a two-thirds (2/3) approval of the general assembly, so long as such events are not prohibited by the state constitution;
- A state lottery of the type in operation in Georgia, Kentucky, and Virginia in 2000 and authorized by amendment to the Constitution of Tennessee, if the lottery is approved by the general assembly;
- A fantasy sports contest as defined in § 47-18-1602 and conducted in accordance with the Fantasy Sports Act, compiled in title 47, chapter 18, part 16;
- Lawfully accepting or placing a wager on a sporting event in accordance with the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 51, part 3; or
- A low-level sports entertainment pool;”
As you can see, the law clearly distinguishes the state lottery and legal sports betting from all other forms of commercial gambling. Any type of casino gambling, either online or in a physical casino, is illegal in Tennessee. So if you had hopes of playing at a real money online casino in Tennessee with no deposit, now would be a good time to face the truth. .
However, not all is lost, since there are some forms of gambling that are legal in the state. Let’s look at what those are.
In 2019, Tennessee surprised much of America by becoming one of the first states to
legalize online sports betting.
Sportsbooks needed to secure authorization and a valid license to offer sports betting in the state and they did so before going live in November 2020. At the time of writing, there are 10 authorized online sportsbooks in Tennessee. Here are some of the other forms of legalized activities in the state:
- State lottery—legalized in 2004 with the beginning of the
Tennessee Education Lottery,
proceeds from which fund education programs and scholarships
- Online sports betting
- Sweepstakes casinos
- Charitable organizations hosting bingo or raffles
Out of the lot of them, sweepstakes casinos in Tennessee offer the closest experience to online casinos without actually being the same. Let’s explore them in the section below and look at why they are so popular in the state.
Is it legal to play at sweepstakes casinos in Tennessee?
Tennessee sweepstakes casinos are having a bit of a moment, precisely because online casinos are not allowed in the state.
Sweepstakes casinos
are different from gambling since they contain an element of prize and skill. Additionally, you don’t have to deposit anything or pay money to access the sweepstakes casinos in Tennessee.
According to the sweepstakes laws in Tennessee, there are two things that a sweepstakes should have to be considered legal in the state:
- An element of skill:
For sweepstakes to be considered legal in Tennessee, their games need to have an element of skill.
- A prize:
Alongside having an element of chance, they also need to have a prize that has to be disclosed to Tennessee participants in advance.
Tennessee
sweepstakes casino laws
and rules are very clear on the fact that ‘risking anything of value for a profit whose return is to any degree contingent on chance” is gambling and therefore illegal. By mixing an element of skill and not making prizes contingent on payment, online sweepstakes casinos operate in a legal gray area and are not considered gambling.
Do sweepstakes casinos operating in the state of Tennessee need to be licensed?
As we mentioned right at the start, you won’t find real money online casinos in Tennessee with no-deposit bonuses, but you will find plenty of Tennessee sweepstakes casinos with fantastic bonuses.
What explains the rapid and growing rise in popularity of sweepstakes casinos in Tennessee is the fact that there are simply too many of them online, offering a fun range of casino games and bonuses. The reason so many of them have popped up so quickly is that they don’t need a license or authorization from the government to run shops.
Sports betting, which is a heavily regulated industry, offers a stark contrast where only 10 sportsbooks have the license to operate in the state. All internet casinos offering sweepstakes games in Tennessee can operate freely as long as they are not offering any activities that would be classified as gambling.
How do you identify which sweepstakes casinos are legit?
Since there are no strict licensing requirements for Tennessee sweepstakes casinos, you will need to be extra careful when trying to determine whether a sweepstakes casino is legit and can be trusted. There are several sketchy sites on the internet and you should be careful about where you sign up and who you give access to your data.
Here are a few easy ways to spot sweepstakes casinos that are legitimate:
Check our reviews and guides
If it’s a sweepstakes casino worth knowing, we will already have an extensive guide on the brand on our website. Make sure to use our resources and verify whether the sweepstakes casino is legit.
Read what others are saying about the site online
Always read reviews from other players online before you sign up at a new site. Forums like Reddit and Trustpilotn are ideal for getting a sense of what to expect from the platform.
Don't pay to enter the site
You should never make a payment to enter a sweepstakes casino site. You can purchase Gold Coins packages freely, however, since they are not directly tied to the prizes that you can redeem.
Running a quick background always helps so be sure to always do so before signing up for a new Tennessee sweepstakes casino.
What potential future updates on online casinos in Tennessee can the people expect?
The future of online casinos and general gambling legalization looks murky in Tennessee but here’s what we can say based on what has happened so far:
- The focus is on sports betting in Tennessee:
Sports betting was legalized in Tennessee in 2019 with the consent of Governor Bill Lee to make SB 0016 into law but without his signature. According to the bill, the Tennessee Lottery is responsible for overseeing sports betting in the state.There hasn’t been much movement on the online casino front ever since sports betting was legalized. It very much feels like the state has already broken its conservative policy on gambling by legalizing sports betting and lawmakers don’t want to ruffle any feathers by making online casinos legal in the state.
Given what we know about the history of gambling in Tennessee and the general unwillingness of lawmakers to legalize activities that would be classified as immoral or against religious values, it is highly unlikely that online casinos will be legalized in the state anytime soon.
No-deposit bonus playthrough requirements in Tennessee
Sweepstakes casinos are the ideal place to find no-deposit bonuses in Tennessee. However, you must know that most of these no-deposit bonuses come with playthrough requirements. What do we mean by that?
Take the case of High 5 Casino, where there is a
no-deposit welcome bonus
of 5 free SC, along with 250 Game Coins and 600 Diamonds. If you want to redeem the SC for any tangible prizes, such as gift cards or cash prizes, you will need to play them through once before they are eligible for redemption. Additionally, you will need a minimum amount of SC that varies from one sweepstakes casino to another to request any prize redemption.
Below, we have a list of the best no-deposit bonuses for Tennessee sweepstakes, alongside their
playthrough requirements.
| Sweepstakes Casino |
No-deposit bonus |
Playthrough requirements |
| High 5 Casino |
5 SC Free + 250 Game Coins and 600 Diamonds |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption; 50 SC for a gift card, 100 SC for cash prizes |
| Hello Millions |
2.5 SC +15,000 GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming |
| Stake US |
$55 Stake Cash + 250,000 GC |
Must play through 3x before redemption |
| Sportzino |
SC 7 Welcome Bonus + Up to GC 170,000 |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming |
| WOW Vegas |
35 SC Free and 1.75M WOW Coins |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption |
| Fortune Coins |
1,400 Fortune Coins Free 650,000 GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption |
| Vegas Gems |
1K Gems + 50% Extra Gems On First Purchase |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming: 100 SC required at the minimum for a redemption |
| McLuck |
27.5 Free SC + Up to 57.500 GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption: 75 SC for cash, 100 SC for gift cards |
| Zula Casino |
Get 10 SC Sign-up Bonus + 100K GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption; 50 SC is the minimum required for redemption |
| Sweeptastic |
50% First Purchase Discount: Get 40K Lucky Coins + 40 SC Free |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming; 100 SC minimum for redemption |
What are users saying about playing sweepstakes casinos online in Tennessee?
From our review of forums like Reddit and other online player forums discussing the gambling landscape in Tennessee, we can confirm that there is a market for casino gaming in the state. Many folks are disappointed with the state’s conservative stance and would like to access online casino games, much like the Redditor below.
Unfortunately, the state is very clear on its anti-gambling stance and strictly prohibits any online casinos in the state. Many have tried to inquire online if there are any poker rooms or other types of casinos offering casino games but everyone in the comments is always quick to confirm that no form of legal casinos exist in Tennessee.
There are also some sweepstakes casinos that are not legal in Tennessee, such as Pulsz Casino. We found this detailed post on the Pulsz Casino below, which clearly states that you cannot access the casino in Tennessee since it is not legal there.
After looking through most of what people are saying, we can confirm that sweepstakes casinos have caught on in the state and offer the only available alternative to casino gaming with real money. For those who want to play slots or card games without breaking the law, sweepstakes casinos remain your best bet in Tennessee.
Final thoughts on sweepstakes casinos in Tennessee
Tennessee has a very strict anti-gambling approach and all forms of commercial gambling are illegal in the state. However, state lotteries, online sports betting with authorized sportsbooks, charitable bingos, and sweepstakes casinos are legal in the state. Out of these, sweepstakes casinos offer the closest online casino experience without the real money aspect of it.
There are plenty of sweepstakes casinos in Tennessee where you can sign up and claim a welcome bonus, and access a range of fun and free games. Currently, that’s the only way to play online casino games in Tennessee.
Tennessee Legal Sweepstakes Casino FAQ
🧐 Are 50/50 raffles legal in Tennessee?
According to the Tennessee Constitution and Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-506, raffles, lotteries, and games of chance where a participant has to purchase a ticket, make a donation, or buy services or products will be classified as gambling. So 50/50 raffles will not be legal if they violate any of these provisions.
👮 Are online sweepstakes legal in Tennessee?
Yes, Tennessee sweepstakes are legal as long as the brands are not offering any services that would violate the gambling laws in the state. You shouldn’t be asked to make a purchase or a donation to sign up and play at an online sweepstakes casino in Tennessee.
👯♂️ What is the difference between sweepstakes casino and social casino?
While sweepstakes casinos offer the opportunity to redeem prizes for SC coins, social casinos do not have any tangible prizes. This is why all sweepstakes casinos can be called
social casinos
but not all social casinos are sweepstakes casinos.
⚖️ Are online casinos legal in Tennessee?
No, online casinos are not legal in Tennessee and there isn’t much hope that they will be legal in the future anytime soon. The state is heavily focused on sports betting and has legalized sportsbooks operating widely in the state.
🤑 Can I play online casino in Tennessee?
No, you cannot play at an online casino in Tennessee since they are illegal. All forms of casino gambling are illegal in the state of Tennessee and you won’t even find any land-based casinos in the state.
🎯 Is there a state lottery in Tennessee?
Yes, there is a state lottery in Tennessee and it was legalized by the Tennessee Education Lottery in 2004. All proceeds from the state lottery go to fund education programs and scholarships in Tennessee.
🪪 Can you sell raffle tickets in Tennessee?
Only government-authorized organizations can sell raffle tickets in Tennessee. You will need to be a certified 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) organization and have to apply to the Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming to hold a raffle.
🧑⚖️ What is the punishment for gambling in Tennessee?
If you break gambling laws in Tennessee, you can be fined up to $50,000 in Tennessee.
⁉️ Is McLuck Casino legal in Tennessee?
Yes, McLuck Casino is a valid sweepstakes casino that has a great collection of games and bonuses. They operate legally in Tennessee, and you can play sweepstakes games at McLuck Casino for free. They currently have a welcome bonus of 27.5 Free SC + Up to 57.500 GC for all new players on the site.
🤔 Is bingo legal in Tennessee?
Bingo is only legal in Tennessee if it is organized by an organization that is designated as a charitable organization in the state. All such organizations will also need to secure prior licenses for hosting bingo games.
Disclaimer:
Kindly note that we are not legal or tax experts. While we always strive to present the most accurate information, this is not binding legal advice. Always reach out to a licensed lawyer or tax advisor when in doubt.
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