TennesseeTennessee law bars gambling devices and covered online gambling
Tennessee law bars covered gambling and lets state investigators examine possible violations, with stated exceptions for certain legal games.
What it does
The law treats gambling, gambling devices, and running or commercially promoting online or app-based gambling as unlawful. It keeps the stated exceptions for sports, fantasy, nonprofit, and education lottery games.
In certain state-law investigations, the attorney general may request relevant records or written answers, question people under oath, and inspect or sample merchandise. A person may ask a court to review a request.
The sports wagering council may investigate licensees and other people when information or a credible complaint points to a possible violation. It may act if it finds that a violation occurred.
Argument forThe rules could help protect players by targeting online games that use virtual currency for chances to win cash or prizes, while keeping listed legal games exempt.
Argument againstBusinesses that help run or promote covered gambling could face penalties, even if they do not take bets themselves.
More detail
The law treats gambling, operating or possessing gambling devices, and running or commercially promoting online or app-based gambling as unlawful. It covers people who offer or accept gambling bets in Tennessee, run or commercially promote covered online games there, sell or distribute gambling devices there, allow devices on premises they control, or help run gambling there. The section does not restrict games permitted under the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, the Fantasy Sports Act, nonprofit gaming laws, or the education lottery law. Violations are subject to the penalties and remedies in the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. The law took effect May 22, 2026.
The attorney general may request relevant records or written answers, question people under oath, and inspect or sample merchandise during certain investigations. The authority applies to investigations of unlawful acts under state law that the attorney general may investigate. The attorney general must have reason to believe a state-law violation has occurred, is occurring, or is about to occur, or believe an investigation is in the public interest. A person may ask a court to extend, change, or set aside a request. The attorney general may ask a court to compel compliance. The law took effect May 22, 2026. A person has until the request's return date or ten days after notice, whichever comes first, to ask a court for a protective order.
The sports wagering council may investigate a licensee or another person and hold a hearing about a possible violation. This applies to sports wagering licensees and other people suspected of violating the sports wagering law. The council may act based on information about a possible violation or a credible complaint. If the council finds a violation, it may take the actions listed in the law. The law took effect May 22, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27Pub. Ch. 1117Latest
- May 27Effective date(s) 05/22/2026
- May 22Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 11Transmitted to Governor for action.To Governor
- May 7Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Enrolled and ready for signaturesMinor
- Apr 30Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 23Senate refused to concur in amendmentMinor
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Table Minority Conference Report Conference Committee Report 4/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: MOTION TO ADOPT MINORITY CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT 4/23/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt Conference Committee Report 4/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT 4/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 23H. refused to recede from am. no. 2
- Apr 23Senate refused to recede from its non-concurrence.
- Apr 23Conference Committee appointed (Haile, Stevens, Bailey, Johnson, Yarbro)
- Apr 23Conf. comm. appointed. (Reps. Cepicky, Lamberth, Doggett, Alexander, Harris)
- Apr 23Conference Committee report adopted, Ayes 25, Nayes 5
- Apr 23Failed to adopt minority CCR, Ayes 17, Nays 67, PNV 0
- Apr 23Adopted Majority CCR, Ayes 69, Nays 17, PNV 1
- Apr 22Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/23/2026
- Apr 21Subst. for comp. HB.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 3 BY CLEMMONS AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 4 BY CLEMMONS AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0919)Minor
- Apr 21H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA1152)Major
- Apr 21Failed to adopt am (Amendment 3 - HA1157), Ayes 21, Nays 62, PNV 0
- Apr 21Failed to adopt am (Amendment 4 - HA1158), Ayes 23, Nays 62, PNV 1
- Apr 21Passed H., as am., Ayes 67, Nays 20, PNV 0Passed House
- Mar 5Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
- Mar 3Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 2Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0505)
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/2/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 2Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 32, Nays 0Passed Senate
- Mar 2Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Feb 27Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/2/2026
- Feb 24Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 0
- Vote recorded SENATE COMMERCE AND LABOR COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 0 2/24/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 17Action deferred in Senate Commerce and Labor Committee to 2/24/2026
- Feb 17Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 2/24/2026
- Feb 10Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 2/17/2026
- Feb 5Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor CommitteeMinor
- Feb 2Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Jan 23Filed for introductionIntroduced
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