The state of Tennessee, which is expected to go live with TN online sports betting as of November 1, has already approved four different operators for licensing, according to news outlets and press releases. In addition, they have approved five suppliers and six vendor applications, all so that they can have more resources ready to go for the live launch of sports betting within the state.
Applicants can register to be an operator (licensee), vendor, or supplier, which are all clearly defined on the Tennessee Lottery website’s dedicated Sports Gaming page. Simply put, operators are approved to engage in interactive sports betting within the guidelines of the Sports Gaming Act, while vendors and suppliers are contractors, subcontractors, and independent contractors who are involved in providing goods and services related to sports gaming.
The licensed operators that are approved to run sports betting operations in Tennessee include three of the biggest names in online fantasy sports and online gambling, along with a local operator known as Tennessee Action 24/7. Also approved were FanDuel and parent company Betfair Interactive US LLC, BetMGM, LLC, and DraftKings and parent company Crown TN Gaming, LLC.
According to an article in the Tennessean, the idea was that BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings were already leaders in digital fantasy sports before branching out into sports betting, and all of them continue to lead the industry in states where interactive betting on sports has been legalized. Tennessee is the latest of 18 states that have made sports betting legal, including four others that have yet to go live with the gaming.
Unlike some states, Tennessee’s law approved sports betting apps even though there are no physical casinos or gaming venues within the state. Lottery officials approved the rules, and the law was passed, allowing sports betting to take place via mobile devices, the Internet, and other telecommunications platforms. Players must be 21 years or older, and all bets must be placed within the state borders for them to be considered legal and payable.
News Channel 5 reported the approval of licensing for Tennessee Action 24/7, just days after the first big three brands were approved for their own licenses. It’s likely only a matter of time before more applications are approved, but for now, fans can expect to find wagering available at the gaming sites listed above once live wagers are available.
The Sports Wagering Committee of the Tennessee Education Lottery (TEL) is responsible for overseeing the implementation of legalized sports betting, including approving the applications for various operators, vendors, and suppliers. According to Rebecca Paul Hargrove, the CEO and President of TEL, “We are working diligently with all applicants as we establish and support a responsible and competitive sports wagering environment in Tennessee.”
The state intends to have one more committee meeting on October 16 to review further applications and take care of any last-minute details that may arise. As more applications and operators are approved, we will update you with the most current information, so stay tuned to learn more as sports betting gets ready to go live in Tennessee.
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