Tennessee Gaming Regulators Finalize Sports Betting Options, Maintain Flexibility for Potential Early November, or Previous, Start Date
In a lengthy meeting on Friday, Tennessee sports betting regulators made some language tweaks to the rules, signed off on betting menus, and discussed the college sports wagering situation while aiming for a Nov. 1 launch of at least three operators. The Tennessee Education Lottery Sports Wagering Committee had initially eyed Nov. 1 as the launch date, but the busy NFL Sunday might pose challenges for both regulators and operators.
TN Sports Lottery CEO Rebecca Hargrove proposed that they could kick off BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel a few days early to work out any kinks before the full slate of NFL games. Adding college football Saturdays to the mix, operators would likely benefit from deploying during a weekday.
Owing to an unprocessed Amelco license, Tennessee Action 24/7 may not join the other three initially. Amelco submitted its application on Sept. 23, and the Tennessee Education Lottery (TEL) requires up to six weeks for background checks. Given a delayed timeline, Tennessee Action 24/7 would likely hit the scene shortly after the launch date.
Three other operators submitted applications, but their identities remain undisclosed by TEL. In July 2019, sports betting became legal in Tennessee when Gov. Bill Lee let the law take effect without his signature. The path has not been smooth, with the TEL struggling to set up infrastructure for sports betting in a state without a casino gaming history.
Potential Delay for Tennessee Action 24/7 Launch
It's tempting to say that Tennessee Action 24/7 won't rocket off alongside the others, as Amelco's license is yet to be issued. Nevertheless, since Action 24/7 is live and operating in Tennessee, Amelco's pending license issue doesn't seem to be hindering its sportsbook availability.
The Sports Wagering Advisory Council grappled with proposed rule changes for hours, mostly over adjusting language to align the TEL's rules with Tennessee's sports betting law. Interpreting the meaning of the rule prohibiting college prop bets consumed the majority of the council and committee's time. They couldn't agree on whether prop bets could be placed pre- or post-game, but did agree to ban in-game college prop bets and any bets focusing on individual achievements.
Vagueness Surrounding College Prop-Bets Rule
Tennessee's sports betting law bans prop bets on collegiate events, but the council and committee couldn't find common ground on exactly what that means. Should college prop bets be allowed prior to the event, or could they be placed after the event starts? TEL Sports Betting Vice President Danielle Boyd proposed a complete ban on individual achievements and in-game prop bets while at least permitting the submission or review of prop wagers before the game.
The board did not settle on the specific language, merely clarifying that the rule needed updating. A bet menu was approved by the committee, allowing operators to load available bets onto their platforms and petition for modifications. Operators are raring to go and DraftKings and FanDuel have announced Tennessee-oriented promotions with a swift arrival on the horizon.
- Tennessee Action 24/7, despite potentially facing a delay in launch due to an unprocessed Amelco license, remains operational and available for sports betting in the state.
- The Sports Wagering Advisory Council spent hours debating proposed rule changes, focusing primarily on the interpretation of the rule restricting college prop bets, with a particular emphasis on the timing of these bets.
- The Tennessee Education Lottery Sports Wagering Committee was unable to reach a consensus on whether college prop bets should be allowable pre- or post-game, but agreed to ban in-game college prop bets and wagers concentrating on individual achievements.
- The committee approved a bet menu, enabling operators to add available bets to their platforms and seek modifications, as operators are eager to commence operations.
- DraftKings and FanDuel have already announced Tennessee-focused promotions, indicating their readiness for a forthcoming launch.
