Tennessee
Sweepstakes casinos no longer operate in Tennessee following AG enforcement action. This page documents the legal status, the operative statute, the enforcement authority, and what the position means in practice for residents of Tennessee. Last verified May 2026.
On this page
Sweepstakes casinos no longer operate in Tennessee following AG enforcement action. This page documents the legal status, the operative statute, the enforcement authority, and what the position means in practice for residents of Tennessee. Last verified May 2026.
Summary
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issued cease-and-desist orders to approximately 40 sweepstakes casino operators on December 29, 2025. Most operators exited Tennessee shortly after. Statutory codification of the ban is pending — SB 2136 passed the Senate 32–0 in March 2026 and HB 1885 cleared a House subcommittee 8–0; passage appears near-certain.
The law
- Operative statute:
- Pending: SB 2136 / HB 1885. Current enforcement under existing Tennessee gambling statutes.
- Enforcement authority:
- Tennessee Office of the Attorney General
- Penalties:
- Under existing Tennessee gambling law pending statutory codification.
- Legislative history:
- December 29, 2025 — AG cease-and-desist orders to ~40 operators. March 2026 — SB 2136 passed Tennessee Senate 32–0; HB 1885 cleared House subcommittee 8–0.
Operator status
Most major sweepstakes operators have exited Tennessee.
We track which operators on our toplist serve this state and which do not. The list below reflects operator-level state availability as of our last verification — operator terms can change at any time, so always confirm directly with the operator before creating an account.
What this means if you live in Tennessee
Tennessee residents generally cannot use sweepstakes casino platforms. A small number of platforms may continue to operate; their legal status is contested.
Why the model is treated this way
A note on the social-gaming framework. Sweepstakes casinos operate under US promotional-sweepstakes law, not gambling law — the distinction is what allows them to function in most states. The legal test most courts apply asks whether an activity has consideration, chance, and prize together. Sweepstakes platforms argue the no-purchase entry method removes the consideration element. Where this argument holds, the platforms operate legally; where it does not, they do not. The position varies by state.
Legal alternatives in Tennessee
Tennessee has mobile sports betting through licensed operators. No retail casinos and no regulated online casino are available.
Frequently asked
Can I use a sweepstakes casino in Tennessee?
Not legally. Sweepstakes casinos no longer operate in Tennessee following AG enforcement action, and operators have geoblocked the state.
What if I use a VPN?
Using a VPN to circumvent geographic restrictions violates the terms of service of every major sweepstakes platform we cover. Accounts created from a banned state via VPN are typically closed without redemption when discovered. In some states, using a VPN to access prohibited gaming can also carry independent legal risk under state law. We do not recommend it.
What happens to my balance if I’m in a state where the ban takes effect?
Operators generally provide a transition window before exit, during which existing balances can be redeemed. Specifics vary by operator. If you have a Sweeps Coin balance with a platform that has announced exit from your state, redeem promptly and document the redemption.
Are there any sweepstakes casino alternatives I can use?
Pure social casinos that offer only Gold Coin entertainment play — without any Sweeps Coin or prize-redemption component — may be available even in states that have banned dual-currency sweepstakes models. These are not sweepstakes casinos in the sense we cover on Ansvya because there is no prize redemption.