Sweepstakes Casinos in Tennessee (2026)

Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Tennessee?

Traditional sweepstakes casinos are banned in Tennessee. Governor Bill Lee signed Senate Bill 2136 (House companion HB 1885) on May 22, 2026, and the ban took effect immediately, with no wind-down period. The law treats online sweepstakes casinos that run on the dual-currency model of purchased Gold Coins and prize-redeemable Sweeps Coins as unlawful gambling under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act.

The market had largely closed before the ink was dry. Stake.us, High 5 Casino and RealPrize left Tennessee in November 2025, VGW restricted Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots and Global Poker just before Christmas, and on December 29, 2025 Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti sent cease-and-desist letters to nearly 40 sweepstakes operators, all of which agreed to stop serving Tennesseans before the bill passed.

The ban is aimed at a specific model. It covers platforms that combine all of the following:

• A dual-currency system: one currency is bought, a second currency can be exchanged for cash, cash equivalents or other prizes.
• Casino-style play: slots, video poker, table games, bingo or lottery-style games.
• Real prizes: the second currency can be redeemed for cash, gift cards or other cash equivalents.

Sites that do not meet that definition are outside the ban. That is why a small number of operators with a different business model still accept Tennessee players. The casinos listed on this page are the ones that state they remain open to Tennesseans; they use formats such as a single in-game currency, collectible-card and skill-based games, or prizes that are not cash equivalents. We list them for information only. We are not lawyers, and you should read each site's terms and Tennessee section before you play.

What SB 2136 changed

The law amends the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977. The key points for players:

• Who it targets: operators of dual-currency online sweepstakes casinos and anyone who promotes them or knowingly provides services to them, including payment processors, geolocation providers, platform and content suppliers and media affiliates.
• Penalties: operating or promoting a banned platform is a felony. The Attorney General can also seek civil penalties of $5,000 to $15,000 per violation, and consumers keep a private right of action under the Consumer Protection Act.
• Who enforces it: the Attorney General, with the Sports Wagering Council and other state regulators given investigative powers under the amended act.
• Players are not penalised. The law targets operators, promoters and service providers, not the people who play. If you held a balance with a casino that left the state, contact its support team about redeeming or refunding it.
• What is exempt: licensed online sports wagering, licensed daily fantasy sports and the Tennessee Education Lottery were carved out entirely. Ordinary promotional sweepstakes run to market a real product or service are unaffected, as are social casinos that offer Gold Coins only, with no way to redeem anything.

Timeline

• November 18, 2025: Stake.us, High 5 Casino, RealPrize and other platforms exit Tennessee as the Attorney General's office signals action.
• December 23, 2025: VGW restricts Sweeps Coins play for Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots and Global Poker in Tennessee.
• December 29, 2025: Attorney General Skrmetti issues cease-and-desist letters to nearly 40 sweepstakes operators; the remaining brands, including McLuck, Crown Coins and WOW Vegas, comply over the following weeks.
• March 2026: the Senate passes SB 2136, sponsored by Senator Ferrell Haile, 32-0.
• April 2026: the House, where Representative Scott Cepicky carries HB 1885, strips the sweepstakes language and passes a different version 67-20; the Senate refuses to concur and a conference committee restores the ban.
• April 23, 2026: both chambers adopt the conference report, the House 69-17 and the Senate 25-5.
• May 22, 2026: Governor Lee signs the bill. It takes effect immediately. Tennessee becomes the third state of 2026 to close the dual-currency model, after Indiana and Maine, following California and New York in 2025.
• 2026: no bill to repeal or soften the ban has advanced.

What Tennessee players should check

• Model: confirm the site does not pair a purchased currency with a separate prize currency redeemable for cash or gift cards. If it does, it is not permitted in Tennessee, whatever the marketing says.
• Terms: look for Tennessee in the site's terms of service or list of eligible states. Reputable operators publish it.
• Age: you must be at least 18; some sites require 21+.
• Location: sites verify your state with geolocation. Using a VPN to reach a casino that has left Tennessee breaches its terms; accounts are closed and balances forfeited.
• Identity checks: expect KYC verification before your first prize redemption.

Other legal ways to play in Tennessee

Tennessee has no casinos, land-based or online, and no bill to authorise online casino gaming has advanced. Legal options are licensed online sports betting (21+, live since November 2020, with operators including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars and Fanatics), licensed daily fantasy sports, and the Tennessee Education Lottery (18+), including its online draw-game sales.

Staying up to date

We monitor Attorney General enforcement, new legislation and every operator's Tennessee policy. The casino list and legal status on this page are updated as soon as anything changes, and the review date in the header shows when we last checked.