UK-based igaming operator William Hill has now launched in its 12th US state as it brings online sports betting to Tennessee. Mobile and online sports betting are legal in the country as of November 2020, when new legislation was officially passed into law. Since the Supreme Court overturned the PAPSA act in 2018, multiple US states have now legalized sports betting, with Tennessee becoming one of the latest to do so.
Although sports betting is legal in Tennessee, it’s one of the only states where bettors will only be able to place bets online. William Hill has joined the list of available sportsbook sites to offer odds in the state. Having obtained a license from the Tennessee State Lottery, William Hill will now be able to go live, and anyone over the age of 21 currently within the state borders will be able to sign up and place real money wagers on sports.
Has Sports Betting Been a Success in Tennessee?
In the spring of 2019, lawmakers just barely approved online sports betting. It officially began in November 2020, after more than a year and a half of preparation and regulatory work, much to the delight of sports lovers across the state. Within the first two months of launching, Tennessee’s online-only sportsbook platforms have generated $312.3 million in gross wagers and $5.4 million in taxes, making it the biggest two-month debut in US sports betting ever.
Since then, multiple sports betting platforms have launched, offering an array of markets, odds, bet types and features on all of the most popular sporting events. Although there are no retail sportsbooks in Tennessee, that hasn’t deterred bettors one bit. They have been all too happy to sign up and start placing pre-match and live bets on the NBA, NFL, MLB and other competitions.
Eighty percent of the tax money collected from sports betting is directed to funding education, which is mostly used to pay post-secondary scholarships. Fifteen percent of the money goes to local government needs, while the remaining five percent goes to gambling addiction treatment programs.
Kenneth Fuchs, President of Digital for William Hill US, said:
“As we head into one of the most exciting times of the year for sports fans, the William Hill app will make March moments even more interesting for Tennessee bettors. We will have thousands of markets available, including for your local favorites, live in-game betting, and daily promotions and bonuses for players.”
Many operators were unsure whether Tennessee could really become a valuable state in terms of sports betting due to the restrictions in place. However, the sportsbooks that have launched so far have all had a tremendous amount of success, leading to more betting operators now launching there.
—
Editor’s Note: Dear reader, you’re currently going through an archived news article from our Casino News Articles section, which might be outdated. For the newest developments within the igaming industry, kindly visit our homepage.