Tennessee Sports Betting Gross Handle Up 21.7% in April

by Blake Roberts, May 26, 2025

Tennessee saw a good jump in its sports betting handle compared to the same month last year, but the total still doesn’t compare to recorded sum for March madness.

Gross handle Topped $463.6 Million

According to the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council, the gross handle reached $463.6 million, surpassing the $380.9 million recorded in April last year. However, this figure was 15.5% lower than the $548.6 million reported in March 2025.

The council reported, “Gross handle excludes $3 million in unspecified adjustments. When these are considered, total wagers for the month reached $466.5 million, representing a 21.4% increase compared to April last year, but still 15.5% below March’s total.”

The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council does not reveal sports betting revenue figures or the monthly performance of individual operators. However, it was reported that privilege tax revenue from wagering reached $8.6 million in April.

Tennessee Tax Structure Remains Unique

Tennessee is unique in the US sports betting market, as it taxes operators based on total handle rather than revenue. Since July 2023, all licensed sportsbooks must pay a 1.85% tax on their overall betting handle.

At present, 11 platforms provide online sports betting throughout the state. These include leading brands like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, and Caesars, as well as Bally Bet, Hard Rock Bet, Betly, ZenSports, and Tennessee Action 24/7.

Tennessee’s sports betting market operates exclusively online. Although sports betting was legalized in April 2019, online sportsbooks didn’t launch until November 2020. The state opted not to legalize retail sports betting, making it one of the few in the US to adopt an online-only approach.

New Rules for Sports Betting in the State

In April, Tennessee’s gaming regulator introduced updated rules for sports betting in the state. The changes, in effect, include multi-factor authentication for certain account actions, more precise definitions around responsible gaming practices, and new guidelines for voiding or cancelling bets. The updates also impact know-your-customer (KYC) protocols and marketing and advertising regulations, among other areas.

Conclusion

Tennessee’s sports betting scene is showing solid growth compared to last year, even if April didn’t quite reach March’s numbers. The state is unique with its online-only setup, handle-based tax system, and new rules to boost security and responsible gambling, ensuring they are focused on keeping the market competitive and safe. Seeing how things play out in the coming months will be interesting.