NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — College football season has officially kicked off, and the players aren't the only ones lining up for big wins. Some Tennesseans are ready to tackle the game of sports betting, so the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (SWC) is reminding those who plan to place wagers of the laws.
According to the SWC, the beginning of college and NFL football seasons sparks a surge in sports betting across the state.
"With the uptick in wagering activity, we obviously don't want anybody breaking the law, but we also don't want anyone being ignorant of the law and break it unknowingly," said Doug Smith, director of engagement for the SWC.
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One must be at least 21 to place a sports bet in TN. In addition, proxy wagering, or placing a bet on behalf of someone else, is illegal in the state.
From July 2023 to July 2024, the SWC reported 67 cases of underage sports betting in the state, many of which also included proxy wagering. If a district attorney chooses to press charges, the person could face up to 30 days in jail for the first offense and up to 364 days in jail for the third offense.
There could be additional consequences to sports betting for Tennessee high school athletes who plan to play in college. If they're caught placing a sports wager, they could lose their eligibility to play at the collegiate level.
People have spent $13.25 billion in wagers since sportsbooks went live in Tennessee in Nov. 2020. Nearly $240 million of that money, called the privilege tax, has been reinvested back into the state. Eighty percent of the money funds the HOPE Scholarship, 15 percent goes to local governments for infrastructure projects and emergency services, and five percent goes to the TN Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for responsible gaming initiatives and treatment.
The state also allows those struggling with sports betting addictions to voluntarily self-exclude from the activity by submitting a form through the SWC's website.