Sports Betting Laws in Tennessee
Tennessee sports betting laws have evolved slowly over the past few decades. Legal Tennessee sports betting sites came to fruition after support in the Tennessee legislature for HB1. Gov. Bill Lee didn't sign it, but it was a symbolic act as he knew it would pass anyway. This only legalized online betting; land-based sportsbooks are not allowed.
While the law passed in 2019, the first site didn't go live until November 2020. Under the bill, Tennessee sports betting sites can offer odds on anything sports-related, so things like Oscars betting are excluded. Legal Tennessee sports betting permits college sports wagering, however game props involving in-state teams and all player props are prohibited.
There was no standing still when it came to changes to Tennessee's sports betting laws. HB1 legalized daily fantasy sports (DFS) in the Volunteer State in 2016. This is the only other form of sports gambling allowed in Tennessee at this point in time.
On top of sports betting and DFS, Tennesseeans can also partake in the state Lottery, horse racing betting, and off-track betting (OTB). OTB is done through interstate simulcast feeds at licensed satellite locations. Unfortunately, casino gambling is not allowed in any form under current laws. Neighboring states have been slow to legalize online sportsbooks, though online sports betting in North Carolina has recently launched.
Sports Betting Taxes in Tennessee
There has been a wave of legalized US sports betting locations and sites due to the boost the industry can give to tax revenues. The push for legalization in Tennessee was no different. Sports betting taxes in Tennessee provides a chance for the state government to significantly increase the funds in its coffers.
Tennessee is one of the best places for those who love to wager on sports because there's no personal income tax. Tennessee's sports betting tax rate is zero, meaning bettors get to keep all gambling winnings. Though it should be noted that the federal government will claim their fair share of the winnings.
So how does the state make money from online betting? Tennessee exclusively taxes sports betting operators at 20% of gross gaming revenue (GGR) and mandates a hold of 10% on GGR. In addition, Tennessee's sports betting license holders pay a fee of $750,000 per year. Compared to most areas with legal online sports betting in the US, this makes an operators' barrier to entry high.
This hasn't deterred many operators from entering the state, as there are already several to choose from. Any withdrawals you make throughout the year must be reported to you by your betting provider on IRS Form W2-G. You need this information to fill out your US income tax return. The IRS mandates automatic withholding on sports betting winnings that meet these three specific criteria:
- The winnings are $5,000 or more minus the wager.
- The payout is at least 300x the initial wager.
- You provided the operator with your Social Security number (SSN).
If you meet the above criteria and did not provide your SSN or Tax Identification Number (TIN), then the withholding rate jumps to 28%. Once you receive your W2-Gs with all of the above information, you report your earnings under special income on your Form 1040.
If all of this sounds confusing to you, you're not alone. You can read IRS Tax Topic 419 for a complete step-by-step guide to the process. We want to point out that the IRS recommends maintaining a log of all your wins and losses for auditing purposes.