The Tennessee Education Lottery (TEL) approved two new sportsbooks during Friday’s Sports Wagering Committee meeting.
Unfortunately, they won’t be operational in time for the Super Bowl.
Bettors looking to get in on the action will have to wager with one of Tennessee’s four current operators.
New Tennessee sportsbooks approved
WynnBet and William Hill join TwinSpires on the sideline awaiting launch.
The TEL meeting began with the approval of new vendors and suppliers.
After resolving some audio issues on the call, discussions moved toward approving WynnBet Tennessee as a new operator.
Committee members also approved William Hill. Although, the company does have outstanding tasks it must address before it launches.
Churchill Downs’ sportsbook TwinSpires was approved during the TEL’s previous meeting on Jan. 6.
The original goal was to have at least one sportsbook fully licensed and operational before Super Bowl Sunday.
However, due to individual issues with each particular operator, no new sportsbook will be ready to launch by then.
William Hill will likely launch in mid-February.
As for the other two, the TEL did not release expected launch dates.
It’s an unfortunate result. The Super Bowl is the biggest wagering event of the year. These new operators are missing out on some serious handle.
For now, Tennessee bettors can choose from the following for their Super Bowl betting fun:
Responsible gambling questions
During the call, board member John Crosslin raised a concern with the current events surrounding sports betting in New Jersey.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement is investigating Garden State sportsbooks for unnecessarily delaying player withdrawal request times.
Sportsbooks have also offered incentives for players to cancel withdrawals. The issue raises a major concern for responsible gambling.
Crosslin wants to ensure withdrawal requests are completed in an appropriate time period in Tennessee.
His main concerns were:
- Are any of the sportsbooks seeking approval in Tennessee the ones accused of delaying withdrawals in New Jersey?
- Are Tennessee sportsbooks aware of the issues in New Jersey?
- What are the guidelines regarding withdrawal times in Tennessee?
CEO Rebecca Hargrove ultimately concluded that more investigation is required. As of now, the DGE does not name individual sportsbooks in its investigation.
The TEL also requires operators to approve withdrawal requests in a timely manner. It does not provide exact timeframes.
While Tennesseans await official details, they can look forward to three new sportsbooks in the somewhat near future.
