Legal Online Poker

Compared to most other states, poker players have few choices in Tennessee. There are no live poker rooms, no state-regulated online poker sites, and charity poker tournaments are not allowed. Yet despite all the restrictions, one of the best-known poker players of all time, Chris Moneymaker, was brought up in Knoxville, TN.

Tennessee poker laws: A barren state

Compared to other states, Tennessee has always been anti-gambling. Even in otherwise strict states, such as Utah, there are bar leagues and charity games. In TN, none of these are allowed. Until 2019, the only legal form of gambling was the Tennessee lottery.

In 2016, sweepstakes casinos and poker sites went online. That meant that, for several years, poker players in TN could play on the social poker site Global Poker. However, the site no longer serves TN players, taking away that option as well.

In spring 2019, House Bill 01 passed, allowing the regulation and licensing of online sportsbooks. No provision for poker is in the bill, though. The last attempt to introduce cardrooms only reached a Senate subcommittee. That was in 2015. No new bills have been attempted since.

Alternatives for Tennessee poker players: Games in neighboring states

Depending on which part of Tennessee you live in, there may be poker options in neighboring states.

While some states (Kentucky and Georgia) are not poker-friendly, others have poker rooms in local casinos. If you are in eastern Tennessee, the Harrah’s Cherokee Resort in North Carolina is nearby. This big casino has a poker room that sees national tour stops. It also hosts its own cash games and tournaments.

Mississippi, Missouri, and (to a lesser extent) Arkansas also have live poker action. Tunica is a popular spot for poker, with several notable tournaments held there throughout the year.

When will legal online poker come to Tennessee?

Tennessee was not considered likely to be an early mover with sports betting. Following the 2016 regulation of daily fantasy sports, the state legalized and regulated online sports betting sites in 2019. As of today, there are multiple online sports betting sites and apps available in the state.

If those sites are a success, the tax revenue generated could facilitate further legislative efforts. However, the amount of tax revenue generated by online poker in states where it is legal pales in comparison to sports betting, so it would be a tough sell in a notoriously anti-casino state.

In the meantime, we’ll wait to see if TN introduces real-money casino games online, and, if so, whether online poker in TN might follow.