Tennessee has sports betting, with a variety of online sportsbooks up and running. However, when it comes to other casino games, the choices are limited.
Poker players in particular have no legal live rooms in the state where they can play. In fact, charity poker tournaments aren't even permitted.
That said, there are options, including a number of nearby poker destinations in surrounding states. For online players, sweepstakes poker sites like Global Poker provide an alternative as well.
Live poker destinations in Tennessee's neighboring states
Those living near the borders of Tennessee do have some live poker options in surrounding states.
Eastern Tennessee options
Poker players in eastern TN can trek over to North Carolina to Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee. The casino has a large 25-table poker room that regularly spreads no-limit hold'em and pot-limit Omaha cash games.
The room also hosts frequent tournaments, and the casino has been a regular site for World Series of Poker Circuit stops that draw huge fields.
Cherokee is located right at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Since it is mountainous country, it takes a bit of effort driving there, no matter which way you go. From Knoxville, it's generally about a two-hour trip.
By contrast, you won't find much poker in Kentucky, Virginia, or Georgia. That said, Georgia does have one charity poker room, Little Kings and Queens in Buford, a bit more than a two-hour drive from Chattanooga.
Looking to the south, Alabama isn't very poker-friendly, either. Mississippi does have several poker rooms and casinos, although most are located in the southernmost part of the state.
However, the big 25-table room at Horseshoe Casino Tunica is only about a 40-minute drive from Memphis. Tunica is the best poker destination for Tennesseans near the southern border.
Tunica casinos
The closest Tunica casinos to the Tennessee borders are:
Horseshoe Casino Tunica- 3-card poker, large poker room
What about online poker in Tennessee? Alas, Tennessee does not allow real-money online poker sites, nor do social and sweepstakes sites like Global Poker operate in the state. Much like with live poker, those in TN wanting to play online poker need to travel to other states to find either real-money or sweepstakes games.