Tennessee Horse Racing Betting
Online horse racing betting is the only form of pari-mutuel wagering legal and available in Tennessee.
Otherwise, the Tennessee horse racing betting industry is practically nonexistent. There are no race tracks, off-track betting facilities, or live meets where fans can place wagers on horses anywhere in Tennessee.
Tennessee Horse Racing Betting Sites
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Promotional offer valid and continues until further notice.
Open to new AmWager account holders who have not previously opened an AmWager account. Individuals may only have one (1) AmWager account and may only qualify for a signup promotion one (1) time.
The First Deposit Match Bonus promotion applies to the first deposit made; any subsequent deposits will not apply.
The amount of the first deposit will determine the amount of the bonus and bets that must be placed to earn the bonus. For example, to qualify for the maximum bonus of $150 an initial deposit of $150 is required and total bets must equal $150 or more within 30 days of sign up. Cancelled wagers and refunded wagers are not eligible and will not be counted towards the promotion.
The total promotional wagering credits will be credited to the AmWager account in a single deposit within seven (7) business days of meeting the betting requirements for this promotion. Any promotional wagering credits deposited to a player’s account must be wagered and cannot be withdrawn from the account. Any winnings from those wagers are cash and can be withdrawn.
Any portion of the promotional credits unused expires after 30 days.
Account must remain in good standing to be eligible for all promotions. Returned deposits during the promotional period will cancel eligibility to receive promotional wagering credit.
Limit one promotional offer per household.
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Fortunately, Tennessee’s lack of horse racing venues does not impact fans’ online pari-mutuel wagering options. Fans can use legal online racebooks to bet on horse races in other states and countries.
Tennessee does not regulate online horse racing betting sites or issue licenses to operators, so it is critical to exercise caution when choosing a racebook app.
BettingUSA advises readers to use online racebooks licensed in other states to benefit from regulatory oversight, consumer protection requirements, and responsible gambling protocols.
State law does not address online horse racing betting, so only some racebook apps operate in Tennessee. Some horse racing betting sites only operate in states that explicitly authorize pari-mutuel wagering, but most of the nation’s established and highly experienced providers accept Tennessee residents.
Tennessee Online Racebooks
Tennessee Horse Race Tracks
Tennessee does not have active horse racing tracks.
The lack of legal trackside wagering has hindered the development of even a modest horse racing industry in Tennessee.
The Iroquois Steeplechase is Tennessee’s most notable horse racing event, held on the second Saturday of every May. There’s no pari-mutuel wagering at the Iroquois Steeplechase, but it’s a highly anticipated event that regularly attracts a crowd of 25,000 or more.
Tennessee Off-Track Betting
Tennessee has no off-track betting facilities, and no legal mechanisms exist to change that.
Online racebooks are the next-best alternative to off-track betting and simulcasting. Fans who use licensed online racebooks can bet on tracks and watch the races live from anywhere in Tennessee.
Tennessee Online Horse Racing Betting Law
Tennessee law does not address online horse racing betting or pari-mutuel wagering.
However, that wasn’t always the case. The Tennessee horse racing industry was significant in the 19th century, but the legislature banned pari-mutuel wagering in 1905.
The prohibition remained in effect until 1987, when lawmakers passed the Tennessee Racing Control Act. The Act legalized pari-mutuel wagering and authorized up to three horse racing tracks in Tennessee, subject to voter approval via referendums.
Voters in two counties approved race tracks, but no qualified track operators applied for licenses. The newly minted Horse Racing Advisory Committee sat idle until it was disbanded in 1998.
The legislature formally repealed the Racing Control Act in 2015, and horse racing has remained a non-industry in Tennessee ever since.
Lawmakers have tried several times to revive the Tennessee horse racing betting industry via legislation, but none of their proposals gained enough traction to become law.
Some of those proposals included the following:
- HB 2109 / SB 1908 (2018): Establish the Tennessee Horse Racing Commission, authorize pari-mutuel wagering and advance deposit wagering, and institute a licensing fee no greater than $10,000 annually
- HB 1294 / SB 0522 (2019): This bill also sought to create the Tennessee Horse Racing Commission, authorize pari-mutuel wagering, and regulate advance deposit wagering
- HB 1496 / SB 1159 (2021 and 2022): Similar to previous years’ bills but did not address advance deposit wagering
Tennessee Horse Racing FAQ
Wes Burns has more than a decade’s worth of experience as a writer, researcher and analyst in the legal gambling industry and is co-founder of BettingUSA.com. As a former professional online poker player, Wes approaches his work from the viewpoint of players.