Tennessee Regulator Pushes Out Sportzino as Illegal Operators Face Pressure

Tennessee’s regulated sports betting market continues to push back against offshore sites. The Sports Wagering Council (SWC) announced on September 18 that Sportzino has ceased operations in the state. The move follows the earlier exits of Legendz and Bovada, which both left Tennessee in 2024.

Good to Know

• SWC has fined 12 illegal sportsbooks a total of $600,000 since its creation.
• Tennessee bettors placed $5.6 billion in wagers during the last fiscal year.
• Warning signs of illegal sites include credit betting, poor age checks, and casino-style games.

Protecting Licensed Operators in the State

“Offering sports wagering in Tennessee is a taxable privilege, and we’re exploring every tool available to us as regulators in our effort to shut down illegal sportsbooks,” said SWC Executive Director Mary Thomas.

She emphasized the difference between licensed and unlicensed platforms:

“Licensed sportsbooks offer critical consumer protections that unlicensed operators do not, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in this effort.”

The Council has made enforcement a core focus. Since its inception, the SWC has fined 12 unlicensed operators for a combined $600,000, with nearly a third of those penalties coming in July 2025 alone. The regulator maintains that eliminating illegal operators is central to maintaining a safe and reliable market for Tennessee bettors.

To help players avoid unsafe sites, the SWC highlighted red flags that often signal an illegal sportsbook. These include the option to extend credit, limited or no age verification, and the presence of casino-style games not permitted under Tennessee’s laws.

Meanwhile, legal online sportsbooks continue to grow. Bettors across the state wagered more than $5.6 billion during the last fiscal year, underscoring the size of Tennessee’s legal market and the importance of ensuring fair competition among regulated operators.