Legal Poker For Tennessee Residents
Are there any legal Tennessee poker opportunities—or do gamers in the Volunteer State have to travel to Mississippi or North Carolina just to find a good card game? The answer is neither. While it is true enough that Tennessee takes a fairly restrictive approach to gambling—and that legal Tennessee poker opportunities are hard to come by—it is also true that some alternative ways to play do exist. For one thing: Yes, traveling to casinos in neighboring states is always an option. Beyond that, there are legal Tennessee poker opportunities in private homes, and there are plenty of safe and secure online poker rooms.
Needless to say, this is an important and complex topic for Tennessee gamers to address. As such, this page has been set up as an educational resource for Volunteer State natives. The page will first address some of the specific Tennessee laws that govern poker and other forms of gambling. From there, we will turn to online poker, and we will seek to identify some great, safe ways for Tennessee natives to play.
Poker Laws & Statutes
First, we must make a few remarks about the state of Tennessee’s regulations concerning poker. The basic gist is that Tennessee is not Nevada or New Jersey, and its attitudes toward gambling are not exactly permissive; indeed, opportunities to gamble are generally fairly hard to come by. There are some exceptions, though. Home poker games are accepted in Tennessee, as they are in most states. On top of that, there is a small poker circuit in the Johnson City area—which may be enough to appease Tennessee poker lovers who live in that section of the state.
Beyond that, there is online poker. Online poker is not expressly condoned by Tennessee, but neither is it unsafe for poker enthusiasts. We will return to this topic momentarily.
Is it Legal to Play Online Poker in ?
Another question to consider is that of online poker. Is it legal to play online poker in Tennessee? Technically speaking, the state does not condone online poker, which ought to come as no surprise. After all, Nevada is currently the only state in which online poker is outright legal, though several others have considered it.
This does not mean that online poker is unsafe for Tennessee natives, however. In fact, while it is not expressly allowed by the state, it is also not actively punished by Tennessee officials. Tennessee gamblers who wish to play poker in online poker rooms can do so without fear of legal repercussions.
Can I Get into Trouble for Playing Online Poker ?
To phrase the question another way: Will Tennessee residents find themselves in legal jeopardy, just for playing in online poker rooms? The answer here is no. Once again, the important thing to note is the difference between activities that are legal, and activities that are safe.
And make no mistake: In Tennessee, online poker is perfectly safe. The reason is that Tennessee’s laws criminalize the ownership and operation of online poker sites, not participation in those poker sites. As such, those who simply want to play poker online can do so without worry and without fear. Naturally, this means that there are numerous online poker rooms, ready and willing to embrace Tennessee gamers!
Legal Poker Sites That Accept Players
With no legal poker rooms to speak of, if you live in Tennessee it’s easy to get to thinking that legal poker is simply not an option. Happily, through the use of several legal poker sites which we’ve listed out for you below, Tennessee residents can take part in all the excitement a regular hobby playing poker can provide.
Bovada Poker - Most Trusted Online Poker Room For Tennessee
If you live in Tennessee and feel the need to seek out the very best that legal online poker has to offer, you should start with Bovada. After more than 20 years of service to US residents, Bovada has become Tennessee’s most beloved legal poker site, and a quick visit will have you seeing why. With Bovada not only is any possible iteration of poker you can think of (and most probably a few you can’t think of) available from Omaha no limit to five-card draw, but you can choose to play in an entire tournament or just sit in a few hands before moving on. The stakes and entry fees are always up to you since there will always be several tables in rotation.
What really separates Bovada from its competition in the legal online poker room field is not merely the selection of poker games you can play, but the caring that Bovada shows to turn all of its customers into the best poker players they can be. Poker is a fun game, so the challenge in playing is never in making it exciting. With all the tools Bovada poker leaves at your disposal, you may just find that you can make poker profitable as well. From the most comprehensive poker glossary the internet has to offer to a saved archive of all the hands you’ve ever been dealt coupled with an expert’s analysis, if you take full advantage of the Bovada poker network, you’ll be playing like a pro in no time.
SportsBetting Poker - All Tennessee Players 18+ Welcome Here
For Tennessee residents looking for a unique take on legal online poker, stop by one of the world’s most rapidly expanded legal online poker networks over at SportsBetting. After a fast, free download of the poker software, you will see with your own eyes what has thousands of Tennessee poker connoisseurs raving about SportsBetting. The tables simply look gorgeous, and with the lightning fast response time, there will be no lag or dropped games even on slower internet connections.
Sometimes when a product is good looking, it can lead some to believe that there is no substance below the surface. Do not fall into this trap. We could go on for days about the quality of poker experience and variety of sit and go tourneys available, but we prefer to let SportsBetting poker room do the talking. They’re so confident in their product that they will pay you for simply using it. When you first create your account and make your initial deposit, you will be eligible for up to 200% of that deposit back. Check with SportsBetting for full details, but don’t let this incredible promotion pass you by!
| Legal Tennessee Poker Sites | Welcome Bonus | What To Play | Site Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Poker Play / Sign Up | $1,000 FREE - 100% Match | Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo - Stud Hi/Lo |  |
| BetOnline Poker Play / Sign Up | Maximum $1K: 200% Rate | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
| SportsBetting Play / Sign Up | 200% Match / $1,000 Max | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
| 5Dimes Poker Play / Sign Up | Vary Weekly - Check Website | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo |  |
Does Tennessee Have Legal Land-Based Poker?
Now we will look at some of the specifics of poker in Tennessee—live, land-based games, in particular. Tennessee does not have a very open or permissive attitude, as far as poker is concerned, and neither does it have many casinos. In fact, the best options for Tennessee residents seeking live, casino-style poker are to travel to Cherokee, North Carolina, or to Tunica, Mississippi.
Beyond that, there are some limited options for poker play. Playing in private, home games is acceptable. Also, there is a small poker circuit in Johnson City—sort of a well-kept secret among Tennessee poker lovers, but worth checking out for those who live in the Johnson City area.
Legal Land-Based Poker Rooms For Tennessee Players
The practical question in all of this is that of where Tennessee residents can play poker. As far as live, land-based games are concerned, the options are limited, but far from non-existent. No, those who wish to play poker in Tennessee can do so in private residences, or by travelling to the casinos found in neighboring states. Johnson City’s poker circuit is worth looking into, as well.
For most Tennessee gamers, though, online poker is going to be the best, most accessible option. There are numerous online poker sites out there that are respected, honest, and totally above-board—to say nothing of safe and secure for Tennessee gamers. Again, these online poker rooms are typically quite happy to welcome Tennessee gamers into the fold.
Future of Poker/Online Poker in Tennessee
The final question to consider is that of poker’s future in the Volunteer State. It is difficult to say whether or not Tennessee will ever adopt a more progressive and permissive attitude toward gaming. It will probably not become the first state, after Nevada, to fully legalize different kinds of poker, including online poker, but it is likely to happen sooner or later. That’s simply the way things are headed, as more and more states begin to adopt looser regulations for gambling.
