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Tennessee sweepstakes casino ban bill could come up for vote in state Senate
A Tennessee Senate committee voted to advance legislation that would penalize the operation of casino-style, sweepstakes-based games online.
Tennessee could become the next state to establish civil and criminal sanctions for offering online casino games using a dual-currency sweepstakes model after a Senate committee endorsed legislation toward that end on Feb. 18. The legislation might empower gaming regulators and law enforcement in Tennessee to make good on earlier threats toward sweepstakes casinos.
Tennessee Senate could weigh in on sweepstakes ban
If the vote of the Tennessee Senate Commerce and Labor Committee is any indication, support for SB 2136 could be strong in the chamber. The committee approved the bill unanimously without any discussion.
SB 2136 and its House companion HB 1885 take aim at websites offering casino-style games and awarding real money prizes through a dual-currency sweepstakes system. In that system, players buy one currency and are awarded with another type which can be exchanged for prizes of actual value after playthrough.
The bills set potential civil and criminal penalties for violations, including fines upward of $15,000. SB 2136/HB 1885 also empowers law enforcement in Tennessee with new investigatory powers related to alleged illegal gambling.
Currently, Tennesseans wondering what casino game has the best odds have to leave their state to find the answer, as there are no licensed online or physical casinos in Tennessee. These bills could reinforce that status quo in light of action from Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti.
Skrmetti's enforcement of gaming laws could intensify
Skrmetti sent cease and desist orders to the operators of nearly 40 unlicensed gaming websites, including sweepstakes casinos. Skrmetti added that the recipients either complied with the order or shared plans for doing so with his office.
Should HB 1885 or SB 2136 become law, Skrmetti would have more leverage to prosecute people suspected of involvement with illegal gambling operations. The bill imposes fines for refusals to comply with investigations along those lines by either the Tennessee attorney general or state gaming regulators.
Tennessee residents and visitors can benefit from new user offers for licensed online sportsbooks. However, there are no legal channels for people in the state to utilize no deposit bonus casino offers, like those that people in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia can. The FanDuel Casino promo code is one of those deals.
The Tennessee Senate could soon do its part to give regulators and Skrmetti that power. SB 2136 has positive momentum in the chamber.
