How Much Does Tennessee Spend On Gambling?

There Are No Casinos, Tribal Or Commercial In Tennessee. Bingo Games Are Also Prohibited. However, The State Does Have A Lottery As Well As Legalized Online Sports Betting. This Is How Much Tennesseans Spend On Gambling Each Year. 

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Published May 4, 2021

By Samuel Stebbins [24/7 Wall St. via The Center Square] –

The 465 commercial casinos operating in the United States at the end of 2019 reported a combined revenue of $43.6 billion — an all-time high. Gambling in the United States is by no means limited to casinos, either. All but six states had lottery games in 2019, and lottery ticket sales totalled $81.6 billion that year.

Between both lotteries and commercial casinos, Americans and tourists spent $125.2 billion on gambling in 2019 — or about $491 for every adult in the country. Of course, gambling laws, which can restrict gambling opportunities, vary by state, as does interest in gambling. And residents of some states spend far more on lottery tickets and at casinos than others.

There are no casinos in Tennessee, either tribal or commercial. The state’s restrictive gambling laws also prohibit bingo games. Voters in the state did, however, pass an amendment that legalized a state lottery in 2002. In 2019, adults in Tennessee spent $1.5 billion on lottery tickets, or about $289 for every adult state resident.

Online sports betting is also legal in Tennessee. The state also requires sportsbook operators to base outcomes on official data purchased from the sports league of other authorized data providers.

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the American Gaming Association, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states spending the most and least on gambling. States were ranked based on total spending on lottery tickets and in commercial casino gaming per adult 18 years and over in 2019. Gaming revenue refers to the amount earned by commercial casinos after winnings have been paid out to patrons.

Exactly what constitutes commercial casino revenue can vary by state. See the AGA report for a full methodological explanation.It is important to note that while there were 524 tribal casinos in the United States in 2019, these institutions are subject to different regulations than commercial casinos, and revenue from these establishments were not included in this story. 

How much people spend on the lottery in every state: