Legal Tennessee Online Poker Information

With varying gambling laws found at the state level and the federal level, and many online poker rooms accepting US players, the actual legality of online poker for Tennessee players can be confusing. Is it legal? Will I get in trouble if I participate? Many questions loom concerning online poker and to be honest, this makes a lot of players uncomfortable, so much so that they just don't bother engaging with the industry at all.

The state of Tennessee has not had a favorable view of gambling in general since the early 1900s, and has passed laws to make gambling illegal in the state of Tennessee with very few exceptions. While their state laws do not address online gambling, it is safe to say that the state frowns on gambling in general, making it a bit unlikely that we will see land based or state based online poker opportunities emerging any time soon. So what are players who live in TN to do? This guide will provide the information you need to make an informed decision that is right for you. Once you have all the facts, you can determine if legal Tennessee online poker is something you want to participate in, or if you will save your gambling interests for visits to the Vegas Strip or other gambling options closer to home such as in Tunica, Mississippi.

Is Online Poker Legal In Tennessee?

State law does not address online gambling specifically, but does outlaw gambling in general, and does mention poker in the statute. This has eliminated the option of online poker sites that are regulated by the state itself. Tennessee poker fans may be interested to know that there are a number of legal online poker rooms which are based and regulated outside of the United States, and that welcome players from the US, including Tennessee residents. There is not a federal law that prohibits online gambling for USA players.

The UIGEA bill which was signed into law in 2006 does put regulations in place as to how online gambling transactions are processed for United States residents. This regulation is directed at the online gambling sites themselves which accept American players, and is not directed at the poker players themselves. This law was designed to protect players and their investment, and is monitored on an operator level.

You may remember that not too long ago there was a DOJ sting operation in which several prominent online poker sites were investigated. How these sites handled the financial elements of their operation came into question, with suspicion that they were not adhering to the UIGEA regulations that they were subject to. Individual players were not targeted in this investigation, and while funds were temporarily inaccessible in some cases, players were eventually given access to their accounts. In fact, Poker Stars is still in the process of repaying players for the inconvenience they experienced. No players were questioned or prosecuted. This law does not make it illegal for you to participate in online poker gaming. So to answer the daunting question being asked: no, it is not against the law to play legal Tennessee online poker.

For professional legal interpretation of any law or statute, we recommend you contact a lawyer. We are professional online gambling consultants, we are not lawyers.

What We Look For In Tennessee Online Poker Rooms

The key to experiencing a secure and successful online poker gaming session is to find a legal, high quality poker room that places a priority on their security protocols, the quality of their software platform, and the efficiency of their banking suite. We have a team of online gambling professionals that puts each online poker room that we find through a stringent review process that extensively tests each and every element of an online poker operation. They do this as registered players and from an industry professional perspective as well for a complete and well rounded overall evaluation. As professional consultants we have access to information that is not always easy to obtain for the average player. Following are some of the key components that are addressed during the review process.

Licensing and certifications - we verify that each poker room we feature is licensed by a recognized and respected governing jurisdiction, and that they have received compliance certifications from independent, third party auditors which are associated with respected authorities in the industry. These certifications indicate that the poker brand participates in regular testing of their fair gaming practices and their RNG technology. The legitimacy of their licensing authority ensures they are subject to strict regulation and that they have met stringent licensing requirements in order to operate legally in that jurisdiction. As experienced professionals, we are well aware which licensing authorities are respected and which ones are not legitimate, so we will not be fooled on this aspect.

Security measures and protocols - We examine carefully what each poker room's security profile consists of in the way of SSL coding and data encryption, anti-virus protection, firewall protection, and fraud prevention systems. We look at the quality of their technical team which monitors these security features, as well as the hardware system which houses their servers and sensitive equipment. We require that legal Tennessee poker sites that we feature here exceeds industry standards when it comes to their security profile. Brands which simply do enough to meet licensing requirements do not have the commitment to player safety to be included in our guide. We want the poker brands that handle our money to boast a security profile that rivals that of world class financial institutions.

Poker site reputation - We look closely into their reputation within the online gambling community. We evaluate player feedback as well as feedback from industry professionals. We combine this information with our own personal experience on the site to verify whether complaints that are circulating are indeed legitimate and remain unresolved by the operators. We aggressively test the customer support staff for speed and efficiency in addressing and resolving issues, and we find out first hand how quickly they pay their players through a variety of withdrawal options. We do enough repeat testing to determine consistency, or lack thereof. We also look at their honesty, which is easily determined by how transparent they are regarding the details of their operation, and how openly they interact with players.

Banking suite efficiency - Any online poker room accepting Tennessee players that you see here has been found to offer a robust banking suite that features a variety of payment method options, a successful track record with credit card transaction approvals, and a user friendly, streamlined process both for depositing and withdrawing funds. If you can't get your money in and out, there isn't much point in even stopping by. We look closely at the speed of transaction processing, particularly with payouts.

Game selection and software performance - We evaluate the gaming aspects of each site thoroughly. Yes, this is the fun part of reviewing any gambling site. We look at game selection, wagering options, and how user friendly their interface is. We are looking for fast, smooth game play, impressive and high functioning player tools and software features, high quality graphics, and most importantly, reliability of their software platform. We also place a high value on an active and welcoming tournament schedule.

Top Legal Tennessee Online Poker Sites Open To All TN Players In 2020

As you can see from the details of our review process, we take this job very seriously. We really get into the details and ensure first and foremost that a brand is legitimate and takes player safety as seriously as we do, and that they care as much about player satisfaction as the players do. Below you will see the top brands which passed our review process with an approval rating from our team. No easy feat at all. We only recommend the most trusted, secure, and highest quality online poker rooms to Tennessee players. Each of these online poker sites welcomes players from Tennessee and operates legally within their licensed jurisdiction, meaning that they are subject to strict industry regulation and are hence very safe options.

If you are somewhat skeptical about the legitimacy of online poker, or the potential that it can have for winning big, you may want to read about one young man from Tennessee who used an online poker game to get to the WSOP main event and win millions. Learn more in our article on The Chris Moneymaker Effect, where you will find out how his experience ignited an explosion in the online poker industry.

Major Brick and Mortar Poker Roms In Or Near The State Of Tennessee

Due to the strict anti-gambling laws for land based gambling in Tennessee, you will not find any thriving brick and mortar poker rooms. Tunica, Mississippi is a popular destination for Tennessee poker buffs due to its close proximity for players, and their high quality options. Here are the top options found in Tunica, however there are additional options throughout the state of Mississippi.

Harrah's Casino - Tunica

Horseshoe Casino Hotel - Tunica

Hollywood Casino - Tunica

Other TN Betting Options

Along with legal online poker options for players in TN, we also created guides to additional online gambling venues that are popular throughout the online gambling community. Like this one, these guides were developed by a team of experienced online gambling consultants who have a combined range of experience that spans decades. You will find all the information you need about the current legal status and availability of trusted and reputable online gambling sites that accept Tennessee players.

Tennessee Online Casinos - Get information on the industry leading online casinos for Tennessee players. These legal online gambling options provide a secure gaming environment, and are verified as licensed, certified and regulated within a respected jurisdiction.

Tennessee Online Sports Betting - Find out more about the safest and most trusted online sports betting sites for Tennessee players, and what you can expect to find at each of them. They have all been vetted through our extensive review process and found to deliver a secure and high quality online sportsbook experience.