Find Your Favourite Tennessee Casinos and Resorts 2026

*Tennessee has licensed online and mobile sports betting since November 2020, with 12 licensed operators currently active. There are no retail sportsbooks in the state and no current plans to introduce them.

Tennessee takes one of the strictest positions on casino gambling of any state in the country. State law explicitly declares gambling contrary to public policy, and the Tennessee constitution has been amended only once on the subject to permit a state-run education lottery, which launched in 2004. Governor Bill Lee set the tone clearly when he allowed the 2019 sports betting bill to pass without his signature, stating publicly that he would veto any future attempt to introduce casinos, describing them as institutions that "prey on poverty and encourage criminal activity."

There are no tribal casinos in Tennessee either. Unlike many southern states, Tennessee has no federally recognised tribal land within its borders on which gaming compacts could be established, closing off the route through which casino gambling most commonly arrives in restrictive states.

For anyone seeking a casino floor, the answer lies across the state line.

Tennessee borders eight states, and residents are well served when it comes to road trips. Whether you are in Memphis, Knoxville, or Nashville, there is a meaningful casino destination within a few hours' drive. Here are the strongest options by region.

Mississippi

The closest and most convenient option for West Tennessee, Mississippi's casino cluster in Tunica sits just 30 to 45 miles south of Memphis, which is an easy drive from the city centre.

Once the third largest casino market in the United States behind Las Vegas and Atlantic City, Tunica is home to six casino resorts within a short distance of each other. Gold Strike Casino Resort is the flagship, a 32-story tower with more than 1,400 slot machines, 52 table games, a sportsbook, and multiple restaurants. Horseshoe Tunica and Hollywood Casino and Hotel Tunica are the other major full-service options, with Fitz Tunica and Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall rounding out the cluster.

For Memphis residents, Tunica is the obvious first call.

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North Carolina

The best option for East Tennessee, North Carolina is home to two substantial Caesars-operated tribal resorts run on behalf of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee is the headline property, the largest casino in the Carolinas with a 150,000 square foot gaming floor, more than 3,000 games, 1,833 hotel rooms across four towers, a 3,000-seat Events Center, Caesars Sportsbook, Mandara Spa, and celebrity chef restaurants including Gordon Ramsay Food Market and Guy Fieri's Cherokee Kitchen and Bar. It sits around 90 minutes from Knoxville, just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Further south, Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel in Murphy completed a major $275 million expansion in March 2025, adding a new hotel tower, expanded gaming floor, spa, rooftop restaurant, and a World Series of Poker room. It is a useful option for visitors travelling from Chattanooga.

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Virginia

The newest and most exciting development for East Tennessee, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Bristol opened permanently in November 2024 just four minutes from the Tennessee state line.

The $515 million resort celebrates Bristol's identity as the Birthplace of Country Music with more than 200 pieces of music memorabilia throughout the property. The gaming floor offers 1,500 slot machines and 50 live table games, alongside a Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook, 303-room hotel, the 2,000-seat Hard Rock Live entertainment venue, Hard Rock Café, and the Council Oak steakhouse.

From Knoxville it is around 90 minutes up I-81, and from the Tri-Cities it is practically on the doorstep.

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Kentucky

Kentucky does not permit traditional casino gambling. The state's gaming venues operate historical horse racing machines rather than conventional slots, and there are no live table games. That said, The Mint at Kentucky Downs in Franklin sits around 35 miles from Nashville and is the closest gaming venue to the state capital for Middle Tennessee residents. Oak Grove Racing, Gaming and Hotel near Fort Campbell is around 57 miles from Nashville and offers a similar experience with an on-site hotel.

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Tennessee may have no casinos, but it is far from a gambling desert. The state lottery is one of the most active in the South, online sports betting rivals the biggest markets in the country, and daily fantasy sports have been legal for nearly a decade.

The Tennessee Education Lottery

Launched in 2004 following a constitutional amendment, the lottery has since funded billions of dollars in college scholarships through the HOPE Scholarship programme. Draw games, scratch-off tickets, Powerball, and Mega Millions are all available through more than 3,500 retail outlets statewide.

Online Sports Betting

Online sports betting launched on November 1, 2020, making Tennessee the first US state to operate an exclusively online market with no retail component. Twelve operators are currently licensed, including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, bet365, Hard Rock Bet, and Fanatics. The market is regulated by the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council. Bettors must be 21 or older and physically located within Tennessee when placing a wager. The state recorded a handle of over $658 million in October 2025 alone, making it one of the busiest online-only markets in the country.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily fantasy sports have been legal in Tennessee since Governor Bill Haslam signed the Fantasy Sports Act in 2016. DraftKings and FanDuel both operate in the state.

Charitable Gaming

Charitable gaming is permitted in limited form. Licensed nonprofits with at least three years of continuous operation may apply to run bingo and raffle events, subject to strict prize limits and oversight from the Tennessee Secretary of State.

Gambling should always be an enjoyable experience. If you or someone you know is finding it difficult to stay in control, free and confidential support is available in Tennessee.

The Tennessee REDLINE is the state's dedicated problem gambling helpline, available to call or text 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1-800-889-9789. It is a free and confidential service that can refer callers to local support and treatment options. The national 1-800-GAMBLER helpline is also available around the clock.

Tennessee operates a self-exclusion programme for online sports betting, allowing players to exclude themselves from all licensed sportsbooks in a single application through the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council. For those travelling to casino properties in neighbouring states, self-exclusion is managed separately by each state's gaming regulator and individual casino operators.

This page is intended for informational purposes only. The gambling laws and regulations described here were accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change. We recommend verifying the current legal position with the relevant state authority before acting on any information contained here.

You must be of legal age to gamble in your jurisdiction. If you are unsure whether gambling is legal in your location, please seek independent legal advice. Casinos.com does not provide legal or financial advice and accepts no liability for decisions made based on the content of this page. Please gamble responsibly.