NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Sports betting has been legal in Tennessee for five years, but there are laws you have to follow when you go to place your wager.

The only legal way to bet on sports in Tennessee is online. Whether it's on an app on your phone or a website on your computer, you must be 21 years old and be physically located within the state of Tennessee. Online sports books can tell exactly where you are; they are required to use geolocation services.

"It is very precise. It can tell where you are within a couple of feet to be sure that you are physically located in Tennessee, and you can wager within the laws of Tennessee," explained Stephanie Maxwell, deputy director and general counsel for the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council. She said it's important to make sure you are placing a bet with an online sports book licensed to operate in Tennessee. There are currently 12.

"A lot of the illegal, unlicensed sports books look very similar to a licensed sports book, and you can't really tell the difference," Maxwell said. "If you just look on their website, it looks very similar. You might see the same setup of odds and lines and what not, so you can look on our website for a list of licensed books."

It's illegal to place a bet on someone else's behalf, or what's known as a proxy bet.

"It is to prevent someone who is prohibited because they are under the age of 21, or maybe they're prohibited because they're an athlete who is prohibited from wagering on a certain sport," Maxwell said. "Maybe they are on an exclusion list; they have chosen to be self-excluded if they have a gambling problem."

For those who choose to exclude themselves from sports betting, there is a form that can be filled out on the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council's website, which you can access here.

Once someone fills out the form, the council will disseminate that information to all the licensed sports books in the state. There are also resources available if you need help.

"If you think you might have a gambling problem, you can call the Tennessee REDLINE. You can also call 1-800-Gambler, which is the national gambling hotline and they will get you in touch with Tennessee as well," Maxwell said. "The University of Memphis has a gambling clinic that is renowned across the country that offers counseling as well."

Information on how to contact the Tennessee REDLINE can be found here.

The sports wagering council has an extensive list of the approved events for sports wagering.

For those who break the rules, the penalties can range from a Class C misdemeanor and small fine for placing an illegal bet, to a Class E felony, massive fines and prison time for those operating illegal books.

For more information, visit the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council's website.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/special-reports/tn-sports-betting-rules/