NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (SWC) has a message for illegal sportsbooks: don't play by the rules, and you'll be out of the game.

So far this year, the SWC has collected $300,000 in penalties from illegal sportsbooks, ordered five illegal sportsbooks to cease and desist, and had one illegal sportsbook voluntarily shut down.

"Unlike our legal sportsbooks which have protections in place to ensure minors aren't wagering and there isn't fraud or money laundering occurring, and that individuals who don't want to play can exclude themselves and prevent themselves from going on sports books, illegal sportsbooks have none of those protections in place," Mary Beth Thomas, the executive director of the SWC said.

There are some tell-tale signs that a sportsbook is illegal. According to Thomas, they may offer deposit methods like cryptocurrency, have unusual withdrawal methods, have URLs ending in .lv, .ag, or .eu, and don't verify their users' ages.

Placing bets with them has its risks.

"There's really not a way for our office, as the state agency that's supposed to help players when they have a problem, we can't assist when they have issues," Thomas said. "You might send your money to an illegal sports book and never see it again."

Starting June 30, the SWC will enact additional rules to further protect consumers, including adding multi-factor identification requirements, defining more responsible gaming terms, and creating new conditions for voiding or canceling wagers.

With more than $4.7 billion in wagers in Tennessee made last fiscal year, illegal sportsbooks are bound to try to cash in. However, Thomas told News 2 the SWC will ensure the industry is regulated and safe.

"We're bringing those illegal operators into light, so I believe [illegal sportsbooks] have always been here. It's just our job to make sure they're not here anymore," Thomas said.

To view a full list of licensed, legal sportsbooks in TN, click here.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-news/tn-cracks-down-on-illegal-sportsbooks/