Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-501 (2026)
Part definitions
✓ current as of May 2026
As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:
- (1) "Antique coin machine" means a gambling device or record that is at least twenty-five (25) years old and that is operated, played, worked, manipulated, or used by inserting or depositing a coin, slug, token, or thing of value to play a game, see pictures, hear music, or provide any other form of entertainment and includes, but is not limited to, antique slot machines, antique gambling devices, or antique gaming machines;
- (2) "Gambling" is contrary to the public policy of this state and means risking anything of value for a profit whose return is to any degree contingent on chance, or any games of chance associated with casinos, including, but not limited to, slot machines, roulette wheels and the like. For the purposes of this chapter gambling does not include:
- (A) A lawful business transaction;
- (B) Annual events operated for the benefit of nonprofit organizations that are authorized pursuant to a two-thirds (2/3) approval of the general assembly, so long as such events are not prohibited by the state constitution;
- (C) A state lottery of the type in operation in Georgia, Kentucky, and Virginia in 2000 and authorized by amendment to the Constitution of Tennessee, if the lottery is approved by the general assembly;
- (D) A fantasy sports contest conducted in accordance with the Fantasy Sports Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 49, part 2;
- (E) Lawfully accepting or placing a wager on a sporting event in accordance with the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 49; or
- (F) A low-level sports entertainment pool;
- (3) "Gambling bet" means anything of value risked in gambling;
- (4) "Gambling device or record" means anything designed for use in gambling, intended for use in gambling, or used for gambling;
- (5) "Lawful business transaction," as used in subdivision (2), includes any futures or commodities trading;
- (6) "Lottery" means the selling of anything of value for chances on a prize or stake;
- (7) "Low-level sports entertainment pool" or "pool" means a type of pari-mutuel betting:
- (A) In which a participant:
- (i) Pays money for participation in a pool; and
- (ii) Makes selections based on the participant's predictions of either the outcome of a series of athletic contests of the same sport or the statistics of individual athletes selected by the participant to assemble an imaginary team of athletes;
- (B) That does not involve laying odds; and
- (C) That has the following characteristics:
- (i) The total or cumulative entry fee paid by an individual participant is no more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00);
- (ii) The total pool is no more than one thousand dollars ($1,000); and
- (iii) The pool is managed by an individual and not by any type of business entity; and
- (A) In which a participant:
- (8) "Profit" means anything of value in addition to the gambling bet.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 450, s 33, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 143, s 7, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 65, s 1, eff. 7/1/2021.
Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 507, s 2, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 126, s 3, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 126, s 2, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 978, s 2, eff. 7/1/2016.
Amended by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 134, s 23, eff. 4/14/2015.
Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1; 1990, ch. 945, § 1; 2001, ch. 439, § 1; 2007 , ch. 349, § 1; 2009 , ch. 267, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8
cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1997–2025 · leading case: State v. Burkhart, 58 S.W.3d 694 (Tenn. 2001).
State v. Burkhart, 58 S.W.3d 694 (Tenn. 2001). “We granted this appeal to determine the constitutionality of Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 39-17-501 and 39-17-505.”
State v. Price, 124 S.W.3d 135 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2003). “The certified question of law on appeal is whether Tennessee Code Annotated sections 39-14-901, -903, Money Laundering Act of 1996, violates Article XI, Section 8 or Article I, Section 8 of the Tennessee Constitution by exempting from its application violation of gambling laws,…”
United States v. Dicristina, 886 F. Supp. 2d 164 (E.D.N.Y 2012). “); Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-501 , Sentencing Commission Comments (“The definition of ‘gambling’ includes .”
State of Tennessee v. George Arvil Vance & Vincent Vance (Tenn. Crim. App. 2004). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-501 (1) (1997). A lawful business transaction “includes any futures or commodities trading.”
Capital Partners Network OT, Inc. v. TNG Contractors, LLC (Tenn. Ct. App. 2020). “Tennessee law states, “Gambling is contrary to the public policy of this state” ( Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-501 ), yet foreign judgments for gambling debts amassed in other states are granted full faith and credit in Tennessee: [B]oth gambling and the promotion of gambling are…”
Sandra Duckworth v. Yellow Soc. Interactive, Ltd. (6th Cir. 2025). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-501 (2). At common law, gambling losses were not recoverable.”
Sandra Duckworth v. Yellow Soc. Interactive, Ltd. (6th Cir. 2025). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-501 (2). At common law, gambling losses were not recoverable.”
Maxine Nelson v. The Pacesetter Corp. (Tenn. Ct. App. 1997). “As winnowed, the plaintiff alleges that she was discharged because she refused to participate in gambling activities which were illegal under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-501 . The plaintiff was initially employed in November 1993.”
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