Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-51-115 (2026)

• (a) The general assembly recognizes that to conduct a successful lottery, the corporation must develop and maintain a state-wide network of lottery retailers that will serve the public convenience and promote the sale of tickets or shares and the playing of lottery games while ensuring the integrity of the lottery operations, games, and activities.

• (b) The corporation shall make every effort to provide small retailers a chance to participate in the sales of lottery tickets or shares.

• (c)
  • (1) The corporation shall provide for compensation to lottery retailers in the form of commissions for the sale and cashing of lottery tickets or shares in an amount of not less than six and one-half percent (6 1/2%) of gross sales. Each lottery retailer shall be required to cash lottery tickets or shares up to the amount authorized pursuant to § 4-51-108(a)(6) in the manner adopted by regulation, policy, or procedure of the board.
  • (2) In addition to the commissions for services rendered by lottery retailers pursuant to subdivision (c)(1), the corporation may provide for other forms of compensation for services rendered by lottery retailers relating to the sale of lottery tickets or shares.

• (d) The corporation shall issue a certificate of authority to each person with whom it contracts as a retailer for purposes of display; provided, however, that if a retailer contract permits sales at multiple locations, a separate certificate shall be issued for each authorized location. Every lottery retailer shall post and keep conspicuously displayed in a location on the premises where lottery tickets or shares are sold, and accessible to the public, its certificate of authority. No certificate shall be assignable or transferable.

• (e) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no business seeking to become a lottery retailer shall be prohibited from applying to the corporation, and if successful in such application, from selling lottery tickets or shares, including, but not limited to, businesses licensed pursuant to title 57, chapter 3, part 2; provided, however, that the corporation shall not issue, sell or authorize the sale of lottery tickets at any location licensed to provide deferred presentment services pursuant to title 45, chapter 17, or to any pawnshop, as defined in § 45-6-203, or to any business engaged exclusively in the business of selling lottery tickets or shares; provided, further, that this subsection (e) shall not preclude the corporation from selling or giving away lottery tickets or shares.

• (f) The board shall develop a list of objective criteria upon which the qualification of lottery retailers shall be based. Separate criteria shall be developed to govern the selection of retailers of instant tickets and on-line retailers. In developing these criteria, the board shall consider such factors as the applicant's financial responsibility, security of the applicant's place of business or activity, accessibility to the public, integrity, and reputation. The board shall not consider political affiliation, activities, or monetary contributions to political organizations or candidates for any public office. The criteria shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
  • (1) The applicant shall be current in filing all applicable tax returns to the state of Tennessee and in payment of all taxes, interest, and penalties owed to the state, excluding items under formal appeal pursuant to applicable statutes. The department of revenue is authorized and directed to provide this information to the corporation upon request; and
  • (2) No person, partnership, unincorporated association, corporation, including the board and executive officers of the corporation, or other business entity shall be selected as a lottery retailer who:
    • (A) Has been convicted of a criminal offense related to the security or integrity of a lottery in this state or any other jurisdiction;
    • (B) Has been convicted of any criminal offense involving gambling, theft, computer offenses, forgery, perjury or dishonesty, unless the person's civil rights have been restored or at least five (5) years have elapsed from the date of the completion of the sentence without a subsequent conviction of a crime described in this subdivision (f)(2)(B);
    • (C) Has been found to have violated this chapter or any regulation, policy, or procedure of the corporation unless either ten (10) years have passed since the violation or the board finds the violation both minor and unintentional in nature;
    • (D) Is a vendor or any employee or agent of any vendor doing business with the corporation;
    • (E) Resides in the same household as a director or an officer of the corporation;
    • (F) Has made a statement of material fact to the corporation knowing such statement to be false; or
    • (G) Has been convicted of any criminal offense involving the unlawful selling or providing a product or substance to a minor in this state or any other jurisdiction, unless the offense involves a license violation where any sentence has been completed and the license has been restored, unless the person's civil rights have been restored, or unless at least five (5) years have elapsed from the date of the completion of the sentence without a subsequent conviction of a crime described in this subdivision (f)(2)(G).

• (g)
  • (1) Persons applying to become lottery retailers shall be charged a uniform application fee for each lottery outlet. Retailers who participate in on-line games shall be charged a uniform application fee for each on-line outlet.
  • (2) Any lottery retailer contract executed pursuant to this section may, for good cause, be suspended, revoked, or terminated by the chief executive officer, or such officer's designee, if the retailer is found to have violated any provision of this chapter or objective criteria established by the board. Review of such activities shall be in accordance with the procedures outlined in this chapter and shall not be subject to the Tennessee Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in chapter 5 of this title.
  • (3) All lottery retailer contracts shall be renewable unless, in the discretion of the corporation, sooner cancelled or terminated. At the time of renewal, the corporation shall review the lottery retailer's compliance with this chapter and title 39, chapter 17, part 6. The corporation shall renew such contracts only if the lottery retailer is in compliance with this chapter and title 39, chapter 17, part 6 and would otherwise be eligible to be a lottery retailer pursuant to this chapter and the terms of the retailer's contract; provided, however, that a violation of title 39, chapter 17, part 6 by an employee of a lottery retailer shall only prohibit the issuance of a certificate of authority for the specific location of such violation for a period of one (1) year from the date of conviction unless, in the case of a lottery retailer operating multiple locations and in the discretion of the corporation, the entire contract should be cancelled or terminated as otherwise provided by this chapter or by the retailer's contract.

• (h) No lottery retailer or applicant to be a lottery retailer shall pay, give, or make any economic opportunity, gift, loan, gratuity, special discount, favor, hospitality, or service, excluding food and beverages having an aggregate value not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) in any calendar year, to any director, the chief executive officer, or any employee of the corporation, or to a member of the immediate family of any such person.

Acts 2003 , ch. 297, § 2; 2004, ch. 841, §§ 1, 3; 2005, ch. 417, §6; 2007 , ch. 319, §§ 1, 2.