Legal Online Poker For Tennessee Residents
When it comes to state gambling law regarding online poker in Tennessee, it is often more important to look at the definition of the word "gambling" than it is to look for a specific prohibition against a specific type of gaming. That's the case for online poker players in Tennessee. According to the state's gambling law, the term gambling only applies to " . . . 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." The definition of gambling as a game "contingent on chance" is the loophole necessary for online poker to gain a foothold for legality in the state.
Is Online Poker Legal In Tennessee?
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It hasn't even been a year since the US Attorney's office in Manhattan ordered the three largest American-facing online poker sites shut down. Just 9 months after online poker's Black Friday, the Department of Justice quietly sent down a legal opinion clarifying that the Wire Act of 1961 applies only to sports wagers. Since the Wire Act was the main stumbling block for online poker legality in much of America, many state governments are now planning to regulate and license their own online poker properties. Since Tennessee has no statute making online poker illegal, assume that the state is open to the possibility of regulating poker play online.
Legal Online Poker Sites For Tennessee Residents]
We recommend three online poker rooms for Tennessee citizens: Intertops Poker, Bovada Poker, and BetOnline. All three of these sites are legal options for online poker play for residents of Tennessee, and offer payment transfer options that satisfy the requirements of the UIGEA.
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Bonus: 100% to $1K |
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Bonus Code: NA |
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Bovada Poker is currently offering a first deposit match bonus of 100% worth up to $1,000. A new site, Bovada Poker is the North American-facing arm of popular gaming site Bodog . The software at Bovada is similar to what you'd find at Bodog, with features at the leading edge of the industry, anonymous play to avoid having your play tracked, and tournaments aimed at expert poker players, multi-tablers, and beginners. As of this writing, peak traffic at Bovada is around 4,000 players, but with online poker legalities clearing up all over America, that number could double or triple by the end of 2012.
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Bonus: 100% to $1K |
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Bonus Code: NA |
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To play or not to play? This is truly the question that residents of Tennessee have been asking themselves about poker since time immemorial. Now they finally have an answer in the form of SportsBetting. It is a strange savior, this SportsBetting, for little expected their poker prayers to be answered by a sports site, however those who sojourn into the site find that in addition to the sportsbook, there is a poker player’s paradise awaiting users from all over the U.S.
First impressions are often the key to many sites getting new users and this online poker room makes sure to present its best foot first with the welcome bonus that makes angels sing. When a new player decides to try their hand at the world SportsBetting offers they are given a task. Play poker often and dedication will be rewarded. In total once a player has played enough on the site they can receive up to 200% of their initial deposit as bonus money. This bonus money can go a long way in the rough beginning phase of online poker.
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Bonus: 100% to $1K |
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Bonus Code: NA |
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When a site gets as wealthy as BetOnline that wealth sometimes goes to their head and they end up disappointing customers with unwise policies and tactics that drive away customers. BetOnline somehow has managed to avoid this situation and continue to offer the same great services that they always offer. Both old and new players can appreciate a site with integrity in a world where suckering the customer is more and more the main goal of companies.
One of the reasons that many people stay with BetOnline is they still are leagues ahead of every other site in Tennessee when it comes to guaranteed tournaments. They have more than $250,000 dollars in guaranteed tournaments every week providing for an interesting and entertaining experience for all when they happen. Many players report they feel it is the defining aspect of Bovada, tons of players, tons of skill levels, and tons of fun. Anyone who is looking forward to the joining an online poker site should definitely keep BetOnline in their thoughts.
The problem with states that don't include specific language about online gambling in their statutes is that online poker and other online games of skill exist in a legal gray area. Some states define poker as a game of skill; others include poker on the list of "games of chance" thanks to the random nature of the dealing of cards. Until Tennessee further defines the legal status of online poker, it is safe to play online poker in that state. This is especially true since major changes to the US government's attitude toward online poker play.
Despite the craze of poker sweeping the nation, Tennessee law has most of their residents left out in the dust. Unfortunately, there are not many states in the union where gambling is more strictly defined, or further prohibited
Tennessee law starts out by firmly defining the act of gambling as risking anything of value based on anything even partially related to chance. For poker players, this obviously leaves very little wiggle room.
Even worse, if the state of Tennessee finds one guilty of hosting illicit gambling for profit, the penalties are as steep as they come. Violators found guilty in a court of law of facilitating illegal poker face fines up to $10,000 and jail time, meaning no matter how much a resident may collect from hosting a poker game, it probably won’t be worth all the trouble.
That being said, it is important to draw a distinction between PLAYING poker and HOSTING poker FOR PROFIT. While not technically abiding the law, no Tennessee resident has ever been arrested or faced any legal trouble for hosting a small poker game amongst friends. The key difference between this action and what could be deemed as a felony in state courts lies in collecting profit. If a residents collects money, or “rake” for simply hosting a poker game whether or not they actually participate in the betting, they will be charged as a felon and face legal troubles.
Those who merely play poker or do so privately and without collecting profits, even if they place wagers, are generally left to their own devices in Tennessee.
Unfortunately for poker players in Tennessee, the options as to where one can go to play a few hands are drastically limited. If one lives close to state lines, there are legal casinos in Mississippi, but these can still be as far as two days of driving from one’s home in Tennessee.
To play poker close to the comfort of one’s own home, Tennessee residents are restricted to private games amongst friends. While these can be great fun, especially if you’ve made it to the liquor store before Sunday, there are a couple problems.
Firstly, although no Tennessee resident has ever faced legal trouble for participating in a private poker game or hosting one so long as they were not collecting profits, they are still against the law by technicality. This can leave players more vulnerable to persecution than they may be comfortable with. In addition, a poker game amongst friends may obviously be restrictive as to the amount of money that can be wagered or won.
Skilled poker players should avoid living in Tennessee if at all possible. State legislation appears to have gone to every possible extent to assure that poker cannot be a profitable or viable long term enterprise, and there are very few land based options to offer even recreational games.
Note: The above was not written by a lawyer, just a poker player familiar with state laws and online poker. If you have more detailed questions or want advice on the legality of online poker in Tennessee, contact a lawyer.
