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Tennessee Posts Mixed January Sports Betting Numbers

Perry Sandra

Updated on March 5, 2026 at 12:13 PM EST. Read time: 1 minute and 52 seconds. Find more information on Twitter and Google News.

Dylan Sampson of the Tennessee Volunteers runs the ball with Ty'Ron Hopper of the Missouri Tigers defending.
Dylan Sampson of the Tennessee Volunteers runs the ball with Ty’Ron Hopper of the Missouri Tigers defending. Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images via AFP.

While the sports betting market in Tennessee remains strong, not all news coming out of the Volunteer State is as positive as it has been in recent months.

The Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Council (SWAC) released their January sports betting data last week. The figures showed a slight decrease in betting activity compared to the previous month, but a significant increase in wagers compared to the same time last year.

One of America’s only online-only sports betting platforms is based in Tennessee, where 12 providers are competing for market share. The handle and revenue figures from the state indicate that there is ample opportunity for growth in the industry.

Month-over-month dip

The SWAC announced that the legal sports betting handle for January reached $410.7 million, making it the third highest month for Tennessee’s sports betting industry.

Although impressive, the handle reported in January fell short of the record-breaking $440.4 million reported in December. The January handle reflects a 6.6% decrease from the previous month.

Income from the state’s sports betting providers experienced a significant decrease. Underscoregs generated $36,347,994 in January, a 22.6% drop from the $46,968,124 earned in December. Despite the decline, the $36.3 million is still the fourth-highest revenue total for Tennessee, marking the fifth instance where revenue surpassed $30 million.

Tennessee legal sports betting providers paid $7,269,600 in tax contributions, based on a 10.1% hold.

Year-over-year increases

Even though sports betting in Tennessee saw a decrease from the previous month, the year-over-year statistics show that any worries about the decline in January have been alleviated. The total handle in January 2026 was $410.7 million, a $24 million increase or 6% higher than the wagering activity in January 2026, demonstrating solid growth.

The revenue totals from year to year were truly eye-opening, especially the $36,347,994 in profits reported by the SWAC. This amount is a significant increase of 24.7% from the $29,087,518 in revenues reported in January 2026.

Tax contributions to Tennessee’s coffers for those in need increased by approximately 20% from January 2026 to January 2026.

Looking ahead

While Massachusetts sports betting launch may be dominating the headlines, Tennessee’s legal sports betting scene remains robust. The upcoming Super Bowl in February is anticipated to significantly boost handle and revenue totals, setting the stage for another successful month. Additionally, March is expected to be a solid month for the state’s sportsbooks with the NCAA Basketball tournament captivating audiences.

Two more robust months of Tennessee legal sports betting are on the horizon before the usual summer slump in sports wagering. September will bring the anticipated spike in sports betting activity as the NFL season kicks off.

The Tennessee sports betting market is on the verge of reaching market maturity, with 2026 expected to break more records. New providers may enter the Volunteer State, raising the possibility of Tennessee sportsbooks reaching $500 million in a single month. Many are optimistic about this milestone, with some predicting it could happen as early as February or March.

Written By:
Perry Sandra
Perry Sandra and betting go hand-in-hand. Both are characterized by “odds”. Dave fancies himself as one of the most dedicated sports and pop-culture junkies around, to the chagrin of his family and friends. Following sports for 50 years and writing about it for 20, Dave hasn’t found a sport yet that can’t contribute to 2-3 straight hours of couch time. That search remains ongoing. As a good old Canadian boy, hockey is in Dave’s heart, as is curling sadly. But evolution is a real thing and that’s why football, baseball, and just about every sport on the planet has become a passion. Dave isn’t afraid to kill some time obsessing over politics or the far-too-frequent awards shows the consume the airwaves.