Three more sweepstakes sportsbooks have exited Tennessee as that state continues to crack down on what its gaming regulator believes to be illegal online gambling.
Sweepsy has learned that Thrillzz shut its platform down in Tennessee, as of Oct. 29. In addition, the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council announced that KicKr and ReBet also pulled out of Tennessee after being sent cease-and-desist letters.
Five sweepstakes sportsbooks have now left Tennessee since April, when Legendz shut its sports platform down in the state, and then Sportzino exited in September. These are just sports-focused departures, as a Legendz customer service representative told Sweepsy this week that its casino-style games are still available in the state.
Thrillzz not mentioned in press release
It hasn’t yet sent out a press release, but simple logic suggests the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council is behind this move from Thrillzz — either directly or indirectly.
What we mean by that is either the TSWC sent Thrillzz a cease-and-desist order and hasn’t publicized it, or Thrillzz is reading the writing on the walls, seeing Tennessee’s regulator ousting other sweeps sportsbooks in the state, and simply choosing to be proactive and get ahead of any cease-and-desist order and leaving voluntarily.
Thrillzz is known in the sweeps industry to be responsive to cease-and-desist orders, as it left literally the day after it received a cease-and-desist in Arizona. So either option in Tennessee feels equally plausible.
‘Illegal sports gaming entities’
In a press release announcing the KicKr and ReBet exists, the TSWC also revealed that offshore sports betting site BetWhale.ag also left the state and was issued a $50,000 fine.
The regulator called all three sites “illegal sports gaming entities.”
“We encourage all Tennessee sports betting customers to remember it is important to use legal, licensed sportsbooks to protect your own personal and financial information,” TSWC Executive Director Mary Beth Thomas said in a statement. “Access to a website or an app does not mean the sportsbook has been licensed to operate here, and consumers can check the SWC website at www.tn.gov/swac/licensees-registrants.html for a complete list of sportsbooks licensed to do business in Tennessee.”
Thrillzz is purely a sweeps sportsbook, while KicKr and ReBet are more full-service sweepstakes casinos that also offer casino-style games as part of their online platform. The TSWC cease-and-desist orders likely only applied to the sports elements of those two sites, much like only the sports component of Legendz was asked to leave the state this past spring.
So, where are KicKr, Thrillzz, and ReBet active?
In its terms and conditions, KicKr lists the following as excluded states:
- Connecticut
- Idaho
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Washington
Here’s that list for ReBet:
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Idaho
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
And now for Thrillzz:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Montana
- New Jersey
- New York
- Nevada
- Ohio
- Tennessee
- Washington
The ReBet and KicKr excluded lists don’t currently include Tennessee, but they will.
