Tennessee regulators are drawing attention to the risks surrounding unlicensed online betting as three international sportsbooks face cease-and-desist demands for allegedly accepting wagers in the state without authorization.
The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (TSWC) identified Heritage Sports of Costa Rica, Thunderpick of Belize and Voltage Bet of Curacao as operators that it says violated the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act. The council said the companies accepted wagers despite lacking Tennessee licenses.
The enforcement action also focused attention on the protections attached to the state’s regulated sports wagering system. Officials said licensed sportsbooks must follow requirements that include keeping people under 21 from wagering and refusing credit wagers.
For bettors, the council said several practices can help identify an operator that is outside Tennessee’s legal framework. These include accepting wagers from customers younger than 21, extending credit, taking cryptocurrency and offering casino-style products such as slots or online poker. Chance-based wagers, including coin tosses, were also listed among the indicators.
Regulators Highlight Consumer Exposure
TSWC Executive Director Mary Beth Thomas warned that an online sportsbook’s availability does not establish that it has permission to operate in Tennessee.
“Not all sportsbook apps or websites available online are licensed to do business in Tennessee, but they will gladly take a patron’s money and personal information, regardless of their age. When something goes wrong – such as the unlicensed sportsbook refusing to return winnings or misusing or selling personal information – the patron will not have any recourse through the Sports Wagering Council.” TSWC Executive Director Mary Beth Thomas said. “We continue to work closely with our network of law enforcement at the state and federal levels to shut down these risky illegal enterprises and protect Tennesseans.”
Her comments point to the consequences regulators associate with using unauthorized betting services. The council said customers using those sites do not receive the same consumer protections required within Tennessee’s licensed market.
July Wagering Shows Size Of Legal Market
The action against the three sportsbooks comes as Tennessee’s regulated sports wagering market continues to record substantial betting activity.
The council’s July 2026 monthly report showed $413,056,546 in gross wagers between July 1 and July 31. Adjustments totaled $2,859,997, leaving a gross handle of $410,196,549. The report also recorded $7,588,636 in privilege tax assessed during the month.
Alongside the financial figures, Tennessee’s enforcement framework allows the TSWC to penalize sportsbooks that accept wagers without a license. The first offense carries a potential $10,000 fine, followed by $15,000 for a second offense and $25,000 for a third.
The council said it continues working with state and federal law enforcement agencies to address illegal betting operations. The latest demands against Heritage Sports, Thunderpick and Voltage Bet form part of that effort, while the July figures show the scale of wagering taking place through Tennessee’s regulated system.
Source:
“Tennessee Sports Wagering Council issues cease and desist demands to 3 illegal sportsbooks”, wkrn.com, August 11, 2026
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