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Tennessee Code Title 39. Criminal Offenses § 39-17-501

Current as of January 02, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) “Antique coin machine” means a gambling device or record that is at least twenty-five (25) years old and that is operated, played, worked, manipulated, or used by inserting or depositing a coin, slug, token, or thing of value to play a game, see pictures, hear music, or provide any other form of entertainment and includes, but is not limited to, antique slot machines, antique gambling devices, or antique gaming machines;

(2) “Gambling” is contrary to the public policy of this state and means 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. For the purposes of this chapter gambling does not include:

(A) A lawful business transaction;

(B) Annual events operated for the benefit of nonprofit organizations that are authorized pursuant to a two-thirds ( 2/3 ) approval of the general assembly, so long as such events are not prohibited by the state constitution;

(C) A state lottery of the type in operation in Georgia, Kentucky, and Virginia in 2000 and authorized by amendment to the Constitution of Tennessee, if the lottery is approved by the general assembly;

(D) A fantasy sports contest conducted in accordance with the Fantasy Sports Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 49, part 2;

(E) Lawfully accepting or placing a wager on a sporting event in accordance with the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 49; or

(F) A low-level sports entertainment pool;

(3) “Gambling bet” means anything of value risked in gambling;

(4) “Gambling device or record” means anything designed for use in gambling, intended for use in gambling, or used for gambling;

(5) “Lawful business transaction,” as used in subdivision (2), includes any futures or commodities trading;

(6) “Lottery” means the selling of anything of value for chances on a prize or stake;

(7) “Low-level sports entertainment pool” or “pool” means a type of pari-mutuel betting:

(A) In which a participant:

(i) Pays money for participation in a pool; and

(ii) Makes selections based on the participant's predictions of either the outcome of a series of athletic contests of the same sport or the statistics of individual athletes selected by the participant to assemble an imaginary team of athletes;

(B) That does not involve laying odds; and

(C) That has the following characteristics:

(i) The total or cumulative entry fee paid by an individual participant is no more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00);

(ii) The total pool is no more than one thousand dollars ($1,000); and

(iii) The pool is managed by an individual and not by any type of business entity; and

(8) “Profit” means anything of value in addition to the gambling bet.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Tennessee Code Title 39. Criminal Offenses § 39-17-501 - last updated January 02, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-39-criminal-offenses/tn-code-sect-39-17-501/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

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