SWC Demands Illegal Sportsbook Lowvig Cease Operations in Tennessee
Bettors Encouraged to Withdraw Funds ImmediatelyNASHVILLE -- The Sports Wagering Council (SWC) demands in a cease and desist letter that illegal offshore sportsbook Lowvig end its operations in Tennessee and allow all Tennessee customers to withdraw any funds currently held.
Lowvig is operating in Tennessee in violation of the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, unlawfully accepting wagers without a license, and the sportsbook has until May 29 to comply.
Eliminating illegal sportsbooks from Tennessee is a primary focus of the SWC with its mission to protect the public interest of Tennessee through a safe and regulated sports betting environment.
In April the SWC issued $150,000 total in fines to Xbet, BetUS and MyBookie, and in November 2024 Bovada shut down after the SWC issued $50,000 in fines to the illegal offshore sportsbook.
Additionally, any businesses in Tennessee working in conjunction with illegal offshore sportsbooks could face criminal penalties. Those interested can always go to tn.gov/swac for a list of licensees and vendors approved to do business in Tennessee.
“Licensed online sportsbook operators provide important player protections not found in the illegal market, including protecting consumers, holding reserves to pay wagers and keeping personal information secure,” SWC Executive Director Mary Beth Thomas said. “In stark contrast to our legal sportsbooks, illegal operators such as Lowvig choose to violate state and federal law and do not offer any of the same consumer protections the law requires of licensed entities, and we will continue our work to eradicate these bad actors from the market.”
Tennessee is the largest “online-only” sports betting market in the U.S., with more than $4.7 billion a year wagered in Tennessee through online sportsbooks licensed by the SWC.
The Sports Gaming Act authorizes the Council to impose a $10,000 fine for the first offense of accepting wagers without a license, which rises to $15,000 for the second offense, and $25,000 for the third offense.
Subsequent offenses may lead to the imposition of a $25,000 fine for each occurrence, with an occurrence being a single wager accepted in Tennessee.
Illegal sportsbooks can often be identified by these factors, all of which are illegal in Tennessee:
- Extending credit;
- Wagering with cryptocurrency; and
- Offering casino games, such as slots or online poker, or chance-based wagers, such as the coin toss or the color of the Gatorade.
Licensed sportsbooks must also follow certain restrictions under state law, such as prohibiting individuals under 21 years old from wagering and refusing to allow wagering on credit.
About the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council
The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council’s primary role is to protect the public interest of Tennessee through a safe, regulated sports gambling environment. The SWC oversees the licensing and registration process for online sports wagering operators, sports wagering vendors, and fantasy sports operators. The state agency monitors and enforces compliance with the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act and the Tennessee antasy Sports Act and related rules, including the assessment of the State’s privilege tax on sportsbooks.
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