NASHVILLE -- A bill legalizing online sports betting in Tennessee is on its way to Gov. Bill Lee after narrowly winning final approval in the House despite last-minute appeals from opponents.
The vote was 51-40. A bill require 50 votes to pass.
It earlier passed the Senate on a 19-12 vote.
Sponsored by Sen. Steve Dickerson, R-Nashville, and Rep. Rick Staples, D-Knoxville, House Bill 1 would allow and regulate statewide mobile and interactive sports gambling for persons ages 21 and over.
Tennessee Education Lottery officials would be in charge of implementing and overseeing the program which would impose a 20% privilege tax on online gambling, estimated to bring in $41 million for the lottery, $7.6 million for local governments, and $2.5 million for the Department of Mental Health to fund gambling-addiction programs.
Dickerson says sports gambling is already widespread in Tennessee and his legislation will bring it "off the street corners" and put it under regulation.
Critics say odds are that legalizing sports betting will boost addiction problems. Bill opponent Sen. Janice Bowling, R-Tullahoma, told colleagues during debate that it turns the current "black market" into a government-sanctioned "gray" market.
The original bill, which would have permitted brick-and-mortar betting shops, was eliminated from the measure due to opposition from Republican Gov. Bill Lee.
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow on Twitter @AndySher1.
