Tennessee panel conditionally OKs 4th sportsbook firm

AP photo by Wayne Parry / A gambler places a bet at the sportsbook at Bally's casino on June 27, 2019, in Atlantic City, N.J. The NFL has narrowed the gap between itself and wagering in recent years, with a big moving coming this past May when teams were cleared to sign sponsorship deals with gambling entities.
AP photo by Wayne Parry / A gambler places a bet at the sportsbook at Bally's casino on June 27, 2019, in Atlantic City, N.J. The NFL has narrowed the gap between itself and wagering in recent years, with a big moving coming this past May when teams were cleared to sign sponsorship deals with gambling entities.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A Tennessee panel on Monday conditionally approved a license for a fourth sportsbook operator under the state's online-only sports betting program, which is expected to begin allowing wagers Nov. 1.

Tennessee Action 24/7 drew approval from the Tennessee Lottery's Sports Wagering Committee, joining FanDuel, BetMGM and DraftKings.

The panel also continues to approve companies in various other roles for the state's sports betting market. An additional meeting is planned for Oct. 16.

There's no limit on the number of Tennessee qualified sportsbook operators.

State lawmakers narrowly passed sports betting in spring 2019 for people 21 and older who are physically in Tennessee when they place bets. Republican Gov. Bill Lee let it become law without his signature, citing concerns over an expansion of gambling in a state without casinos.

The law took effect in July 2019, but left many regulatory specifics up to the lottery, the sports betting regulator.

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