Tennessee just gained its fifth sports betting operator. On Wednesday, January 6, the state’s panel approved TwinSpires to join the sports betting fray in the Volunteer State.
Sports betting kicked off in November first in Tennessee. The Tennessee Lottery oversees sports betting in the state. Because there are no land-based casinos in the state, Tennessee allows online-only sportsbooks to operate without a retail partner.
TwinSpires joins four other operators on the list of approved Tennessee sports betting platform providers: BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, and Tennessee Action 24/7.
Churchill Downs Rebranding Play
Churchill Downs announced last week that it plans to rebrand its BetAmerica platform to TwinSpires. TwinSpires has long been Churchill Downs’ online horse racing brand, but it will now encompass the entire iGaming portfolio for the company.
The BetAmerica brand, formerly used for the company’s sportsbook, simply wasn’t performing well enough. The rebranded platform will debut in Michigan once the state allows online sportsbooks to launch. Tennessee will mark another key move for TwinSpires into a sports betting-friendly state.
“Our TwinSpires brand has consistently delivered over 13 years and is associated with more than a century of wagering experience. That history and heritage offers a unique point of difference in a competitive space,” said Bill Mudd, President and Chief Operating Officer of CDI in the press release announcing the rebrand. “We remain focused on building a profitable sports betting and iGaming business that provides our customers with an integrated experience alongside our horse racing wagering platform. The transition to TwinSpires not only generates marketing efficiencies, but also allows us to deliver a more complete overall experience to our growing online wagering customer base.”
Tennessee’s Growing Online Sportsbook Scene
Tennessee sports betting is on the rise, and TwinSpires rounds out the approved operator list to a total of five. The Tennessee Lottery will meet again in February 2021. That meeting will likely result in one or more additional operators garnering the organization’s approval.
In other words, expect 2021 to bring a number of key Tennessee sports betting developments, including new operators entering the market.
Written by: Cole Rush
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call or text the Tennessee REDLINE: 1-800-889-9789. Please Gamble Responsibly. 21+
