Tennessee Betting Progress Slows, Pushing It Possibly To 2020

Sports bettors at Tennessee expecting to bet about the Titans’ first snap of their regular season need to be happy just rooting for the home team a while longer.
State lawmakers and other officials confirm that setting up the nation’s first mobile-only sports gambling operation, in a state that where gambling is but prohibited, is taking longer than expected.
Optimistic estimates for first bets are at winter, with more realistic estimates in early 2020.
The Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation, which oversees sports betting, will create the regulations necessary for gambling to begin.
It also includes a nine-member advisory panel, chosen by the governor, lieutenant governor and Speaker of this House, who will counsel the lottery corporation on several topics such as tech assistance and best practices.
The betting bill became law on July 1. As of now, less than half the advisory panel members have been selected.
Lieutenant Gov. Randy McNally told reporters Thursday he’d prefer all nine members of the regulatory board be picked until guidelines for Tennessee sports betting are put.
McNally, who voted against sports betting has made two out of three board options: former FBI agent Brian Fazenbaker and Knox County’s Chief Deputy District Attorney General Samuel Lee.
Embattled GOP House Speaker Glen Casada, that supported the betting measure, also made two appointments on the board:?? Knoxville lawyer John Valliant Jr. along with lobbyist Thomas Lee.
Cadasa resigned his role as boss of their GOP-controlled House a week under a cloud of controversy regarding explicit text messages around girls, according to the Associated Press.
House Speaker nominee Rep. Cameron Sexton is predicted to create the third plank pick after formally becoming speaker later in the month in a particular legislative session.
Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who wasn’t supportive of expanded gambling in the state and let the legislation become law without his signature, has make some of his three appointments to the sport wagering council.
Lee said he will make choices in next few weeks and is not slowing down the procedure, the AP reported.
Regardless advancement in getting the ball rolling on implementing legal sports betting in Tennessee has slowed.
Regulations need to be in place prior to any betting can occur, according to lottery officials.
“According to the Tennessee Sports Gambling Act, the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation has been employed to make the essential rules and procedures needed for online sports wagering,” Tennessee Lottery spokesperson Kym Gerlock composed in an email to the Tennessean. “There is no timeline now, but we will post updates on our site as they are readily available.”
Sports betting is projected to generate up to $254 million in taxable gambling revenue annually.
Eighty percent of tax revenue will go ahead of the Lottery for Education Fund, 15 percent will go to local government infrastructure projects and 5% to the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Department to aid with those with gambling disorders including dependency.
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