Tennessee House Bill HB1885

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/21/26
• Refer: 2/4/26
• Refer: 3/17/26
• Refer: 3/31/26
• Refer: 4/14/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 8, Chapter 6, Part 4; Title 40, Chapter 2 and Title 47, relative to illegal activity.

Summary

HB1885 targets illegal online gambling, especially “online sweepstakes casinos” and other internet- or app-based gambling operations that use virtual currency, promotional credits, or similar systems to simulate casino-style play while offering cash or cash-equivalent prizes. The bill defines “online sweepstakes game” broadly to include games, contests, or promotions accessible online or on mobile devices that use purchased or bonus virtual currency and simulate gambling such as slots, video poker, table games, bingo, lottery-style games, or unlicensed sports wagering. The bill makes it unlawful to operate, conduct, commercially promote, support, or facilitate online sweepstakes games and other forms of online or app-based gambling in Tennessee, and also prohibits the sale or distribution of gambling devices and the operation or possession of gambling devices. It expressly preserves lawful activities under the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, Fantasy Sports Act, nonprofit gaming laws, and the Tennessee Education Lottery. Violations are treated as unfair or deceptive acts under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, bringing existing consumer-protection penalties and remedies into play. HB1885 also expands enforcement tools for the attorney general and reporter. It authorizes civil investigative demands, sworn statements, document production, examinations under oath, and court orders compelling compliance, while making investigative materials confidential and exempt from public records disclosure. The bill also removes the six-month limitations period for gaming-related prosecutions in Tennessee Code and adds a new consumer-protection violation tied to the prohibited conduct. In addition, the bill revises provisions related to sports wagering oversight, including giving the attorney general authority to investigate certain sports wagering violations and updating references from the sports wagering advisory council to the sports wagering council. It also changes venue and hearing procedures for sports wagering matters and broadens the council’s ability to investigate licensees and other persons based on credible complaints or suspected violations. The overall sentiment reflected in the committee votes is strongly favorable, with unanimous or near-unanimous support at each recorded stage and no recorded opposition. The bill’s stated purpose and the committee action suggest broad agreement that Tennessee should more aggressively target illegal gambling operations and strengthen consumer protections. The main point of contention, based on the text, is the breadth of the prohibition and enforcement authority: the bill reaches a wide range of online promotional gaming models and gives the attorney general substantial investigatory powers, while explicitly carving out lawful gaming activities to avoid affecting authorized gambling and lottery programs.

Impact

HB1885 would add a new part to the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act prohibiting online sweepstakes games and other online or app-based gambling, and would make violations unfair or deceptive trade practices subject to existing consumer-protection penalties. It also amends criminal limitations law by removing the special six-month limitations period for gaming offenses, and it expands the attorney general and reporter’s civil investigative authority, including confidentiality protections for investigative materials. The bill further amends Tennessee’s sports wagering statutes to clarify enforcement authority, procedures, and council terminology.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows unanimous support at every recorded committee stop, indicating a broadly favorable sentiment toward the bill. The bill is framed as a consumer-protection and public-safety measure aimed at curbing illegal gambling, and there is no recorded committee opposition in the materials provided. The discussion context suggests the measure is viewed as a response to the growth of online sweepstakes casinos and similar gambling platforms in Tennessee.

Contention

The primary substantive tension in the bill is between aggressive enforcement against illegal gambling and the risk of sweeping in borderline promotional or gaming models that use virtual currency, bonuses, or sweepstakes mechanics. The bill’s broad definitions and prohibition on “supporting” or “facilitating” online sweepstakes games could affect operators, affiliates, payment processors, and other service providers, though the text attempts to exempt lawful sports gaming, fantasy sports, nonprofit gaming, and the state lottery. Another possible point of concern is the expansion of attorney general investigative powers and the confidentiality of records, which increases enforcement capacity but reduces public transparency.