Visitors to Nashville often ask about gambling options. While the city offers diverse entertainment, traditional gambling establishments are limited. This article clarifies the current status of gambling in Nashville and Tennessee.
Current Gambling Status in Nashville
Nashville does not host traditional land-based, riverboat, or tribal casinos. This means slot machines, table games, and poker rooms are not found within city limits. The only physical gambling presence involves retailers selling Tennessee Education Lottery tickets.
While mobile sports wagering is legal statewide, physical sportsbooks or casino-style betting lounges are not in Nashville. Tennessee’s conservative stance on gambling has shaped the types of gaming permitted in the state and its capital.
Legal Gambling Options in Tennessee
Across Tennessee, including Nashville, several forms of gambling are legally available. The Tennessee Education Lottery, established to fund education initiatives, permits various games. Players can participate in drawing games like Powerball and Mega Millions, along with in-state options such as Cash 3, Cash 4, Daily Tennessee Jackpot, and Tennessee Cash. A wide selection of instant scratch-off tickets is also available at numerous retail locations statewide.
Charitable organizations can conduct limited gambling activities for fundraising. Qualified 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) non-profit organizations may host one annual gaming event, which can include raffles, reverse raffles, cakewalks, and cakewheels. However, casino games like slot machines, roulette, and bingo are explicitly prohibited in these events.
Tennessee also allows mobile sports betting for individuals aged 21 and older through approved online platforms statewide. This gambling is strictly digital, without physical sportsbooks or casino operations. Despite these options, Tennessee prohibits commercial casino developments, distinguishing itself from many neighboring states.
Exploring Nearby Casino Destinations
For those seeking traditional casino gaming, several neighboring states offer legal options within a reasonable driving distance from Nashville. Mississippi, particularly the Tunica area, is home to numerous casinos featuring slot machines, table games, and resort amenities. Tunica is approximately a 208 to 248-mile drive southwest from Nashville, typically taking around three to four hours.
Kentucky presents closer options, such as The Mint Gaming Hall in Franklin, Kentucky, located about 35 miles north of Nashville. This venue primarily offers over 1,000 slot machines but does not feature live table games or poker. Another Kentucky destination, Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel, approximately 57 miles from Nashville, provides slot-like historical racing machines.
Other nearby states with casino options include Illinois, with Harrah’s Metropolis Casino & Hotel approximately 150 miles away, and Arkansas, where Southland Casino Racing in West Memphis is about 201 miles from Nashville. Further options exist in Missouri, such as Lady Luck Casino Caruthersville, roughly 160 miles from Nashville.