The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (SWC) has released its financial report for December, revealing a notable contraction in the state’s sports betting market.
In a sharp reversal of recent growth trends, the gross sports betting handle for the Volunteer State fell by 16.7 per cent year-on-year, dropping from US$569.8 million in the previous year to $536.2 million.
Holiday Season Fails to Boost Wagers
The report highlights a broader cooling of activity across the state’s regulated platforms during the holiday period. When adjusting for specific market factors, gross wagers for December totalled $540.4 million. This represents a 5.6 per cent decline compared to the $572.7 million recorded in December 2024. Consequently, the dip in volume had a direct impact on state coffers, with privilege tax collections amounting to $9.9 million, a decrease of 5.7 per cent year-on-year.
Month-on-Month Trends and Market Outlook
The month-on-month comparison paints an even starker picture of the slowdown. Gross wagers were down 16.5 per cent compared to November, while the gross handle plummeted by 16.7 per cent. Such fluctuations are not uncommon in mature markets, yet the double-digit drop has drawn attention from industry analysts monitoring the long-term sustainability of post-pandemic betting surges.
While no specific external catalyst was cited in the raw data for the decline, the figures suggest a potential tightening of consumer discretionary spending or a rigorous correction following a heavy sporting calendar earlier in the quarter. Tennessee stands out as a sports betting unique market in the United States due to its mobile-only structure, lacking the brick-and-mortar casinos that anchor other jurisdictions.
As the state moves into the new fiscal quarter, stakeholders will be keenly observing whether this December dip represents a seasonal anomaly or the beginning of a plateau for Tennessee’s wagering sector.
