bet365 Lights Up Tennessee with March Madness Launch
Tennessee’s sports betting scene just got a new player: bet365 officially went live in the Volunteer State on March 16, 2025, perfectly timed with the tip-off of March Madness.
A Slam-Dunk Debut
The launch process kicked off when the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council granted bet365 its license on February 11, 2025. Just over a month later, on March 16, the platform flipped the switch, syncing up with the start of the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments.
Tennessee now joins 12 other states in bet365’s American playbook, following a rollout in Illinois on March 13. Players 21 and up can sign up at tn.bet365.com, tapping into a sportsbook that’s been building steam since its U.S. debut in New Jersey back in 2019.
To sweeten the deal, bet365’s rolling out welcome offers for Tennesseans. New users can snag $150 in bonus bets just by placing a $5 wager, win or lose. Plus, there’s a “super boosted” odds special tied to the University of Tennessee’s opening March Madness game, giving local fans an extra reason to jump in.
A bet365 spokesperson highlighted the state’s rabid sports appetite, promising a packed lineup of betting options and promos to match.
A Digital Betting Pioneer
What sets Tennessee apart? It’s the first U.S. market to go all-in on regulated online betting without a brick-and-mortar anchor. Since legalizing sports wagering in 2020, the state’s built a digital-first ecosystem, 12 legal apps now, with bet365 as the latest.
That online-only vibe fits bet365’s wheelhouse, letting it flex its global expertise in a region where college hoops and football reign supreme. The March Madness tie-in’s no accident; bracket fever’s a goldmine for drawing new bettors.
Before Tennessee, bet365’s U.S. map already spanned Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia, with Illinois as the 12th piece. Tennessee’s license came faster than Illinois’, where approval lagged from December 2024 to early March. The quick pivot to launch No. 13 shows bet365’s got its expansion rhythm down pat.
With 12 apps already live, the competition is stiff, but bet365’s pedigree (it’s a heavyweight in Europe) and timely promos could carve out a solid chunk of the market.
For the state, it’s more revenue in the tank. Tennessee’s 20% tax on betting revenue fuels education and infrastructure, and bet365’s entry could push 2025’s haul past last year’s $83 million.
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