Online sports betting launched recently in Tennessee, marking a huge departure from the state’s previously strict gambling laws. However, despite this development, online poker and offline poker still remain illegal in the state.
Still, there’s another option for Tennessee online poker enthusiasts: sweepstakes poker. One popular sweepstakes poker site in the US, Global Poker, allows players to enjoy online poker without wagering any real money. Thanks to this technicality, it’s exempt from antigambling legislation.
Below, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Global Poker and how it works in Tennessee.
The Best Sweepstakes Online Poker Site In Tennessee
As it doesn’t have any real competition, Global Poker is the best online sweepstakes poker site in Tennessee. However, it’s an excellent sweepstakes poker site in its own right. While it doesn’t have any mobile apps, it does offer a responsive and mobile-optimized web-based client.
Global Poker allows poker enthusiasts to enjoy a wide variety of poker tournaments and games all thanks to its elegant sweepstakes model that has allowed it to operate in 49 states so far.
The mobile poker site is robust, easy to navigate, and includes several design features that make it easier to use depending on your preferences. While it doesn’t have some of the more detailed animations or advanced functions of larger, legal poker sites, Global Poker is still an excellent alternative to offshore or illegal poker sites.
Global Poker also offers pretty decent opening bonuses. By verifying your new account through SMS, you can get a $20 Gold Coin package, allowing you to jump into several tournaments or games right off the bat. An additional purchase bonus valued at $40 worth of Gold Coins is added to your first $20 purchase.
Five Minute Guide To Sweepstakes Online Poker In Tennessee
How Does Online Sweepstakes Poker Work In Tennessee?
In Tennessee, online sweepstakes poker sites work the same as they do elsewhere. In a nutshell, Tennessee and many other states allow sweepstakes contests. On these sites, players are allowed to purchase “Gold Coins”, which they can then use to play games like poker or other slot games.
However, since players do not actually gamble real money on sweepstakes sites, no laws are broken.
With Global Poker, players purchase bundles of Gold Coins that come with Sweeps Coins. They then use those coins as currency in various online poker games and tournaments. Gold Coins are the currency for social play and Sweeps Coins are the currency for games that offer a chance to win real cash prizes.
How Do You Win Cash Prizes By Playing Poker?
In Global Poker and other sweepstakes poker sites, players can win cash prizes by earning and playing with Sweeps Coins.
Players cannot purchase Sweeps Coins with real money. Instead, players usually get a small number of Sweeps Coins with every Gold Coin bundle purchase. In addition, they may win a small number of Sweeps Coins for participating in or winning certain poker tournaments.
Sweeps Coins can then be used in Sweeps-only poker games and tournaments. Once a player acquires a certain number of Sweeps Coins, they can trade the Sweeps Coins in for cash prizes. Cash prizes are wired directly to player accounts or linked bank accounts.
How Do You Access Sweepstakes Poker Sites In Tennessee?
Global Poker is the only legal online sweepstakes poker site in Tennessee. Since Global Poker doesn’t have a mobile app, players will need to navigate to the Global Poker website using either a desktop, laptop, or mobile device.
If you plan to enjoy Global Poker with a mobile device, rest assured that your experience will be seamless and streamlined. The website is optimized for mobile devices, automatically changing the size of certain elements or icons to better suit a smaller screen.
How Do Purchases Work At Tennessee’s Sweepstakes Poker Sites?
At Global Poker in Tennessee, players can quickly and easily purchase Gold Coin bundles using regular bank cards like Visa or MasterCard. Unfortunately, Global Poker doesn’t allow PayPal-based purchases, but it does allow payments through Skrill, another electronic wallet.
What Are The Sweepstakes Poker Deposit And Redemption Options?
At Global Poker in Tennessee, players can make deposits to purchase Gold Coin bundles using Visa or MasterCard credit or debit cards. Alternatively, they can link a Skrill account to the site.
Gold Coins cannot be cashed out since they are not worth any real-world money. However, players can eventually accumulate enough Sweeps Coins to exchange for cash prizes. With Global Poker, the minimum Sweeps Coins necessary for a cash prize redemption is 50.
When you’re ready for redemption, you can do so through either a local bank transfer or to your linked Skrill account.
How Does Entry By Mail Work At Sweepstakes Poker Sites?
Global Poker allows players to request Sweeps Coins via post, as do most other sweepstakes contests or websites. This is a great way to get free Sweeps Coins without having to play any poker tournaments or place your limited Sweeps Coins on the line.
To do this, players must:
- Take a white 4” x 6” cars
- Write their full name, the email address registered to their Global Poker account, and the following statement: “I wish to receive sweeps coins to participate in the sweepstakes promotions offered by Global Poker. By submitting this request, I hereby declare that I have read, understood, and agree to be bound by Global Poker’s Terms and Conditions and Sweeps Rules”
- Place that card in a stamped number 10 envelope addressed to the following location: VGV Games Limited, Global Poker Sweepstakes Department, PO Box #8486, Portsmouth, NH 03801
After sending this request, players will receive five Sweeps Coins within a few business days. Sweeps coins will be automatically credited to their Global Poker account.
Players can only place one request card per envelope.
What Is The Difference Between Sweepstakes Poker And Legal Online Poker Sites?
A legal online poker site can only operate in states where legal poker gambling is allowed. With legal online poker sites, players can put real cash on the line with various poker tournaments and games.
However, sweepstakes poker does not technically allow players to put any money down on any games. Instead, players purchase worthless digital currencies like Gold Coins. Then, players use the Gold Coins to participate in poker tournaments or games.
This circumvents most states’ antigambling rules since most antigambling legislation specifies that players can’t use real money for games of chance.
Status Of Online Gambling In Tennessee
Historically, Tennessee has had pretty strict antigambling laws, with the recent exception of allowing online sports betting. The Sports Gaming Act of 2019 allowed sports betting only in the online format. This is notable since most other states that recently legalized online sports betting also simultaneously relaxed many of their other antigambling laws.
But Tennessee’s state government still does not allow any casino activities to take place, nor the construction of any brick-and-mortar casinos. Furthermore, it doesn’t allow poker games except for sweepstakes varieties.
However, it’s possible that Tennessee’s government may relax with these restrictions sometime in the near future. The state’s sports betting market just launched in November 2020. As the state receives increased tax revenue from sports betting winnings, the government may reconsider its position on other gambling activities.
Is It Safe To Play Sweepstakes Poker In Tennessee?
Are Sweepstakes Sites Legal In Tennessee?
Yes. Tennessee does allow sweepstakes competitions. At this time, only Global Poker is allowed for sweepstakes poker activities. This situation is mirrored in most other US states, which technically allow lots of sweepstakes poker sites. But Global Poker dominates the poker market throughout the US.
Is My Information Safe On Sweepstakes Poker Apps?
Yes. Global Poker uses advanced online security and SSL certification on its main website. This protects users’ information from hackers or data scoopers. So even if you provide personal information to sign up for an account, you’ll likely be safe from identity theft.
What Are The Types Of Games Available At Sweepstakes Poker Sites In Tennessee?
Global Poker offers a wide variety of games and tournaments. For instance, it offers ring games, various weekend and weekday tournaments, and “Sit-N-Go’s” (online poker tournaments that begin as soon as a certain number of players have signed up). These games feature fixed buy-in rates and usually end within 20 to 60 minutes, making them a great choice for spontaneous or short-term program players.
Ring games are some of Global Poker’s most popular poker games. These are usually No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em with six players or nine players.
Some of the most popular Global Poker tournaments include the Sunday major, which has a 50,000-Sweeps Coin guarantee with a 200+ Sweeps Coin buy-in. Meanwhile, the free-roll poker tournament is a perfect choice for new players. They offer generous prize pools of up to 1000 Sweeps Coins with relatively low buy-in limits, making them a great choice for those who don’t have a lot of Gold or Sweeps Coins built up yet.
However, keep in mind that the vast majority of Global Poker’s games are Texas Hold ‘Em, usually No-Limit. This does mean that more niche or rare variance of poker aren’t usually available, so enthusiasts for those games will have to miss out.
Still, Global Poker offers an excellent spread of different game challenge levels, tournament variety, and game times.
Tennessee Sweepstakes Poker FAQ
Can I Win Real Money At Sweepstakes Poker Sites?
Not really. Instead, sweepstakes poker sites allow you to progressively earn Sweeps Coins over time by purchasing Gold Coin bundles and participating in Sweeps Coins games and tournaments.
After you accumulate a certain number of Sweeps Coins, you can exchange those coins for cash prizes. So you don’t ever “win” money with sweepstakes poker sites. But you can eventually get cash prizes in a roundabout way.
How Old Do I Have To Be To Use Global Poker In Tennessee?
Global Poker requires that all players be 21-years-old or older in Tennessee and in other states.
How Do I Get Cash Prizes From Sweepstakes Sites If I Win?
With Global Poker and other sweepstakes sites, you’ll get cash prizes by earning Sweeps Coins up to a certain minimum threshold. Then, you can exchange those Sweeps Coins for cash prizes, usually at a 1 Sweeps Coin = $1 ratio (though this can vary from place to place).
After exchanging your Sweeps Coins for a prize, the sweepstakes site in question will wire you the money to either a linked bank account or to some other electronic wallet.
When Is The Best Time To Play Sweepstakes Poker In TN?
Global Poker is a pretty active site all throughout the day, although its player population count spikes over the weekends and in the evenings of weekdays. This often coincides with various tournaments.
For instance, Global Poker regularly offers a weekly special tournament that allows you to win 100x the buy-in amount for both Sweeps Coins and Gold Coins. Player counts usually increase during tournament times since everyone is trying to win big.
Evenings and weekends are popular timeslots since it’s when most people have time off from work and other obligations.
Will People Who Like Online Poker Like Sweepstakes Poker?
Yes. Global Poker, being the only available online sweepstakes poker site in Tennessee, has a healthy population of both skilled and novice players all the time. Thus, even experienced online poker enthusiasts should find players and tournaments worthy of their skill level.
In addition, Global Poker is a safe, legitimate online poker site instead of a potentially risky offshore or illegal poker site.
Can You Play Casino Games At Sweepstakes Poker Sites In Tennessee?
No. Global Poker doesn’t have any casino games on its main website. However, there are plenty of other sweepstakes sites legal in Tennessee. Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots, for example, allow players to enjoy slots games and other casino activities using the same sweepstakes rules as Global Poker.