The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (SWC) released its monthly sports gaming report for July 2026, showing $410.2 million in adjusted handle across the state’s ten licensed mobile sportsbooks. The state collected $7.6 million in privilege tax during the month under Tennessee’s 1.85% handle-based tax structure. July’s total reflects the traditional summer trough in the US sports betting calendar, sitting well below April’s $480.8 million figure but still holding above the $400 million monthly threshold that has defined Tennessee’s mature market.
July 2026 by the numbers
The SWC report breaks the month into four published figures:
| Metric | July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Gross Wagers | $413,056,546 |
| Adjustments | $2,859,997 |
| Gross Handle (Taxable) | $410,196,549 |
| Privilege Tax Assessed | $7,588,636 |
Gross wagers represent total dollar volume of bets placed across all ten Tennessee-licensed operators during the month. Adjustments account for voided bets, refunded wagers, and corrections. Gross handle is the figure used as the basis for tax calculation.
The privilege tax of $7,588,636 reflects the 1.85% rate applied to the $410.2 million in gross handle. The math: $410,196,549 multiplied by 0.0185 equals $7,588,636.16, which the SWC reports rounded to the dollar.
The July drop is seasonal, not a market issue
July sits in the deepest valley of the US sports betting calendar. The NBA and NHL playoffs finished in mid-June. The NFL preseason does not start until early August, with regular-season kickoff in September. College football is still weeks away. The MLB regular season carries the bulk of daily handle, joined by WNBA, MLS, PGA Tour majors, Wimbledon-adjacent tennis, and UFC.
Comparing July to April:
| Metric | April 2026 | July 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Handle | $480.8M | $410.2M | -14.7% |
| Privilege Tax | $8.89M | $7.59M | -14.6% |
The 14.7% month-over-month drop is expected and mirrors seasonal patterns across every US mobile-only sports betting state. Tennessee’s July still cleared $410 million, which would have been a strong month in 2022 or 2023. The floor has moved up as the market matured.
What drove July handle
Without operator-level breakdowns from the SWC, market-share estimates rely on national reporting patterns. What likely drove Tennessee’s July numbers:
- MLB regular season peak. July hosts the All-Star Break and the trade deadline (July 30 in 2026). Braves and Reds action drives most in-state MLB volume for Tennessee bettors without a home-state MLB franchise.
- PGA Tour majors and playoff run-up. The Open Championship in mid-July and the FedEx Cup playoffs pushing into August generate futures and outright market volume.
- WNBA regular season. July is peak WNBA volume, with the All-Star Game and playoff jockeying.
- UFC pay-per-view. Multiple UFC PPV events in July drive per-event handle spikes.
- Preseason NFL futures. Season win totals, Super Bowl futures, and division winner markets see continued volume as bettors position ahead of training camps and preseason.
Handle-based tax continues to smooth revenue
Tennessee’s 1.85% handle tax structure is designed to make monthly state revenue predictable regardless of operator hold percentages. In a revenue-tax state (every other US jurisdiction), a summer month with fewer high-hold props (NFL, NCAA football) can produce disproportionately low tax revenue if operator hold drops. Tennessee’s handle-based structure eliminates that volatility.
For the state’s budget planning, July’s $7.6 million tax assessment is a reliable data point regardless of whether the ten licensed operators had a lucky or unlucky bookmaking month. Revenue funds the Lottery for Education Account (majority share), responsible gambling programs administered by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (which operates the Tennessee REDLINE at 1-800-889-9789), and local government infrastructure.
What August and September will look like
Two events reshape the calendar in the coming weeks:
- August: NFL preseason kicks off, driving early futures repricing. NCAA football rankings drop late in the month, moving national championship and conference championship futures. MLB pennant races intensify.
- September: NFL regular season begins (September 6). College football conference play opens. Tennessee handle typically jumps 30 to 50% from the July trough as the state’s largest single sport returns.
Historical patterns suggest Tennessee’s September handle will exceed $550 million, with October and November setting the annual peak as NFL and SEC football overlap.
What this means for Tennessee bettors
Three practical takeaways from the July report:
- Market remains healthy at seasonal low. Clearing $410 million during the softest month of the calendar demonstrates that Tennessee’s ten licensed operators have built durable customer bases, not just spike-heavy promotional volume.
- Promotional windows compress in summer. With fewer major events, TN sportsbooks run fewer boost promos. Bettors looking to deploy bonus bets may find more value waiting until NFL kickoff.
- August is the last low-volume month. If you want to open new TN accounts or clear rollover on existing bonuses, August offers less competition for customer support and faster live-chat response times than the September-through-January stretch.
For full context on Tennessee’s handle-based tax structure, see the Tennessee Sports Betting Laws section. For the previous month’s report, see our April 2026 SWC handle coverage.
Source
Tennessee Sports Wagering Council Monthly Sports Gaming Report, July 2026.