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The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council has sent a cease and desist warning to BetOnline, an illegal sportsbook operator based overseas. BetOnline is in violation of the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act because it accepts wagers with no license, according to the SWC. The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council has taken decisive action against offshore sportsbook operator BetOnline, issuing a cease and desist letter demanding the site halt all operations within the state by June 16. The move marks a continued crackdown on illegal sports betting platforms, as the Council seeks to protect the integrity and legality of Tennessee's booming online sports wagering market. Illegal operations spark regulatory action BetOnline has been operating in Tennessee without a license, violating the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act. The Act mandates that all sportsbooks accepting wagers from Tennessee residents must be licensed and regulated by the SWC. In response, the Council has ordered BetOnline to cease accepting bets in the state and is urging all Tennessee-based bettors to immediately withdraw any funds held in accounts with the illegal operator. "Shuttering illegal sportsbooks will benefit the legalized market, our licensed operators, and the public good in Tennessee," said Mary Beth Thomas, Executive Director of the SWC. "Illegal offshore sportsbooks are not going to go away easily, but we envision a Tennessee where all sports wagers are legal." Ongoing enforcement and fines The action against BetOnline is part of a broader campaign by the SWC to clean up the state's sports betting landscape. Over the past two months, the Council has levied a total of $200,000 in fines against offshore operators such as BetUS, BUSR, Xbet, and MyBookie. In November 2024, Bovada - a major offshore sportsbook - shut down operations in Tennessee after receiving a $50,000 fine. In April alone, cease and desist letters were also issued to Lowvig and Sportsbetting.ag, two additional offshore entities found to be unlawfully taking bets from Tennessee residents. Harsh penalties for repeat offenders Under the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, the SWC is authorized to impose fines escalating with each offense. The first offense for accepting bets without a license carries a $10,000 fine, increasing to $15,000 for a second offense and $25,000 for a third. Beyond that, each individual wager can be penalized at $25,000 per instance. Businesses based in Tennessee that are found to be facilitating or working with illegal offshore sportsbooks could also face criminal penalties, further demonstrating the seriousness of the state's commitment to eradicating unlicensed operators. Spotting illegal sportsbooks The SWC warns consumers to be on the lookout for telltale signs of illegal sportsbooks, which include: Offering wagers using cryptocurrency Extending lines of credit to bettors Providing casino-style games such as slots, online poker, or chance-based wagers like coin tosses or prop bets unrelated to skill These features are strictly prohibited under Tennessee law. In contrast, licensed operators in the state are bound by consumer protection regulations, including the requirement to safeguard user funds and personal information, prohibit underage betting, and disallow credit-based wagering. A growing legal market Tennessee remains the largest 'online-only' sports betting market in the United States, with over $4.8 billion wagered during the current fiscal year through state-licensed sportsbooks. The SWC continues to work closely with state and federal law enforcement to bring offenders to justice and uphold the standards of Tennessee's legal betting industry. For a complete list of approved vendors and operators, residents are encouraged to visit tn.gov/swac. The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council is the state's primary regulatory body for online sports betting. Its mission is to protect the public interest by ensuring a fair, secure, and legal wagering environment. The Council oversees licensing, enforces compliance, and administers privilege taxes on licensed operators under both the Tennessee Fantasy Sports Act and the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act.

In a night where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made his new shoe colorway debut and received the Michael Jordan MVP award, Oklahoma City fans were ecstatic with a lot of celebrating as the Thunder also went on to take a 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves following a 118-103 victory at home. Minnesota was expected to respond after that tough loss in Game 1, and yet OKC held their ground and kept the fight alive to make sure that the Timberwolves would not get a chance to steal one at Paycom Center. So far, the result has been promising, and it cannot be denied that the Thunder have really owned this series. With Games 3 and 4 set in Minnesota, OKC now looks forward for a chance to come up with impressive performances and keep the same pace as they expect the Timberwolves to pack a huge punch to at least keep their season alive. For now, fans may want to bask in the victory by the Thunder as this series may or may not, return home to OKC for another bout. A Total Struggle by Minnesota Anthony Edwards was asked to step up and be more aggressive in his second game against the Thunder after a dismal performance in Game 1. Sure, the athletic guard scored 32 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, but he shot 1-of-9 from three, and 12-for-26 overall in the game. That is a disappointing note considering that he is one of the most relentless, consistent, and elite scorers in the game. Nothing was seen from the bigs of Minnesota as well. Julius Randle was held to just six points on 2-of-11 shooting after dropping 28 points in Game 1. Rudy Gobert still struggled to find his worth on the court with just five points on five shot attempts. Naz Reid off the bench had 10 points but missed eight threes. Still, it was an impressive game of response from Jaden McDaniels (22 points) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (17 points). But Minnesota collapsed on the attack and had a lot of turnovers with 14 compared to the Thunder’s six. Even though they had more free throws made and attempted, it didn’t seem to matter at all. Oklahoma City struggled to shoot from three with just nine on 33 attempts, but neither could Minnesota take advantage of that as they shot 11-of-39 points themselves. A Big Night for OKC’s Big 3 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominated the game in his MVP night with a career playoff-high of 38 points to go along with eight assists. However, it was the impressive contribution of Jalen Williams, who scored 26 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists – and Chet Holmgren dropping 22 points with a lot of explosive plays definitely did the trick once more. For what it is worth, the Thunder trio combined for a total of 86 points of their 118 points. Most of the stories over the course of the playoffs have been about the Thunder bench being so deep and effective, but now the night belonged to the core trio that kicked off this massive campaign that was just three years in the making. OKC now stands with a 7-1 record at home in the playoffs, and it will stay that way until either the NBA Finals, or if they drop one game on the road. After all, the goal is to steal at least one game against Minnesota on their home floor, and finish the deed at home.