Larry Henry is a veteran print and broadcast reporter and editor who has been a political editor at the Las Vegas Sun and managing editor at KFSM-TV, the CBS affiliate in Northwest Arkansas. Larry also has experience with media outlets in other states with gaming, including Tennessee and Louisiana.
Beginning Monday, Russian and Belarusian leagues and teams will be suspended from the approved list for sports betting in Tennessee, according to the state’s top gaming regulator.
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
“Until further notice, Russian and Belarusian governing bodies, leagues, teams, players and events are hereby suspended from approval under the Sports Gaming Approved Events for Sports Wagering,” according to a memorandum from Mary Beth Thomas.
Thomas is the Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Council’s executive director. The nine-member council regulates gaming in Tennessee.
Tennessee does not have brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, but mobile wagering has been legal in the state since November 2020.
Several online bookmakers offer apps that people can download on their smartphones and computers to place bets anywhere in the state.
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Terms and conditions apply. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. This promotional offer is not available in Mississippi, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
The memo from Thomas specifies that wagering will be suspended beginning Monday at 5 p.m. CT on Russian and Belarusian leagues and teams in those categories.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February, governments and private businesses have imposed sanctions on Russia. Belarus has been aligned with Russia in the invasion.
Must be 21+ to participate. T&Cs Apply. Play Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, DC, IL, KY, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, VA, WV, WY), Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS), 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov. (NC), Call or Text 800-889-9789 (TN).
In Tennessee, gaming regulators have targeted Russian and Belarusian leagues for exclusion from wagering.
“The Council has identified the Belarus Extraleague and the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) as league entries on our Sports Gaming Approved Events for Sports Wagering that should be suspended,” the memo states.
The memo notes that the approved events list will be updated on the council’s website.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Fees may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Get 1 promo code to redeem discounted NFL Sunday Ticket subscription and max. $300 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Limited time offer. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. NFL Sunday Ticket: YouTube TV base plan (not included in this offer) required to watch NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV. Subscription auto-renews yearly at then-current price (currently $378 for YouTube TV subscribers, or $480 for YouTube subscribers); cancel anytime. Terms, restrictions, embargoes and eligibility requirements apply. No refunds. Digital-only games excluded. Commercial use excluded. Addt’l terms: https://tv.youtube.com/learn/nflsundayticket/draftkings/. Offer ends 9/29/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
Players Outside Russian, Belarus Not Prohibited
The memo adds that online bookmakers are “highly encouraged to review their offerings to identify additional governing bodies, leagues, teams, players and events representing Russia and Belarus, and suspend them from their wagering offerings.”
A note at the bottom of the memo indicates that players from other countries participating in Russian or Belarusian leagues or teams “are considered to be participating in prohibited wager markets in Tennessee.”
Must be 21+ to participate. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, IL, IA, KY, KS, LA, MD, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ). Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Deposit required. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bets wager excluded from returns. New Customer only. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Code is for marketing/tracking purposes.
However, Russian or Belarusian players participating outside of their home countries “are not considered to be participating in prohibited wager markets.”
In North America, the National Hockey League has 41 Russian-born players, according to USA Today.
The NHL has a team in Tennessee, the Nashville Predators.
According to the team's website, The Predators have one Russian-born player, center Yakov Trenin, on the current roster.
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