Gambling is illegal in Tennessee, and, as a result, Tennessee courts will not look kindly on lawsuits to enforce gambling debts. This includes gaming losses and debts incurred for the purpose of gambling (i.e. a loan from a casino for in-house gambling).
This hostility is codified in Tennessee statutes. Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-19-101 provides that: “All contracts founded, in whole or in part, on a gambling or wagering consideration, shall be void to the extent of such consideration.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-19-102 states: “No money, or property of any kind, won by any species or mode of gambling, shall be recovered by action.”
To show how serious they are, there’s Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-19-103, which imposes a $100 fine against any person who files a lawsuit based on a gambling debt. In fact, the next statute, Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-19-103 says that a losing gambler can sue to recover his losses in an action.
But, Tennessee Courts have allowed lawsuits to collect gambling loans and losses where the gambling debts were incurred in a state where gambling is legal.
This is seen in both: (1) lawsuits filed by out-of-state casinos to enforce gambling debts in Tennessee (see Robinson Prop. Grp., L.P. v. Russell, W2000-00331-COA-R3CV, 2000 WL 33191371 (Tenn. Ct. App. Nov. 22, 2000); and (2) enforcement actions to domesticate foreign judgments based on gambling debts (see Mirage v. Pearsall, 02A01-9609-CV-00198, 1997 WL 275589 (Tenn.Ct . App.1997).
The Tennessee Court of Appeals has reasoned “it would be a great injustice if Tennesseans could reap the benefits of gambling in states where it is legal when they are successful, but seek shelter in Tennessee courts when they lose.”
Keep in mind, however, if you file a lawsuit to enforce a gambling debt incurred in Tennessee–where gambling is illegal–it’s no crap-shoot: you’re probably going to have to pay the $100 fine.
Creditors Rights 101 