Mary Beth Thomas added to Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Council

The Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Council has appointed Mary Beth Thomas to the role of Executive Director, with all council members voting in her favor.
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The Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Council has appointed Mary Beth Thomas to the role of Executive Director, with all nine council members voting in her favor.

The Thursday vote by the council sees Thomas become the latest Executive Director, adding to its team ahead of when it takes over the regulation of sports betting in the Volunteer State from the Tennessee Lottery by January.

She beat Roger Guillemette and Scott Sloan in the vote to earn the role.

Thomas steps into the role with experience in the gaming sector, as she currently serves as the general counsel in Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office, whose duties in Tennessee include regulating fantasy sports and charitable gaming.

Tennessee’s sports betting law was passed in spring 2019, with the first bets being placed in November last year.

In August, Tennessee sportsbooks saw a continuation of the summer slowdown, matching July’s 2021 low in wagers ahead of the year’s busiest four-month stretch, according to PlayTenn.

Bettors in the Volunteer State placed $144.5m in wagers during August, equal to July, according to official data released by the Tennessee Education Lottery and Sports Wagering Advisory Council.