Tennessee’s sports betting program director steps down before launch

The director of Tennessee’s new online-only sports betting program has left the post before that market launches in the state. 

Tennessee Lottery spokesman Dave Smith said Jennifer Roberts’ last day was Friday, the Associated Press reports. She was appointed last December. Roberts tweeted last week she is joining video game gambling company GameCo. 

Today is my last day with the Tennessee Lottery and I’m super excited to be joining the team at @GameCoLLC as VP/General Counsel starting July 1.

— Jennifer Roberts (@JRoVegas) June 26, 2020

Smith also said the lottery has hired Danielle Boyd as sports gaming operations vice president and Danny DiRienzo as sports gaming investigator. Boyd headed government relations for William Hill U.S., and DiRienzo served as a Secret Service special agent for 22 years, where he investigated complex financial crimes.

Tennessee’s sports betting law passed narrowly in spring 2019. Republican Gov. Bill Lee let it become law without his signature, citing concerns over an expansion of gambling in Tennessee, a state without casinos.

Lottery officials approved sports betting rules in April, then began accepting applications for sportsbook operators and related vendors. No operators have been approved yet, while four marketing affiliates have been approved.