Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsFollowing his graduation with an Honors in Business Administration, Nick redirected his focus from conventional stocks and bonds to the world of sports team performance investments. He employs a unique blend of advanced statistics and historical data to construct intricate sports investment models, pinpointing value opportunities and consistently yielding profits. Nick's contributions extend beyond a single platform, as his work can be discovered on outlets such as Pistons Powered, Winners And Whiners, and numerous other publications.
All posts by Nick RaffoulBettors have a growing number of March Madness betting sites available. Throughout this page, we will take an in-depth look at the top March Madness betting websites, discuss odds, and explain how to earn bonus cash.
College basketball is in the spotlight for another thrilling edition of March Madness. Approximately 50 million Americans are projected to bet on this year’s NCAA Tournament as the sports betting industry continues to blossom across all 50 states.
The NCAA Tournament brings upsets, large comebacks, buzzer-beaters leading to a thrilling environment for bettors. The best March Madness betting sites offer several betting markets including outright winners accompanied by a ton of props.
Continue reading to discover the latest March Madness betting websites and odds.
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Comparing March Madness Betting Odds from the Best NCAA March Madness Betting Websites
The NCAA Tournament includes 68 teams battling for the championship. This means there are a ton of betting markets available for wagering. We will break down the bookmaker March Madness odds and help provide bettors with a clear picture of what to expect for this year’s edition.
Check out the future odds for some of the favorites for the outright winner of this year’s NCAA Tournament below.
Team Houston +750 +650 +640 +650 +640 Alabama +900 +850 +890 +900 +890 UCLA +1000 +1200 +1275 +1400 +1275 Kansas +1100 +1200 +1125 +1200 +1125 Purdue +1100 +950 +860 +850 +860 Arizona +1400 +1500 +1350 +1400 +1350 Connecticut +1600 +2200 +2600 +2500 +2600 Baylor +1800 +1200 +1500 +2000 +1500 Tennessee +2000 +2000 +1575 +1400 +1575 Texas +2500 +2200 +2200 +2200 +2200
Check More of Our March Madness College Gambling 2024 Guides
- Best March Madness Betting Odds – In-depth Guide to the Latest March Madness Betting Odds and Lines.
- March Madness Schedule 2024 – Discover All March Madness Game Times & Dates.
- First Round March Madness – Discover Best 1st Round March Madness Betting Tips in 2024.
- Second Round March Madness – Discover Best 2nd Round March Madness Betting Tips in 2024.
- March Madness Sweet 16 Gambling – Compare The Best March Madness Sweet Sixteen Betting Sites in 2024.
- March Madness Elite 8 Online Gambling – Discover Best Sportsbooks for Elite 8 March Madness Betting in 2024.
- March Madness Final Four Gambling – Discover Best Sportsbooks for Final 4 March Madness Gambling in 2024.
- March Madness National Championship Winner – Compare best March Madness National Champion Sportsbooks in 2024.
- March Madness Results 2024 – NCAA Results & Scores Betting Guide.
Ranking The Top 10 March Madness Betting Sites 2024
Take a look at our top 10 March Madness betting websites below.
- BetOnline – The top site for NCAA Tournament odds
- Bovada – Among the top March Madness betting websites for live betting
- MyBookie – One of the best March Madness betting sites for NCAA props
- BC.Game – Great sportsbook for March Madness sports betting with crypto
- Everygame – Offers excellent March Madness odds
- Xbet – The best site NCAA predictions
- Lucky Block – Great March Madness gambling site with fast sign-up and instant withdrawals
- BetUS – Industry-leading sportsbook with the best March Madness odds
- BetNow – Ideal site for March Madness mobile betting
- BUSR – March Madness sports gambling site with a huge welcome bonus
- Jazz Sports – Terrific sportsbooks with a strong rewards program
When choosing a March Madness betting site, there are several factors to consider, ranging from deposit options to betting bonuses and competitive odds. Below we break down the top five sportsbooks for March Madness 2024.
1. BetOnline – The Top Site for NCAA Tournament Odds
A betting site that has no shortage of incentives, BetOnline is an obvious choice as a top book for those looking to bet on the NCAA Tournament. The odds are among the best in the entire industry. BetOnline revamped its sportsbook layout and the result is a smooth interface easy to navigate.
BetOnline releases its markets in advance of most other March Madness online gambling sites so you can get your bets in early. They also have some of the deepest markets offering a plethora of player, team, and game props.
Depositing with BetOnline is incredibly convenient as they offer over 20 different options including 18 different cryptocurrencies as well as traditional fiat payments like credit/debit cards, P2P, Money orders, and wire transfers.
The welcome bonus can be claimed by using a BetOnline promo code and awards up to $1,000. Moreover, Betonline is a top site for March Madness bracket gambling as they have a $250,000 Bracket Madness contest for a $25 entry fee. A wide variety of other sports bonuses like risk-free bets, and free live bets are also available
What we like:
- Lucrative odds
- $250,000 bracket madness promo
- Strong live betting interface
- Large selection of crypto options
- Deep markets on college basketball
What we don’t:
- Live streaming options aren’t great
- Fees on credit and debit card payments
2. Bovada – The Top site for NCAA Live Betting
Bovada is definitely one of the top sites to place your March Madness bets. This US sportsbook has built brand recognition over the years propelled by lucrative odds and props markets. Bovada has a focus on props via the props builder. Users can customize props to a specific number of points they believe a team or player will score.
The live betting area at Bovada is also fantastic. They offer a huge amount of betting lines on in-play betting including a variety of props and standard bets like spreads and moneylines. Bovada also has a cash-out feature so if your bet is currently a winner but you sense that might change by the end of the game you can opt to cash out your bet early at reduced odds.
The deposit options are similar to its peers, offering major credit cards along with crypto options. Also, users can earn up to $4,500 in Bitcoin bonuses.
What we like:
- Prop building features
- Large Bitcoin bonuses
- Strong array of NCAA tournament markets
- Rewarding odds
What we don’t:
- Mediocre welcome bonus for fiat payments
- No app
3. MyBookie – The Best Site for NCAA Tournament Props
Bettors have another great choice with MyBookie. This March Madness sportsbook has strong odds and a nice array of NCAA Tournament betting markets. Moreover, if you like props, this is the site for you. MyBookie thrives in props via the props building feature.
If you are looking for a top March Madness bracket gambling sportsbook then MyBookie is for you. They offer three bracket contests for March Madness and what’s even better is that you can claim a free entry.
Another highlight of Mybookie is that the site features a blog and news feature. Picks and predictions are offered up by gambling experts and you can keep up to date with player and team news during the tournament which is vital when deciding the best bets for March Madness.
The welcome bonus is terrific, rewarding new users with a 50% deposit bonus up to $1,000. They also offer sports reload bonuses along with casino bonuses and referral rewards. The site features a strong online casino as well. Users can fund the account via traditional methods such as credit cards, crypto, and Person 2 Person.
What we like:
- Props building feature
- NCAA tournament picks from gambling experts
- $1,000 deposit bonus for new users
- Crypto deposit/Payout options
- Strong odds on NCAA basketball
What we don’t:
- Live betting experience is mediocre
- Welcome deposit is only 50% match
4. BC. Game – Top site for March Madness Sports Betting with Crypto
A relatively new site, BC.Game started doing business in 2017. Despite its fairly short time in existence BC.Game has quickly grown in popularity and is now one of the top offshore betting sites and of the best March Madness sport gambling websites.
While on the whole, the betting odds for March Madness at the site aren’t quite as good as our top site BetOnline they are still highly competitive. When it comes to live betting, BC.Game offers deep-in-play markets delivered on a stylish interface with a neat tracker feature.
This offshore sports betting site has plenty of payment methods. The number of cryptocurrencies they accept is huge compared to other most other sites, they include Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dodge as well as over 20 other coins. The site also has a very handy feature of being able to purchase crypto directly from the site and constantly update the exchange rate.
When signing up with the platform, BC.game promotions for new users are something special. You will be rewarded with a matched deposit on your first four deposits up to 240%.
What we like:
- Nifty live betting feature
- Deep prop markets on NCAA games
- Parlay builder for complex bets
- Various payment methods accepted
- Welcome bonus on the first four deposits
What we don’t:
- No sports contests
- Can be daunting for those new to crypto currency
5. Everygame – Offers Excellent March Madness Odds
Everygame is one of the oldest online sportsbooks in the US. It took its first wager online all the way back in 1996. Its longevity is a testament to its product and reliability. If you are looking for a trustworthy March Madness college gambling site with competitive odds Everygame is a top choice.
There are plenty of March Madness betting lines on offer at Everygame and they have some of the most competitive odds you can find. One downside is the markets aren’t available early but they do offer future markets and the odds are up months before the first game of the Big Dance begins.
Once a match starts head over to their live betting page which runs incredibly smoothly, looks great, and is easy to track the action and available bets. The prop bet markets are diverse during in-play betting on the site and the odds are updated in real time so you won’t miss out on any betting opportunities.
New users can take advantage of Everygame bonus codes to claim a welcome deposit of up to $750. Once you are signed up there are a ton of other offers to take advantage of like refer a friend bonus, March Madness parlay betting competitions, and for March Madness a competition with a chance to win tickets to the semis and championship game.
What we like:
- March Madness competition to win tickets to the final four
- Easy site to navigate; fewer options but more streamlined
- User-friendly live betting
- NCAA odds are very competitive
- Bet booster feature
What we don’t:
- No live streaming
- No picks or predictions on site
6. XBet – The Best Site for NCAA Tournament Predictions
A site that offers competitive odds, strong bonuses, and promos, Xbet is a recommended site. Bettors will find everything they need to bet on the NCAA Tournament with Xbet including props. The site also provides bettors with insight and analysis from industry experts including NCAA predictions.
The welcome bonus is strong, offering a 100% deposit bonus, and also includes strong refer-a-friend bonuses. The payouts are quick and users can deposit via several methods highlighted by several different crypto assets including Bitcoin.
What we like:
- $100 refer a friend bonus
- 100% deposit match welcome bonus
- Bet on NCAA March Madness futures
- March Madness bracket contest
- Reliable payouts
What we don’t:
- $45 minimum deposit via card payments
- Welcome bonus maximum only $500
7. Lucky Block – March Madness Online Gambling Site with Fast Sign-Up and Instant Withdrawals
Lucky Block is an offshore March Madness sport gambling website that specializes in crypto, it provides anonymous gambling services to players from around the world. Although Lucky Block was only launched in 2022 it has quickly established itself as a reliable online betting site and has become the favorite site of many college basketball betting enthusiasts.
You can find over 45 different sports with betting markets at Lucky Block including college basketball. They are one of the faster sites to release lines on college basketball games so you can get your bets in early. However, they are slower than most other sites to release futures for the overall winner of the March Madness tournament.
Live betting is an essential feature for any top March Madness gambling site and Lucky Block’s live betting feature is a real strong point. They offer a diverse range of live betting markets on college basketball and the live betting page is intuitive, easy to track the live game action and place bets, and it also looks great.
As far as welcome bonuses go Lucky block offers one of the best around with new players automatically qualifying for a 200% welcome bonus and 50 free spins at their excellent online casino. The bonus is worth up to an unbelievable 10,000 EUR (around $10,500).
US bettors will need to use a VPN service to access their site, for a free and smooth option we recommend using PrivadoVPN.
Here’s a helpful tip: Even though Lucky Block is like other crypto brands and cannot accept US players, we’ve discovered that you can access the site with no restrictions on deposits or withdrawals if you use a VPN. Additionally, since there are no KYC verification requirements for cryptocurrency transactions, you’ll remain anonymous and untraceable.
What we like:
- 40+ sports betting markets
- Excellent in-play betting for college basketball
- Quick registration without KYC
- Incredibly fast withdrawal times
- No withdrawal limits
What we don’t:
- March Madness futures up later than other sites
8. BetUS – Competitive March Madness Betting Odds and Picks from Gambling Experts
A site that features the best welcome bonus in the industry, BetUS is a must for new bettors looking to bet on March Madness. New users can receive up to a remarkable $3,125 in bonus cash. The overall sportsbook is on par with its peers including the usual spreads, totals, and props.
BetUS also brings a catchy feature to the table with BetUS TV. This portion of the site offers insight along with predictions from industry professionals covering all major sports including the NCAA Tournament to help you make a better choice. Users can fund their accounts via the traditional methods along with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple.
What we like:
- BetUS TV and Locker room offer predictions
- Parlay betting feature
- $2,500 Risk-Free bet
- Competitive NCAA tournament odds
- Reliable payouts
What we don’t:
- Not as many crypto options as competitors
- High minimum deposit of $100 to claim welcome bonus
9. BetNow – One of the Best New Offshore Sportsbooks US
With a Curacao license and just over 5 years of experience, BetNow is one of the most trustworthy legal offshore sports betting sites available to bettors in America for March Madness college gambling.
BetNow is very focused on sports and leagues in the USA and this works in its favor for big events like March Madness. They offer a wide array of markets including the typical moneylines, spreads, and over/unders as well as a healthy array of props.
Apart from NCAA futures, you will find that you can’t usually place bets on games until the day of, but BetNow makes up for this with excellent in-play betting with an easy-to-use interface and bets are graded and credited to players’ accounts in real-time.
Using a BetNow promo code new users have an option of three different welcome bonuses to match their needs. They differ in percentage match, max amount, and wagering requirements. They also have a free $1,000,00 prize pool March madness bracket where 1st place wins $350,000.
What we like:
- $1,000.000 March Madness competition
- Great in-play betting
- Nifty mobile website
- Choice of three welcome bonuses
- Decent odds on NCAA
What we don’t:
- Max amount of any of the welcome bonuses is $500
- Odds for games released later than other sites
10. BUSR – March Madness Gambling site with a huge Welcome Bonus
BUSR launched back in 2014 and has grown into one of the best sportsbooks available online. It is most famous for its racebook but its overall sports offering is also superb including college basketball betting and March Madness sport gambling.
Live betting is a key feature of the site and the live betting area works incredibly well; the odds update quickly and there are a variety of markets for March Madness games. However, the graphics and overall look are not as good as some other top sites.
Odds are competitive for the NCAA tournament and there are a healthy amount of betting lines for users including moneyline, spreads, over/unders, and prop bets. They do offer futures on the tournament but the odds are up much later than other sites. Whereas most sites will have futures up at least a month before the tournament BUSR will be released just a few days before the tournament.
You won’t find a bigger welcome bonus than BUSRs at many other sites. New customers can claim up to a massive $2,500 on their first deposit which comes in the form of a 150% deposit match. You can also claim a $250 refer-a-friend bonus so if you get a few friends to sign-up before the NCAA tournament begins and you will have a nice little bankroll for your March Madness gambling activities.
What we like:
- Live betting is a feature
- Deposit bonus up to $2,500
- Wide range of payment methods
- $250 refer-a-friend bonus
- Also has a great racebook
What we don’t:
- No live streams of any sports
- Late future odds on March Madness
11. Jazz Sports – $1,000,000 March Madness Bracket Challenge
Jazzsports is an experienced sportsbook with close to 30 years of experience. It’s regulated and audited by the Curacao gambling authorities meaning it’s entirely legitimate and your money is safe should you choose to deposit.
At Jazz, players will find odds and lines across all the big leagues in the US, including NCAA basketball. While the markets aren’t quite as deep as some of its competitors it does offer a decent variety of prop bets and the odds on the moneylines and spreads are very competitive.
Jazz accommodates a good variety of payment methods for its users including more than five different crypto options. They also accept a number of eWallets like Skrill and bank cards like visa or MasterCard. When you sign up and make your first deposit can claim a 50% sports welcome bonus that’s worth up to $1,000 by using the Jazz Sports promo code.
In addition to the welcome bonus, there are two reload bonuses available on every deposit. You can choose from a 10% bonus with an amazingly low rollover requirement of 3x or a higher percentage bonus of 20% but also a higher rollover requirement of 10x. Plus multiple sports contests including a huge $1 million dollar March Madness bracket challenge.
What we like:
- $1,000 welcome bonus
- $1 million dollar bracket contest
- A choice of two reload bonuses
- Tournament futures
- Long-standing sportsbook
What we don’t:
- More NCAA prop bets available at other sites
- Not much in the way of stats and analytics
How We Evaluate the Best March Madness Betting Sites
The internet is crowded with online sportsbooks so when it comes to online sportsbooks for gambling on March Madness, it’s hard to decide on which one to use. Here at Basketball Insiders, we have simplified the process for you. Our experts have conducted extensive research and compiled a list of the best sites out there. This is the custom system we use when writing our reviews.
Why We Rank March Madness Betting Sites
Online sports betting sites can differ greatly and there are some key areas to evaluate to make sure you get a safe, smooth, and enjoyable betting experience.
Using the best March Madness betting sites is important for the reasons below.
- Safety: When you use legal March Madness online gambling sites you are required to provide personal information and deposit your hard-earned money. You want to be sure that your money and information are safe and not at risk of being misused or stolen.
- High value: When anyone places bets their main objective is to win more money than they lose and to stand the best chance of this happening it’s important to use sites that offer the best value wagers.
- Payments: You want a betting site that makes it easy to deposit and withdraw and that all payments are handled in a timely manner.
- Smooth Experience: Nobody wants a frustrating experience with long page loading times and searching for a long time trying to find what you are looking for. By using betting agents with a user-friendly interface you can avoid these nuisances.
- Special features: On top of the essentials mentioned above you want a little bit extra from a March Madness betting site that improves your overall experience and increases your chances of success.
Our Process for Ranking March Madness Betting Sites
The aim of our ranking process is to inspect every aspect of an online sportsbook service and evaluate it in detail.
To be effective, we go through all the same actions a customer would plus a few extra steps to make sure we cover everything. We also have several people go through the same process for each site to get a variety of impressions and opinions.
- Background Check: We check who owns the betting site, when it was established, the license it holds, and other important details.
- Join the Sportsbook: We go through the signup process and open a new account.
- Check Promotions: Once our account is set up we check out the promotions available including welcome bonuses for new customers as well as offers for existing customers like reload bonuses.
- Make a Deposit: Next, we head to the cashier section. We access what payment options are available and use a few different options (including at least one crypto option if available)to make deposits in order to check the fees and transaction times.
- Place Bets: Once our deposits are in our account we look at the different sports markets available and check out the college basketball betting section. Then we place a variety of real money bets on some NCAA games and some other sports. Plus we check out the in-play betting section on the site.
- Test Betting App or Mobile Version: Once we’ve spent time checking out the website we download a sports betting app or visit their mobile site on popular devices including at least one iOS and one Android device. We then lay down some more bets via mobile devices to ascertain if the NCAA March Madness app or site experience is up to standards.
- We contact Customer Support: The FAQ section is our next port of call and then we contact support via all the methods they have available to test the speed of response and the competency of the customer service representatives.
- We Request a Payout: We return to the cashier to request a withdrawal to check the speed of transactions. We will repeat this process with multiple different payment options.
Our Key Ranking Criteria
There are multiple factors we evaluate when ranking online March Madness betting sites but the ones that we pay the closest attention to are listed below.
Security
Safety is our number 1 priority when rating a site. We check that every site is licensed and regulated by an official and trustworthy authority.
On top of that, we also want to see that a site has suitable measures in place to protect itself from malicious third parties like hackers so that your money and information are safe and secure. This means having things like the latest anti-malware software and SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption installed.
Odds & markets
The more sports markets and odds a site has the more likely it is you can find a good value wager. We look for sites that have a wide range of bet types available on college basketball matches and of course the NCAA tournament. We want to see lots of prop bets, over/under bets, parlay options, and more. In addition, we will compare odds across all the different bet types.
Free Bets & Bonuses
While picking a betting site is made difficult by the number of options one of the positives of the crowded online sportsbook industry is sites want to entice new players and keep existing ones. To do this betting sites offer bonuses, including the best free bets for March Madness.
The best March madness betting sites should offer a welcome bonus but also regular promotions for existing customers. Our grading is also based on bonuses having realistic terms and conditions like wagering requirements and minimum odds.
Live Betting & Streaming
Live streaming isn’t an essential feature but it is certainly desirable and something that adds to a user’s experience. In-play betting on the other hand is essential to be classed as a top March Madness online betting site. We rate a site’s live betting feature based on ease of use, markets available, and speed at which odds are updated.
Usability on Desktop & Mobile
Our experts check through an entire website and app/mobile site to make sure that they offer an intuitive interface, run smoothly, have quick loading times, and that the layout of the site makes it easy to navigate and place bets.
Key Features
Key features include things like prop builders, cash-out options, virtual sports, etc. These are things that aren’t essential for every sportsbook to have but improve a user’s overall experience and make a betting site stand out against its competitors.
Customer Service
It doesn’t matter if you have a small query or a more pressing issue, you would like and expect a top online March Madness gambling site to be able to help you in a timely manner. We test out all the options to contact a site’s customer support and give a rating based on the contact methods available, the time of response, and the overall quality of the service.
How we Know Betting Sites are Safe
As previously stated safety is our foremost priority when ranking sites. There are multiple factors and criteria we consider when ranking a site’s security.
- Gambling license: If a site does not hold a gambling license from a respected and trustworthy operator then we will not spend any more time checking out their website as we would never consider recommending them.
- Ownership: We discover who the owner of the site is and check their history to make sure they are legitimate and have no previous issues that might suggest they are untrustworthy.
- Reputation: We spend time researching previous customers’ opinions by visiting other review sites and gambling forums to garner if previous and current customers are happy with their service.
- Security measures: Even if a sportsbook is fair and has the best of intentions if they don’t have the latest security measures to protect its site from third-party attacks it can not be considered safe.
Legal March Madness Sport Gambling
In the past, individuals looking to participate had to resort to using offline bookies to bet on major sports throughout the United States.
The times have changed. The online sports betting industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States, meaning that you can bet on March Madness without having to deal with some sort of a murky figure in each and every US state.
Several U.S. states have formally adopted a legal framework to allow online and mobile betting. But, whichever state you are based in, you’ll be able to legally bet at offshore sportsbooks.
Offshore March Madness College Gambling Sites
Offshore gambling sites are sites that are licensed outside of the United States. They are typically based in the Caribbean region and Europe. In states that have legalized online sports betting, the legalized jurisdiction only applies to betting sites that are licensed in that state.
Offshore betting sites have been used in the United States for years and are considered safe to use. While they are not licensed in the United States, they are regulated in their respective countries. Rest assured, we have only recommended offshore sites that are considered safe and reliable. The 10 sites discussed on this page take encryption measures and go above and beyond to ensure safety.
March Madness Betting Apps
Mobile betting apps and mobile-optimized betting sites are important for fans that want to capitalize on live 2024 March Madness odds and momentum swings during the course of the game. NCAA basketball fans can browse through the selection of sports betting apps available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or head to their favorite sportsbook for download instructionsThe best March Madness sportsbooks in the US offer betting apps or mobile-optimized sites for iPhone and Android devices that are easy to use and offer the same features as their main website. This includes signing up, claiming bonuses, having all of the same betting lines for March Madness, and most importantly a live betting feature.
Betting apps make it quick and convenient for Americans to add funds, claim bonuses, manage their account, and place bets on all of the action from March Madness.
Rules and Regulations for March Madness Gambling
Each state has its own specified regulations for sports betting. The legal age varies from 18 to 21 depending on the state. There are also regulations preventing those associated with major teams in that state from participating in sports betting.
Moreover, some jurisdictions do not allow wagering on their state college teams. For example, in Iowa, no props bet on college athletes are permitted while in New Jersey no betting is allowed in in-state teams such as Seton Hall. This also applies to college teams based in Virginia and Rhode Island.
March Madness Betting Guide
Interesting in betting on March Madness 2024, but don’t know where to start? We have you covered with a comprehensive look at everything related to basketball betting during March Madness. The NCAA Tournament is a mammoth event with 67 total games played. There are several different betting markets available and it is essential to know how the tournament works. Continue reading to learn more.
NCAA Tournament Schedule – 2024 March Madness Schedule
The tournament begins with the First Four beginning on March 14th and 15th in Dayton, Ohio, and concludes on April 3rd in Houston, Texas. The various states of the Tournament are played in preselected host cities. Check out the Tournament schedule below.
Round Date City Arena Selection Sunday March 12 N/A N/A First Four March 14 & 15 Dayton, Ohio UD Arena First/Second March 16 & 18 Birmingham, AL Legacy Arena First/Second March 16 & 18 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena First/Second March 16 & 18 Orlando, FL Amway Center First/Second March 16 & 18 Sacramento, CA Golden 1 Center First/Second March 17 & 19 Albany, NY MVP Arena First/Second March 17 & 19 Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena First/Second March 17 & 19 Denver, CO Ball Arena First/Second March 17 & 19 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum West Regional March 23 & 25 Las Vegas, NV T-Mobile Arena East Regional March 23 & 25 New York, NY Madison Square Garden Midwest Regional March 24 & 26 Kansas City, MO T-Mobile Center South Regional March 24 & 26 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center Final Four April 1 & 3 Houston, TX NRG Stadium The Different Types of March Madness Bets
Bettors love March Madness due to the huge quantity of games to wager on, whether you’re betting on the first round or the latter stages, and the potential to cash in big thanks to the welcome bonuses discussed on this page. Moreover, parlays are a popular bet type for the NCAA Tournament. Continue reading to learn about the different bets available at our recommended March Madness betting websites.
Moneyline Bets on March Madness
A moneyline bet is simply choosing a team to win the game. For example, if Illinois is playing Ohio State and you select Ohio State on the moneyline, you just need the Buckeyes to win the game, no spread is included in this wager.
This is an ideal play when the spread is small (ideally three or fewer points). If the spread is large, the moneyline bet will not return a large profit and isn’t worth making as a result.
Point Spread Bets on March Madness
The point spread is the most common bet you will find in the NCAA basketball March Madness betting options. Here, bettors select a team to win or cover by a specified number of points set by handicappers. For example, if Providence is favored by 9.5 points against VCU, Providence needs to win the game by 10 or more points for the bet to be classified as a winner.
If you don’t believe Providence could win by 10 or more points, you would select VCU +9.5. The odds payout is usually -110, meaning a $110 bet would return $100 in profit.
Totals Bets on March Madness
The total is the number of points the teams will combine to score in the game. Bettors select whether the total of the game will go over or under the specified total.
If the total of Notre Dame vs. Miami is 130 points, bettors select if they believe the total score will go over or under 130 points. The usual payout is similar to spreads at a -110 odd.
Prop Bets on March Madness
This is where bettors can be creative. Prop bets occur in different forms and often don’t have a direct outcome on the point spread or total. Props bets are useful with the sites mentioned on this site including MyBookie with their props building feature. Some popular prop bets include:
- Team totals: number of points scored by a team in a game
- Player points, rebounds: number of points, and rebounds for a specified player
- The margin of victory: will a team win by 5-10 points, 10-15, etc.
- Alternative point spreads and totals: Choose spreads higher or lower than the specified spread or total.
- Will a game go to overtime? Usually, it has lucrative odds for choosing OT.
- The total amount of three-pointers a team will make: Some teams attempt a ton of threes while others do not.
Futures Bets on March Madness
Futures bets are bets that can be made well in advance of a particular event. This can be weeks or even months before the event occurs. The most common March Madness futures bet is the overall winner of the NCAA Tournament.The odds fluctuate based on the individual teams’ performance leading up to the event. The odds are usually lucrative considering the unpredictable nature of making bets so far in advance. For example, bettors can select Auburn to win the NCAA Tournament in advance. A bet in Auburn before the season started would have better odds than selecting them to win the Tournament now considering they have only lost a few games.
Parlay Bets on March Madness
A parlay bet groups several bets into one wager. All selections will need to be deemed a winner for the parlay to payout. The attractive feature in parlays is the large payouts and potential for large gains. The odds of each selected in the parlay are multiplied to give the payout multiple.
For example, a hypothetical parlay that features Ohio State, Auburn, and Kentucky to each cover the 3 points spread at -110 odds would be multiplied 3x. A $100 bet would return a lucrative $629 in profits.
Live Betting on March Madness
Live betting allows the user to place a bet once the event has already begun. This can be useful to use if a favored team is down several points early in the game due to a poor start.
A savvy bettor would be able to select the team ‘live’ at a lower spread than the pre-game spread. This is especially useful for March Madness bets, where stunning upsets and swings are common, especially early in games. The sites discussed on this page all feature live betting for the NCAA Tournament and some even offer a March Madness live app.
How March Madness Betting Works
Betting on the NCAA March Madness Tournament is simple and fun. If you have bet on other sports in the past, the same idea applies to the NCAA Tourney. A total of 68 teams will be competing for the prize starting with the First Four, followed by the first and second rounds, the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four, and the Championship game. There is a total of 67 games played in the tournament.
According to most sportsbooks including the ones discussed on this page, Houston is the favorite to win the NCAA March Madness championship. BetOnline has Houston as a +750 to win the NCAA Tournament. This means a $100 bet will return $750 if Houston does indeed win.
March Madness odds are often displayed as American odds. Take a look at an example of a money line bet below.
- Auburn -250
- Rutgers +120
In this example, bettors would have to bet $250 to win $100 if they believe Auburn will win the game. Conversely, a $100 bet on Rutgers to beat Auburn would return $120 in profit. The same applies to point spread bets. The minus (-) sign indicates the team favored while the + denotes the team that is the dog. Below is another illustration.
- Auburn -8.5
- Rutgers +8.5
In this example, a bet on auburn means they need to win by nine or more points and a wager on Rutgers means they can lose by eight or fewer points for the bet to be deemed a winner.
March Madness Teams
The teams participating in the NCAA Tournament are declared on Selection Sunday. The big day this year occurs on Sunday, March 13 at 6 pm EST. Many of the teams are known well in advance however there are always surprises and notable omissions. Also, teams that win their respective conference tournament, automatically punch their ticket to the tournament. The brackets are also determined on Selection Sunday.
March Madness Games
The March Madness games are thrilling battles. This is due to the single-round elimination games. This means each game is a winner-take-all scenario. Win and move on, or lose and go home. The higher-ranked seeds have the advantage of playing lower-seed teams. The seeding is ranked at #1-16. Auburn will likely be a #1 seed meaning they would get to play a #16 seed. Auburn will be a huge favorite in the opening game as a result.
The beauty of the NCAA Tournament is the “Cinderella Teams” that always seem to appear. This is when an unlikely team, ie. a lower seed has a stunning tournament run, defeating higher seeds. It was three years ago when #1 seed Virginia lost to #16 seed UMBC. This is why I believe the NCAA Tournament is the most thrilling sporting event to bet in sports.
March Madness Bracket Gambling
The tournament is divided into brackets. Every year, Americans participate in bracket contests in an attempt to win cash. The brackets are simply a grid that illustrates the path to the Championship game. When filling in a bracket, individuals select the winner of each game in the tournament. The chances of a perfect bracket are slim to none.
According to NCAA.com the chances of picking each game correctly for a perfect bracket is 1 in 9.2 quintillion, yes, quintillion. The winner of the various brackets is determined by the most accurate brackets. While the chances of obtaining a perfect bracket (all 64 games) is slim most betting sites also offer March Madness sweet sixteen betting brackets and March Madness elite eight online gambling brackets.
The brackets are not to be confused with prop bets. Most of the sites discussed on this page have bracket promotions.
Best Bonus Offers Available at the Best March Madness Betting Sites
The NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament is one of the biggest events in basketball and the gambling world. Online sportsbooks offer competitions with hefty prize pools, give away free bets, and offer free cash to attract new customers.
Americans can boost their bankroll and win real money online by cashing on welcome bonuses and exclusive March Madness promotions. Below, we’ll run through some of the best March Madness promotions available online.
Welcome Bonus Offers
March Madness is one of the best times for new customers to sign up and place a bet online. The best March Madness online gambling sites offer excellent bonuses and promotions for new members who register for an account and make a qualifying deposit. One of the best sites for Super Bowl betting, BetUS offers new members a 125% deposit bonus worth up to $3,125 in free bonus cash.
Reload Bonuses
Reload bonuses work in a similar way to welcome bonuses except they are for existing customers. Sportsbooks will offer a percentage match for any deposits made. These are regular promotions for most sports books but meant betting sites increase the percentage or maximum limits specifically for the NCAA tournament so customers will have extra cash in their account for betting on March Madness.
Risk Free Bets
One of the best sports betting promotions available for March Madness are risk-free bets as they let you experience the thrill of betting on the Big Dance and winning money without the worry of losing.
A risk-free bet usually requires a bettor to wager their own money at first and if the bet comes in you keep your winnings like normal. However, if your bet isn’t a winner the sportsbook will credit your account usually in the form of site credit or a free bet for the same amount.
Matched Free Bets
Unlike a risk-free bet, a matched-free bet gives members a free bet for placing an initial March Madness bet. The value of the matched free bet will often be equal to that of the initial wager unless otherwise defined in the promotion. Matched free bets are among the most popular promotions among sports bettors, as they often come with little or no rollover requirements at all.
In-Play Free Bets
The best March Madness betting websites also offer in-play free bets for their members. An in-play free bet rewards members with a free bet that can be used whilst a game is already underway. After members place a qualifying March Madness bet, they will be granted a free bet voucher for an amount equal to their initial wager or up to the maximum amount allowed
Free March Madness Bracket Contests
We’ve already gone over what bracket gambling is earlier which is essentially correctly predicting the winner of multiple games in the tournament. While some sites will charge you for entry many of the best March Madness gambling websites offer free entry to bracket contests.
Benefits of Betting on March Madness Online
Unlike gambling in person, college basketball fans don’t need to locate, travel to a sportsbook, wait in line, and fill out tedious bet slips. Instead, online March Madness betting sites make it convenient to deposit cash, place bets, and collect your winnings.
Not only can you place your NCAA tournament bets with the simple click of a button you also get access to the best March Madness betting markets and odds. Because online betting sites have fewer overheads they generally offer better value and take less juice than retail sportsbooks.
As well as improved odds online March Madness sportsbooks offer bigger bonuses. This includes welcome bonuses with online sites offering welcome bonuses worth hundreds or thousands of dollars. Existing customers are also offered plenty of extra promotions like reload bonuses, risk-free bets, and massive March Madness contests which can sometimes have prize pools in the millions.
Another huge difference between betting in person and betting online is the live betting experience. When using the best March Madness betting apps or websites, Americans gain access to the best live March Madness betting odds and exclusive in-play March Madness betting markets.
March Madness Betting History
The NCAA Tournament is rich in history. The first NCAA March Madness Tournament occurred in Evanston, Illinois all the way back in 1939. It is an incredibly difficult tournament to win considering the massive amount of Division 1 teams in the U.S. UCLA has won the most titles with 11, followed by Kentucky with 8, North Carolina with 6, and Duke with 5. The tournament format has varied over the years but has been relatively the same recently with the exception of the First Four which was introduced in 2011.
Past March Madness Winners by Year
The NCAA Tournament has yielded a few repeat winners and in past decades it is usually a power conference (ACC, Big Ten, Big East, Big 12, SEC, PAC-12) school winning the championships. Check out the list of winners from every single NCAA Tournament dating from 1960 to the present.
NCAA Tournament March Madness Winner NCAA Tournament MOP 1960 Ohio State Jerry Lucas 1961 Cincinnati Jerry Lucas 1962 Cincinnati Paul Hogue 1963 Loyola Chicago Art Heyman 1964 UCLA Walt Hazzard 1965 UCLA Bill Bradley 1966 UTEP Jerry Chambers 1967 UCLA Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1968 UCLA Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1969 UCLA Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1970 UCLA Sidney Wicks 1971 UCLA Howard Porter 1972 UCLA Bill Walton 1973 UCLA Bill Walton 1974 NC State David Thompson 1975 UCLA Richard Washington 1976 Indiana Kent Benson 1977 Marquette Butch Lee 1978 Kentucky Jack Givens 1979 Michigan State Magic Johnson 1980 Louisville Darrell Griffith 1981 Indiana Isaiah Thomas 1982 North Carolina James Worthy 1983 NC State Hakeem Olajuwon 1984 Georgetown Patrick Ewing 1985 Villanova Ed Pinckney 1986 Louisville Pervis Ellison 1987 Indiana Keith Smart 1988 Kansas Danny Manning 1989 Michigan Glen Rice 1990 UNLV Anderson Hunt 1991 Duke Christian Laettner 1992 Duke Bobby Hurley 1993 North Carolina Donald Willams 1994 Arkansas Corliss Williamson 1995 UCLA Ed O’Bannon 1996 Kentucky Tony Delk 1997 Arizona Miles Simon 1998 Kentucky Jeffrey Sheppard 1999 Connecticut Richard Hamilton 2000 Michigan State Mateen Cleaves 2001 Duke Shane Battier 2002 Maryland Juan Dixon 2003 Syracuse Carmelo Anthony 2004 Connecticut Emeka Okafor 2005 North Carolina Sean May 2006 Florida Joakim Noah 2007 Florida Corey Brewer 2008 Kansas Mario Chalmers 2009 North Carolina Wayne Ellington 2010 Duke Kyle Singler 2011 Connecticut Kemba Walker 2012 Kentucky Anthony Davis 2013 Louisville Luke Hancock 2014 Connecticut Shabazz Napier 2015 Duke Tyus Jones 2016 Villanova Ryan Arcidiacono 2017 North Carolina Joel Berry 2018 Villanova Donte DiVincenzo 2019 Virginia Kyle Guy 2020 Canceled N/A 2021 Baylor Jared Butler 2022 Kansas Ochai Agbaji March Madness Betting Strategy
It is useful to have a strategy when making your March Madness bets. There are plenty of factors to consider which we outline below.
- Take advantage of early lines: The odds will be available immediately after Selection Sunday. If you see a spread that catches your eye, don’t be afraid to place the bet immediately. This is because the spreads will fluctuate based on the money being wagered on that specific team. Chances are if a ton of money is being wagered on one team, the spread will rise as the game nears.
- Have a disciplined approach: Do not bet your entire balance on one game. The rule of thumb is to bet 1-5% of your account balance on one game.
- Use Live Betting features: It can be a rewarding strategy to monitor games that have a surprising opening 10 minutes. If a team is favored by 10 and are down early you will be able to take that team in a live bet for a smaller spread.
- Research analytic stats: These stats can help give you an edge on a squad’s true ability. Use Kenpom.com for advanced stats.
- Be aware of the seeds you are betting on: Many lower seeds still have a stellar record but play in a smaller conference which can be misleading, especially when laying a power conference team in the Tournament.
How to get the Best March Madness Betting Odds
A key part of a solid March Madness betting strategy is taking advantage of the best odds available and learning how to gamble March Madness betting bonuses. This includes finding early lines and comparing odds between the various March Madness betting sites, in an aim to win money March Madness betting. Check out a quick outline on how to find the best March Madness odds below.
- 🎰 Register with several March Madness betting sites
- 🏀 Take advantage of welcome bonus offers and promos
- 🎲 Shop and compare for the best March Madness odds
- 💰Cash in big when your team makes the Final Four
What is the Best March Madness Betting Site?
The top sites discussed on this page are all formidable March Madness betting websites. However, we recommend BetOnline overall as they have deep markets, offer incredibly competitive March Madness Betting Odds, and have an excellent live betting feature.
They also offer a welcome bonus of up to $1,000, have a $250,000 March Madness bracket contest, and a whole host of other sports promotions like risk-free bets and parlay boosters.
To open your account and receive $1,000 in bonus cash, click the link below.
March Madness Betting FAQs
When is the NCAA March Madness 2023?
The Tournament begins on March 14th with the First Four rounds. The First and Second rounds occur on March 16-19th. The Final Four is on April 1st and the Championship game is on April 3rd.
How many teams make the NCAA Tournament?
A total of 68 teams will compete for the title.
Who is the March Madness betting favorite?
Houston is considered the favorite to win the NCAA Tournament 2023 at a +750 on BetOnline and +650 on both Bovada and MyBookie. They currently have a 24-2 record. Alabama is considered a strong favorite as well. and were one of the two teams to defeat Houston this season
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsJeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff Hawkins