March is here and that means March Madness is here. The Conference Tournaments are complete, Selection Sunday has taken place, and the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket is set. The action gets underway with the First Four games starting tonight (March 18th), and then the real fun starts on Thursday, March 19th with the remaining 64 teams battling it out until we find this years NCAA Men’s Basketball Champions.
Everyone loves filling out brackets and following their selections throughout the tournament, but many people also enjoy betting on individual games during March Madness. On this page we explain the options Americans have for betting on March Madness, the various bets you can make, and finish with a step by step guide.
Where Can Americans Bet On March Madness?
Your options depend on where you live. Here are the main ways to bet on March Madness games in the United States.
Licensed Sportsbooks
Sports betting is legal in more than 35 states plus Washington, D.C., where licensed sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM offer odds on March Madness games. You must be 21 or older in most states and physically located in a state where the sportsbook is licensed.
Prediction Markets
Prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket let you buy and sell contracts on the outcome of March Madness games. Instead of betting against a sportsbook, you trade with other users, and the price of a contract reflects the market’s view of how likely an outcome is. These platforms operate under federal oversight from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) rather than state gambling law, which is why they are available in most states, including states without legal sports betting.
Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) apps such as PrizePicks and Underdog offer player stat contests in most states. Rather than betting on who wins, you pick whether players will go over or under a statistical projection.
Offshore Sportsbooks
Offshore sportsbooks are licensed outside the United States and accept bets from across the country. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, which means Americans who use them have no state regulator to turn to if there is a dispute over a bet or a withdrawal.
March Madness Betting
Here is what the main betting lines for a typical NCAA basketball game during March Madness look like:
In this above example SMU is a 7 point favorite in this First Four game against Miami Ohio. If you bet SMU to cover the spread they would need to win by 8 or more points for your bet to win. The middle odds are the money line. These indicate that a $290 bet on SMU would win $100, while a $100 bet on Miami Ohio would win $237 if they pulled off the upset. The over/under is set at 164.5 points for the game.
Check out our basketball betting section for a further breakdown of these typical basketball wagers.
To Win NCAA Tournament
You can also place futures wagers, such as who will win the NCAA tournament. Here are the odds for the current favorites (taken March 17th, 2026):
These are the 18 schools with 100/1 or better odds to win the tournament after the bracket was set, but before games have been played. Arizona, Duke and Michigan are the favorites, while Florida, Houston and Purdue are the other top contenders.
Bet On March Madness – Step By Step
Whichever option you choose, the process of getting started is similar. Here’s a general guide.
Step 1. Choose Your Option
Decide which type of platform fits how you want to bet. Licensed sportsbooks offer the full range of bets where they are available, prediction markets let you trade contracts on the outcome, and DFS apps are built around player stats. Review the options above before signing up.
Step 2. Check The Age and Location Rules
Every platform has its own eligibility requirements. Most prediction markets and DFS apps require you to be at least 18, while licensed sportsbooks require you to be 21 in most states and physically located in the state where they are licensed.
Step 3. Create and Verify Your Account
Sign up with your legal name, date of birth and address. Regulated platforms are required to verify your identity, so you may be asked for the last four digits of your Social Security number or a photo of your ID.
Step 4. Fund Your Account
Deposit using one of the platform’s payment methods, which commonly include debit cards and bank transfers. Check how withdrawals work, and how long they take, before you deposit.
Step 5. Find The Market and Place Your Bet
Navigate to the college basketball section, select the market you’re interested in, and choose your position. Before confirming, check the price or odds and how much you stand to win, using the bet types explained above as a guide.
Step 6. Set Limits
Decide on a budget before the tournament starts and stick to it. Most regulated platforms let you set deposit and time limits in your account settings. If betting stops being fun, help is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.
Check out our betting guide section for more basic betting articles if you’re new to betting online.
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