The best March Madness betting sites are Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM, BetRivers, and FanDuel. The college basketball betting experts at TheLines will review those sportsbooks and many more. Check out a list of the top March Madness betting sites below and see all of the different ways you can wager on the NCAA basketball tournament.
Top March Madness betting apps
Here are the top March Madness betting apps available.
| Sportsbook | Promo Code | Bonus Offer |
|---|---|---|
| Caesars | THELINES1000 | $1,000 First Bet On Caesars |
| BetMGM | THELINES50 | Up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets if you don’t win + $50 bonus bet (Excludes DC, KY, MS, NV, NY, PR & ON) |
| BetRivers | LINESRIV | Second chance bet up to $250 in CO, NJ. Second chance bet up to $100 in AZ, IA, OH, WV. |
| FanDuel | Click to claim promo | Bet $5 on any moneyline with FanDuel and get $150 in Bonus Bets if your team wins |
| DraftKings | Click to claim promo | Get up to $1,250 in bonuses (excludes MA). Get up to $250 in Bonus Bets in MA. |
| Bet365 | THELINESCO for Colorado THELINESIA for Iowa THELINESKY for Kentucky THELINESNJ for New Jersey THELINESOH for Ohio THELINESVA for Virginia | First Bet Safety Net up to $1,000 OR Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets. |
| Betway | Click to claim promo | First bet reset up to $250 back in bonus bets if your first bet loses (Excludes Ohio). Bet $20, Get a $40 Bonus Bet on Your First Wager (Ohio only). |
| Unibet | Click To Claim Promo | Up to $500 Insured First Bet. |
| Betfred | BETBONUS | $105 on Fred (No Sweat Bet up to $105 if your first wager loses) |
Best March Madness Betting Sites
Here is a list of 10 best sports betting sites that feature March Madness and our rating for each sportsbook.
- Caesars 4.8/5
- BetMGM 4.8/5
- BetRivers 4.6/5
- FanDuel 4.6/5
- DraftKings 4.6/5
- Bet365 4.3/5
- Betway 4.1/5
- Unibet 4.1/5
- Betfred 4.0/5
1. Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook is our top-ranked March Madness betting site. It has everything you need to bet on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, including game lines and tournament futures. The book will also feature longshot parlay bonuses and profit boosts for select games during the Big Dance.
Another feature that separates Caesars from the pack is its expansive rewards program. By betting on college basketball at Caesars Sportsbook, you will unlock offers at Caesars Rewards destinations like Caesars Palace Las Vegas, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, and Harrah’s New Orleans. These offers include discounted or free room stays, restaurant visits, and entertainment.
| Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code | THELINES1000 |
|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | $1,000 First Bet on Caesars |
| Best For | Profit boosts, CFB Props, and Caesars Rewards |
| States Available | AZ, CO, IN, IA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA & WV |
| MM betting options | Game lines, win totals MM odds, and national championship futures |
| Apple Store Rating | 4.6 |
| Google Store Rating | 4.4 |
| Our Rating | 4.8 |
2. BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM gained a reputation for awesome offers during the last NCAA basketball tournament, making it a top betting site. The highlight of BetMGM’s promotions during March Madness was a $10 million March Madness Bracket Challenge. The contest was free to new and existing customers and had a $10 million grand prize for a perfect bracket. No one won the big one, but BetMGM still paid out $100,000 to the person who got the most correct picks.
Expect BetMGM to run similar promos for the 2024 NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
| BetMGM Sportbook Promo Code | THELINES50 |
|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | Up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets if you don’t win + $50 bonus bet (Excludes DC, KY, MS, NV, NY, PR & ON) |
| Best For | All March Madness bettors |
| States Available | AZ, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, MS, NJ, OH, NV, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV & WY |
| MM betting options | Game lines, win totals MM odds, and national championship futures |
| Apple Store Rating | 4.8 |
| Google Store Rating | 4.5 |
| Our Rating | 4.8 |
3. BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers is another top-notch March Madness betting site. You can easily find all of the standard college basketball betting offerings, such as game lines, Final Four odds, and NCAA National Title odds. Expect BetRivers to also offer up fun March Madness promotions in 2024, much like they did in this past year’s NCAA tourney. The sportsbook ran a “squares” contest for the tournament with payouts of up to $10,000 in bonus money.
| BetRivers Sportsbook Promo Code | LINESRIV |
|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | Second chance bet up $500 in select states |
| Best For | House specials, SGP and Rush Rewards |
| States Available | AZ, CO, IN, IA, IL, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA & WV |
| MM betting options | Game lines, win totals, MM odds, and national championship futures |
| Apple Store Rating | 4.5 |
| Google Store Rating | 4.4 |
| Our Rating | 4.6 |
4. FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel is the best March Madness betting site for betting on props. For this past year’s National Title game between UConn and San Diego State, FanDuel offered up the following props to bet on:
- Odds on a player to score the first basket
- Player to make the first 3-pointer of the game
- Team to make the first 3-pointer of the game
Earlier in the tournament, FanDuel offered up prop betting on teams to win a region, as well as conferences and seeds.
| FanDuel Sportsbook Promo Code | Click to claim promo |
|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | Bet $5 on any moneyline with FanDuel and get $150 in Bonus Bets if your team wins |
| Best For | Boosts and promos |
| States Available | AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV & WY |
| MM betting options | SGP, conference/MM/national championship futures, game lines |
| Apple Store Rating | 4.8 |
| Google Store Rating | 4.7 |
| Our Rating | 4.6 |
5. DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook has some of the best NCAA tournament pools with big-money payouts annually. This past March, DK ran a Championship Series Millionaire Bracket with $1 million to the first-place winner. The entry fee was $100, and it had a total prize pool of $2 million.
DraftKings also ran several free entry pools during March Madness, and all signs point to DK doing so again for the 2024 Big Dance.
| DraftKings Sportsbook Promo Code | Click to claim promo |
|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | Up to $1,250 in bonus funds. Get up to $250 in Bonus Bets (MA Only) |
| Best For | Live betting |
| States Available | AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV & WY |
| MM betting options | MM game lines, national championship futures, odds boosts |
| Apple Store Rating | 4.9 |
| Google Store Rating | 4.8 |
| Our Rating | 4.6 |
6. Bet365 Sportsbook
Bet365 is the new kid on the block in many states. The book opened with a bang this past March, offering users the chance to enter a perfect bracket challenge that would have paid out $10 million. It’s pretty much mathematically impossible to get a perfect bracket, but Bet365 still had big money payouts to its top performer. The winner received $100,000.
| Bet365 Sportsbook Promo Code | CO, IA, KY, LA, NJ, OH & VA (Use state specific promo codes listed below) |
|---|---|
| State specific Bet365 promo codes | Colorado: THELINESCO Iowa: THELINESIA Kentucky: THELINESKY New Jersey: THELINESNJ Ohio: THELINESOH Virginia: THELINESVA |
| Welcome Bonus | First Bet Safety Net up to $1,000 OR, Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets |
| Best For | Generous welcome offer for new customers |
| States Available | CO, IA, NJ, NY, OH, & VA Coming soon: Kentucky |
| MM betting options | Bet boost, 30% profit boost |
| Apple Store Rating | 4.7 |
| Google Store Rating | 4.6 |
| Our Rating | 4.3 |
7. Betway Sportsbook
Betway has an easy-to-use interface where you can quickly find almost any college basketball line. During March Madness 2024, expect Betway to have plenty of “enhanced odds,” which they call “Betway Boosts.”
Betway also has one of the top “cash out” options around. It allows the bettor to take out his or her winnings early or to cut their losses before the end of a game. The amount you can cash out depends on how much you initially bet and the live odds of the event you bet on.
| Betway Sportsbook Promo Code | Click To Claim Promo |
|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | Refund of up to $250 in bonus bets if your first bet loses |
| Best For | Early cash out |
| States Available | AZ, CO, IA, IN, NJ, OH, PA, & VA |
| MM betting options | MM spreads, totals, & national championship futures |
| Apple Store Rating | 4.7 |
| Google Store Rating | 4.6 |
| Our Rating | 4.1 |
8. Unibet
Unibet is a bettor’s paradise, as it not only has an elaborate sportsbook, but also has casino, bingo, and poker options. The book has a unique “Bet Builder” option for college basketball wagering. Included are halftime offers and team stats offers.
You can now include up to 12 markets in one bet builder. That’s great news for March Madness bettors with so many games going on at once.
| Unibet Sportsbook Promo Code | Click To Claim Promo |
|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | Up to $500 Insured First Bet |
| Best For | Level up booster, SGP insurance |
| States Available | AZ, IN, NJ, PA & VA |
| MM betting options | MM game lines, NCAA Tournament futures |
| Apple Store Rating | 4.4 |
| Google Store Rating | 4.5 |
| Our Rating | 4.0 |
9. Betfred
Betfred might be new to March Madness bettors in the US, but it has been operating for over 50 years in Europe. It is one of the safest and most trusted sportsbooks in the world.
Users at Betfred can be sure they’ll get competitive odds on all of the college basketball games listed on a given day thanks to the book’s industry experience.
| Betfred Sportsbook Promo Code | BETBONUS |
|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | $105 on Fred (No Sweat Bet up to $105 if your first wager loses) |
| Best For | “Betfred Boosts” |
| States Available | AZ, CO, IA, OH, PA & VA |
| MM betting options | MM live betting, NCAA Tournament spreads, and futures |
| Apple Rating | 4.5 |
| Google Rating | 4.5 |
| Our Rating | 4.6 |
How we rank the best March Madness betting sites & Apps
TheLines always encourages college basketball bettors to shop around for the best odds. You can find all sorts of odds comparison tools on our website, including college basketball odds for every daily game and NCAA National Title odds.
Not all sportsbooks are created equally, and our rankings of sportsbooks go above the best college hoops lines. TheLines staff ranks the books above in the order they are placed by the following criteria:
- The Best March Madness Odds
- Fastest Payout Speeds
- Best Promos
- Deposit Options
- User Interface
- Customer Service Access
Is betting on March Madness legal in my state?
College basketball betting is approved in every state that offers legal sports betting, but the specific rules vary. Kentucky sports betting, the newest legal market for the 2023-2024 season, does not have any restrictions. This means Kentucky bettors can legally wager on the Kentucky Wildcats or Louisville Cardinals without leaving the state. More established markets like New Jersey and New York do not allow wagering on in-state teams. Arizona, Colorado, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania do not allow college prop bets on players.
How to bet on March Madness
Pick a college basketball betting site
The majority of legal sports betting states have several March Madness betting sites to choose between. Use the above tables to see which ones are available in your market. Then it comes down to deciding which one you want to go with. Welcome offers, college basketball promos, and betting menus are factors to consider before deciding. The upside is there is no rule against creating multiple sportsbook accounts at the same time.
Get your bonus and deposit
Once you’ve selected a sportsbook, you’ll need to register for an account. There will be a spot to enter one of the above promo codes so you can get your welcome bonus. Others do not require a code to receive Bonus Bets or offers. You will also need to provide your name, email, address, date of birth, and the last four of your SSN for verification purposes. Once you register and deposit funds into your sportsbook account, the NCAA Tournament betting can begin. Many March Madness betting sites have a minimum deposit of $10.
Place an NCAA basketball bet
There will be plenty of markets to choose between, such as a futures bet on the UConn Huskies repeating as the 2024 NCAA Tournament champions or taking the moneyline on a 12-seed to upset a 5-seed in the first round. Others might like taking the Kentucky Wildcats to make the Final Four. The bottom line is, including the First Four, the NCAA Tournament consists of 67 games over three weeks, so there will be no shortage of betting options.
March Madness bet types
Point spread
Betting the point spread on a March Madness game is one of the most common ways to wager. As an example, let’s say Arizona is a 2-seed and is playing Murray State, a 15-seed. High seeds like Arizona will be heavily favored, usually in the double digits.
For this example, Arizona is a -16 favorite over Murray State (+16). If you bet Murray State to cover the point spread, you would need them to either win outright or lose by 15 points or less. If Murray State lost by exactly 16 points, it would be a push, and the amount of money you bet would be refunded.
Let’s say you bet Arizona to cover the big 16-point spread. You would need the Wildcats to win the game by 17 points or more to win the bet.
Moneyline
A moneyline bet on a March Madness game is also extremely common. There are so many college basketball upsets during the tournament that betting the moneyline on an underdog can be quite lucrative – even if you bet a small amount.
An extreme example is from this past year’s NCAA tournament. Sixteen seed Fairleigh Dickenson had +2000 moneyline odds to upset 1-seeded Purdue. Fairleigh Dickinson pulled off the miracle, and those who had Fairleigh Dickinson winning tickets were in the money. A $10 bet on Fairleigh Dickinson to win would have garnered most bettors a $200 profit.
Totals
Totals markets, or over unders, are another common way to bet on NCAA basketball. Let’s use this past National Championship game as an example. The UConn versus San Diego State title game had a total of 132 points.
The final score of the game was UConn 76, SDSU 59. That equated for a total score of 135 points, so Over bettors cashed.
Futures
Big-picture bettors love futures bets. There are a variety of futures bets available during March Madness, most notably National Title odds.
It is difficult to pin down the winner at the start of the Big Dance, just because there are so many teams and major upsets. So more conservative college hoops bettors will entertain markets like “Odds to make the Sweet 16,” “Odds to make the Elite 8,” and “Odds to make the Final Four.”
Props
Prop betting on March Madness can be tricky as states have different laws regarding betting on games played by student-athletes. Team props are more common as they don’t involve an individual. You will often see college basketball team props like “Over Under 3-pointers made by Kansas,” and “First basket made: Duke or North Carolina?”
Player props, like over under player totals, are not always available but be sure to check with your state and sportsbook rules before wagering. Popular player props, if they are available, will include markets like “Adama Sanogo Over Under 18.5 points” or “Cason Wallace Over Under 3.5 3-pointers made.”
College basketball & March Madness betting restrictions
Here is a list of college basketball betting restrictions by state.
| State | Restrictions | Legal Betting Age |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | College prop bets | 21 |
| Colorado | College prop bets | 21 |
| Connecticut | Wagering on in-state teams (rule does not apply to tournaments) | 21 |
| Illinois | Betting on Illinois college teams is only allowed with pregame, in-person bets | 21 |
| Indiana | Prop betting is limited to pregame only | 21 |
| Iowa | Prop bets on individual college athletes is not allowed | 21 |
| Kansas | None | 21 |
| Kentucky | None | 18 |
| Louisiana | None | 21 |
| Maryland | None | 21 |
| Massachusetts | Betting on Massachusetts college teams is only permitted if they are playing in a tournament | 21 |
| Michigan | None | 21 |
| Montona | None | 18 |
| Nevada | None | 21 |
| New Hampshire | No betting on New Hampshire college teams or events | 18 |
| New Jersey | Bets on NJ based college teams or in-state games | 21 |
| New York | No betting on NY college teams | 21 |
| Ohio | None | 21 |
| Oregon | College bets must be placed at retail sportsbooks | 21 |
| Pennsylvania | Prop bets on college athletes are not allowed | 21 |
| Rhode Island | Wagers on in-state college teams and events are not allowed | 18 |
| Tennessee | No prop bets on college athletes or in-game props | 21 |
| Virginia | Prop bets and wagers on Virginia college teams are prohibited | 21 |
| Washington D.C. | Betting on games taking place in D.C. or college teams based in D.C. area prohibited | 18 |
| West Virginia | None | 21 |
| Wyoming | None | 18 |
Benefits Of Betting On March Madness Online
Legal, Regulated Sportsbooks
It’s important to make sure the March Madness betting site you’re using is legal and regulated. There are many illegal offshore sportsbooks operating in regulated markets that are not safe. Look for an RG logo on any legal March March Madness betting site. It means there are responsible gambling tools built into the platform. They will include setting deposit limits, cooling off periods, and reality check time limits. Adding your name to a temporary/permanent self-exclusion list is available as well at top March Madness betting sites. All betting sites recommended on TheLines are legal, safe, and regulated.
Fast Deposits and Withdrawals
Having access to fast deposits and withdrawals are important when March Madness betting season rolls around. Many March Madness betting sites now offer Venmo betting, PayPal betting, and Apple Pay betting as banking options. These transactions can be completed in a quicker timespan versus ACH or cash at the casino cage.
Live Betting Options
Live betting markets are a big part of the NCAA Tournament betting experience. It can bring an added level of excitement, especially when a top seed like the Kansas Jayhawks or Duke Blue Devils is mounting a big comeback versus an underdog trying to pull off an upset. During the game, top online sportsbooks like the ones mentioned above will add their desired edge to the algorithm’s probability. New odds will be computed and offered to bettors. Scoring runs and lead changes are a couple of factors causing the moneyline or point spread odds to change several times during a game.
Bonuses and Promotions
Bonuses and promotions help give March Madness betting sites an edge over the retail sports betting experience at a land-based casino, racetrack, or stadium. You might enjoy an amazing viewing experience at your favorite Atlantic City and Pennsylvania sportsbook, but you will likely not receive Bonus Bets or promos such as odds boosts or profit boosts when walking up to the betting window or kiosk. Come NCAA Tournament time, the offers available to new and existing customers tend to be stronger.
March Madness betting FAQs
The best college basketball betting sites are Caesars, BetMGM, BetRivers and Bet365. All of those sites have tremendous welcome bonuses.
It is legal to bet on college basketball props in many states. Some states don’t allow it, however. Betting on college basketball props is allowed in Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, New York, Washington DC, and Wyoming.
Many states allow for betting on college basketball except for teams that play in-state. For example if you are a UConn fan in Connecticut or a Syracuse fan in New York, you are out of luck when it comes to betting on your team in-state.
There are dozens of college basketball betting sites available including Caesars, BetMGM and Bet365.