One of the busiest times of the year for online sports betting sites is almost here — but not every state allows bookmakers to take action on March Madness.
The American Gaming Association forecast that more than 17% of adults in the U.S. planned to wager $3.1 billion on the 2022 edition of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. This year, that number will likely grow, as even more states have legal sports betting.
Still, just because a state has legalized wagering, it doesn’t mean bettors there have carte blanche when it comes to college sports. Some states have wagering restrictions, which could come as a rude surprise for uninformed punters.
Nobody likes a rude gambling surprise. So Covers has a primer below on which states allow betting on March Madness and any restrictions there may be, to ensure there are no shocks when it’s time to wager.
Alabama
No. There is no legal sports betting yet in Alabama.
Alaska
No, because Alaska has no legal sportsbooks.
Arizona
Yes, Arizona sports betting includes wagering on March Madness via retail and online bookmakers. However, prop betting markets for college games are forbidden in the state.
Arkansas
Yes, Arkansas sports betting permits wagering on college basketball over the internet or at a casino.
California
No. Sports betting is not yet legal in California.
Colorado
Yes, Colorado sports betting allows March Madness wagering at retail and online sites. Nevertheless, you can’t make prop bets on college games there.
Connecticut
Yes, you can bet on March Madness games at Connecticut sportsbooks. However, bettors in the state can only bet on UConn to win the tournament, not the team's games. Betting on Connecticut colleges is otherwise prohibited in the state.
Delaware
Yes, you can wager on college basketball in Delaware, just not on the state’s college teams.
Florida
No, there are no legal sports betting options in Florida right now.
Georgia
No, because sports betting isn’t legal in Georgia.
Hawaii
No, there are no legal sportsbooks in Hawaii.
Idaho
No. There is no legal sports betting in Idaho.
Illinois
Yes, Illinois sports betting includes wagering on March Madness. There are exceptions, though, including that any bets on in-state colleges must be made before the game, in person, and at a brick-and-mortar sportsbook, not online. No player prop bets involving the state’s colleges are allowed either.
Indiana
Yes, you can bet on college hoops at Indiana sportsbooks (there might be a riot if you couldn't). In spite of that, you can't bet college player props during a game.
Iowa
Yes, March Madness games will be on the menu at Iowa sportsbooks. Nevertheless, you can't bet player props for games involving the state’s college teams.
Kansas
Yes, it’s full speed ahead for college sports wagering in Kansas.
Kentucky
No, there is no legal sports betting in Kentucky, unless you count horse racing.
Louisiana
Yes, Louisiana sports betting includes college events such as March Madness.
Maine
No, because legal sports betting has not begun in Maine. Maybe next year, as regulators are implementing event wagering in the New England state.
Maryland
Yes, retail and online sportsbooks in Maryland can take bets on college basketball.
Massachusetts
Yes, Massachusetts sports betting includes March Madness, as three casinos in the state are now taking wagers and online sportsbooks launched on March 10.
Betting on Massachusetts college teams is generally banned in the state. However, since March Madness is a tournament, betting on its games involving Massachusetts college teams will be allowed, as that is the one exception the rule. What's not allowed is betting college player props. That is not permitted in the commonwealth at any time.
Michigan
Yes, retail and online sportsbooks in Michigan are free to take bets on college basketball.
Minnesota
No, because sports betting is not yet legal in Minnesota.
Mississippi
Yes, you can bet on college basketball in Mississippi, but only at a casino.
Missouri
No, because there are no legal sportsbooks in Missouri yet.
Montana
Yes, you can bet on college sports in Montana at a licensed lottery retailer.
Nebraska
No, you can't bet on college sports in Nebraska, because legal sports wagering has not launched there yet. If you could, betting on the state's college teams would still be banned.
Nevada
Yes, it’s Nevada, where Las Vegas is located. You can bet on college sports there.
New Hampshire
Yes, you can bet on college basketball in New Hampshire with DraftKings. However, you can't bet on New Hampshire-based colleges or college games played in the state.
New Jersey
Yes, New Jersey sports betting includes wagering on March Madness at retail and online sportsbooks, but gambling on the state's college teams or college games that take place in New Jersey is off-limits.
New Mexico
Yes, you can bet on college basketball at tribal casinos in New Mexico.
New York
Yes, New York sports betting permits wagering on college basketball via retail and online sportsbooks. You just can’t bet on colleges from New York.
North Carolina
Yes, you can bet on March Madness at tribal casinos in North Carolina. Online sports betting is not yet legal in the state.
North Dakota
Yes, you can wager on college hoops in North Dakota at tribal casinos.
Ohio
Yes, Ohio sportsbooks of the brick-and-mortar and mobile variety will be taking bets on March Madness.
Oklahoma
No, because there is no legal sports betting in Oklahoma.
Oregon
Yes, you can bet on college basketball at Oregon casinos. That said, the state does not allow betting on college sports over the internet, so gamblers can't wager on March Madness via DraftKings, Oregon's sole mobile bookmaker.
Pennsylvania
Yes, Pennsylvania sports betting means you can wager on college basketball games at physical and mobile sportsbooks. Betting college player props is not allowed, though.
Rhode Island
Yes, you can bet on college basketball at Rhode Island sportsbooks — but only as long as the teams involved are not from the state and the games aren’t being played in the state.
South Carolina
No, there’s no legalized sports betting in South Carolina.
South Dakota
Yes, you can bet on college basketball at casinos in South Dakota. However, you can't bet on the state's college teams or college player props.
Tennessee
Yes, Tennessee sports betting includes wagering on March Madness using mobile sites. Still, there are some limitations, as college player prop betting and in-play prop betting on college games are not allowed.
Texas
No, because sports betting isn’t legal in Texas.
Utah
No. There is no legal sports betting in Utah.
Vermont
No, because sports betting has not yet been legalized in Vermont.
Virginia
Yes, Virginia sportsbooks can take bets on March Madness. Despite this, those same bookmakers can't take action on the state's college teams or any prop bets for college games.
Washington
Yes, you can bet on college basketball at tribal casinos in Washington, but you can't wager on the state's colleges.
Washington, D.C.
Yes, D.C. sportsbooks will offer betting markets on March Madness. However, betting on colleges and events located in the district is prohibited.
West Virginia
Yes, you can bet on college basketball in West Virginia.
Wisconsin
Yes, you can bet on college basketball at tribal casinos in Wisconsin. Even so, you can't bet on the state's college teams there.
Wyoming
Yes, wagering on March Madness is available at Wyoming sportsbooks.
