The Madness is almost upon us again, but depending on where you live, making a legal bet on the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament can be trickier than you think. While the bracket has yet to be set, bettors and bookmakers have already begun thinking about March Madness, one of the busiest wagering periods of the year for the industry.
In 2024, for example, the American Gaming Association forecast U.S. residents would legally bet $2.72 billion on both the men's and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.
But that betting can't happen everywhere in the U.S. Some states haven't legalized sports betting, and others have restrictions on the type of wagering that can take place within their borders, especially college sports. That could mean no betting on in-state schools or player props.
So, to ensure you're up to speed and ready for the Madness, Covers has a state-by-state primer below on which states allow March Madness betting sites, and any restrictions that may await you.
Alabama
No. There is no legal sports betting 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.
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. However, you can’t make college player prop bets.
Connecticut
Yes, you can bet on March Madness games at Connecticut sportsbooks. However, bettors can only bet on UConn to win the tournament, not the team's games. Betting on Connecticut colleges is otherwise prohibited.
Delaware
Yes, you can wager on college basketball in Delaware, just not on the state’s college teams.
Florida
Yes, you can bet on March Madness in Florida. However, to do so legally over the internet, you'll have to use Hard Rock Bet, the Sunshine State's only authorized online sportsbook.
Georgia
No, because sports betting isn’t legal in Georgia.
Hawaii
No, there are no legal sportsbooks in Hawaii yet.
Idaho
No. There is no legal sports betting in Idaho.
Illinois
Yes, Illinois sports betting includes March Madness wagering. You just can't bet on any Illinois schools and their players that may be involved in the tournament.
Indiana
Yes, you can bet on college hoops at Indiana sportsbooks. You just can't bet college player props during a game.
Iowa
Yes, March Madness games will be on the menu at Iowa sportsbooks. You can't bet player props for games involving the state’s college teams, though.
Kansas
Yes, it’s full speed ahead for college sports wagering in Kansas.
Kentucky
Yes, legal sports betting in Kentucky permits a wide variety of wagering opportunities for college sports.
Louisiana
Yes, Louisiana sports betting includes college events such as March Madness. However, college player props are now banned in the state.
Maine
Yes, you can bet on college basketball in Maine. Yet there are restrictions, namely, no wagering on in-state schools and no college player props.
Maryland
Yes, retail and online sportsbooks in Maryland can take bets on college basketball. Despite this, college player props have been banned in the state.
Massachusetts
Yes, Massachusetts sports betting includes March Madness. There are some rules, though.
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. What's not permitted no matter what is betting college player props.
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. That should change later this year, but well after the 2025 tournament concludes.
Montana
Yes, you can bet on college sports in Montana at a licensed lottery retailer.
Nebraska
Yes, Nebraska now has legal sports betting, but it's only available at a few casinos. Moreover, those retail sportsbooks can't take bets on a Nebraska school when they're playing in-state, nor can they offer college player props for games involving a Nebraska school or in-game wagering for games involving a Nebraska college or university.
Nevada
Yes. This is Nevada after all, where Las Vegas is located.
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. The catch is that gambling on the state's college teams or college games taking 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 or college player props.
North Carolina
Yes, you can bet on March Madness in North Carolina.
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 March Madness bets. But college player props are now banned in the Buckeye State.
Oklahoma
No, because there is no legal sports betting in Oklahoma.
Oregon
Yes, you can bet on college basketball at Oregon casinos. However, the state doesn't allow college sports betting over the internet, so gamblers can't wager on March Madness via DraftKings, Oregon's only 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
You can bet on college basketball at Vermont's online sportsbooks. And while bettors are usually forbidden from wagering on in-state schools, they can do so for tournaments like March Madness. What Vermont bettors still can't do is bet college player props.
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 offer any player prop bets for college games.
Washington
Yes, you can bet on college basketball at tribal casinos in Washington, but 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.
