March Madness bracket contests are one of the most exciting parts of the NCAA Tournament, and 2025 is shaping up to be another thrilling year! With huge prizes and no entry fees, these contests give you the chance to win big without risking a dime.
In 2024, over $10 million in prizes were up for grabs through various sportsbook bracket challenges. While the 2025 contest details haven’t been released yet, we’re expecting another exciting lineup of contests for the March Madness bracket this year!
Bookmark this page and check back often as we update it with the latest information about free-to-enter contests for March Madness 2025.
2025 March Madness bracket contests
Details for the 2025 contests will be announced in early March. We’ll keep this section updated as soon as the sportsbooks reveal their latest promotions, rules, and prize pools.
Based on last year’s contests, you can expect incredible opportunities to win cash, gift cards, and other prizes without paying any entry fee at March Madness betting sites. Be sure to come back and lock in your picks once the brackets are set! In the meantime though you can sign up for new sportsbook accounts and unlock lucrative sportsbook promos and sign-up bonuses and even bet on March Madness odds.
| Contest | Prize | Entry Cost | Welcome Bonus | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
TBD | TBD | Bet $5, Get $100 | 'COVERS' or 'CVSBONUS' (CO, NJ & PA only) |
 |
TBD | TBD | Win $5 Bet, Get $150 | No code |
 |
TBD | TBD | Bet $5, Get $150 | No code |
 |
TBD | TBD | $500 2nd Chance Bet | COVERSBONUS |
Previous bracket contests
To give you an idea of what to expect, here are the details from last year’s top March Madness bracket contests. While these were the offers for 2024, they provide a good sense of the types of promotions that could return for 2025.
bet365 Bracket Challenge 2024: Win $10M for a perfect bracket
bet365 set a high bar for the 2024 tournament with its $10 million bracket challenge. The player with the most points at the end of the contest won $100,000, but if someone picked every game correctly, they could walk away with a total of $10 million! Prizes were available for the top 5,000 brackets.
New users in 2025 can also claim $100 in bonus bets after making their first $5 bet using the bet356 bonus code COVERS.
Will bet365 bring back this massive prize pool for 2025? Check back in March for the latest updates!
Bet $5, Get $100, Win or Lose
Code: COVERS
Code: CVSBONUS (CO, NJ & PA only)
FanDuel $50,000 Tourney Shuffle'Em
In 2024, FanDuel offered users a chance to win a share of $50,000 by correctly predicting the last four teams standing. Players could shuffle their final four combinations up to 20 times to create the best bracket.
New FanDuel users also enjoy a $150 bonus bet if their first $5 bet is a winner, without needing a FanDuel promo code.
We’re excited to see if FanDuel will bring back this unique and fun contest in 2025.
Bet $5, Get $150 Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins
DraftKings Zero Right Bracket Challenge: Win $100K
DraftKings’ popular reverse bracket challenge returned in 2024, challenging users to make the worst bracket possible. The goal? Get zero picks right and earn a shot at $100,000.
New players also receive $150 in bonus bets after making their first $5 bet without needing to enter a DraftKings promo code.
Stay tuned for news on whether DraftKings will revive this quirky and challenging contest for 2025!
Bet $5, Get $150
BetRivers Bracket Challenge: Win a VISA gift card
BetRivers awarded VISA gift cards to the top finishers in its 2024 bracket challenge, with the first-place winner taking home $600. Ten active players were also randomly selected to win $50 gift cards.
New users who enter BetRivers bonus code COVERSBONUS are eligible for a second-chance bet worth up to $500 if their first wager lost.
We’ll update this section as soon as BetRivers announces its 2025 contest.
$500 Second Chance Bet
Code: COVERSBONUS
Covers Free March Tourney Challenge
Covers hosted its own tournament challenge in 2024, adding even more excitement to March Madness.
We’re looking forward for this free contest makes a return for 2025.
Instant replay: Best March Madness bracket contests
Follow the action on Covers to gain insight into which teams are poised to make a tourney run and find out who could play the role of Cinderella in 2024. In the end, most contest entries are built on picking a handful of favorites, gut feelings, and sheer luck. Keep these factors in mind:
- Research the top seeds from each conference and look at head-to-head matchups and historical seeding.
- Complete entry forms and fill out your bracket before the tipoff of the first-round games.
- Spread the love around multiple contest sites, much like your betting bankroll.
March Madness bracket contests FAQs
Sportsbooks and sports media companies offer lucrative winnings for contest entries. Most prizes are awarded to the owner of the bracket who made the most correct selections, but some are on the hunt for an elusive perfect bracket.
The best free bracket challenges to enter include those from regulated sportsbooks in your region. They offer huge prizes for winners.
A variety of cash and prizes ranging from $3,500 to $100,000 in value will be awarded to contest winners. Some contests offer millions of dollars for a perfect bracket.
Residents of legal betting age in Canada and the United States can enter these contests. Make sure to read the terms and conditions before completing any entry forms.
