March Madness Betting Sites

How to Bet March Madness in PA

Folks in the Keystone State are among the lucky ones for March Madness. That’s because they have a number of spots to legally and safely place their bets whenever they want on their device of choice. Here are the best apps you can use to make it happen.

• DraftKings Sportsbook PA – Up to $1,250 Bonus: In partnership with Penn National, DraftKings has been taking the Pennsylvania market by storm. You’ll find everything you need to bet on March Madness on the awesome app.
• FanDuel Sportsbook PA – $200 No Sweat First Bet: Boyd Gaming and Valley Forge Resort Casino have hitched their wagon to FanDuel, and that has proven to be an awesome call. The user-friendly app is a huge hit with users.
• BetRivers Sportsbook PA – $500 Bonus: BetRivers is an instantly recognizable brand in Pennsylvania, thanks to its casinos in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. You can handle all of your March Madness business via the app.

To get started, all you need to do is click through on our exclusive links to take advantage of the bonus offers. Follow the instructions to set up your account, download the app for your device, log in, and you’ll be good to go on mobile.

Once you have the app all set, you can bet anywhere within state lines. Here are some awesome spots to consider visiting to enjoy the games.

• Founding Fathers (1612 South Street, Philadelphia):  Great viewing sightlines, awesome food, and a wide selection of beer are awaiting.
• Patte’s Sports Bar & Restaurant (65 West Hollenback Avenue, Wilkes Barre): When you’ve been in business for 50 years, there’s a good chance you’re doing it right.
• Underdog Sports Bar & Grill (3100 Paxton St, Harrisburg): Big beer selection, great wings, and plenty of TVs equal a great place to catch the game.

You won’t be able to catch March Madness in-person in Pennsylvania, but there are options for those looking to take a road trip to New York.

March Madness First and Second Rounds Near Pennsylvania

• When: March 19 and March 21
• Where: Times Union Center
• State: Albany, NY

March Madness East Regional Near Pennsylvania

• When: March 27 and March 29
• Where: Madison Square Garden
• State: New York City, NY

Just remember to get your accounts set up before hitting the road by clicking on our exclusive links. You’ll have to place your bets online in PA, but you can manage your account out of state.

How to Bet March Madness in NJ

The Garden State has emerged as a leader in the legal and regulated sports betting environment. There are a number of spots to place your March Madness bets as a result, but some have separated themselves from the pack. Here are the top choices to consider.

• DraftKings Sportsbook NJ – Up to $1,250 Bonus: DraftKings has set up shop at Resorts Casino in Atlantic City, but you can also handle all of your March Madness betting needs via its popular app.
• William Hill Sportsbook NJ – Up to $1,000 Bonus Bet: The UK-based bookmaker is among the leaders on mobile in NJ and also with retail locations found at places including Monmouth Park Racetrack.
• FanDuel Sportsbook NJ – $200 No Sweat First Bet: The FanDuel Sportsbook at the Meadowlands packs folks in, while its user-friendly mobile platform has become a preferred destination as well.

Signing up for an account is simple. Just click through on our exclusive links to get your bonuses, enter some info, download the app for your device of choice from the website, log in on mobile and you’ll be set to bet whenever and wherever you want.

Since you have a mobile sportsbook in your pocket, you can feel free to enjoy March Madness in New Jersey wherever you like. Here are some of the top places to put on your travel itinerary.

• Mulligan’s Pub (159 1st Street, Hoboken): An Irish Bar with great food and plenty of big screen TVs to enjoy the games.
• BJ’s Restaurant Brewhouse (1275 Hooper Avenue, Toms River): Award-winning handcrafted brews, quality eats, and numerous viewing options.
• Ducktown Tavern & Liquors (2400 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City): Great beer selection and bar food in a classic setting makes for a great time.

If you’re looking to experience the thrill of March Madness in-person, you’re in luck. While no tournament games will be in NJ this year, a couple of reasonable road trips will put you in the center of the action.

March Madness First and Second Rounds in New Jersey

• When: March 19 and March 21
• Where: Times Union Center
• State: Albany, NY

March Madness East Regional in New Jersey

• When: March 27 and March 29
• Where: Madison Square Garden
• State: New York City, NY

Just remember that you’ll need to be in NJ to actually place your bets. You can check on your account and follow along elsewhere, but cross back over to NJ when it’s time to place your bets.

How to Bet March Madness in WV

The thrill of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is coming, and you can get in on the action right in West Virginia. The sports betting friendly state offers a number of different options for you to place your bets. Here are the apps to put at the top of your list.

• DraftKings Sportsbook WV – Up to $1,250 Bonus: DraftKings is live in the Mountaineer State via a partnership with Hollywood casino at Charles Town Races. The app is a must-have for March Madness.
• FanDuel Sportsbook WV – $200 No Sweat First Bet: The Casino Club at Greenbrier Resort is FanDuel’s partner in WV, and the user-friendly mobile offering has proven to be a huge hit with consumers.
• BetMGM Sportsbook WV – Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets: Gaming giant MGM has also hooked up with Greenbrier for its mobile offering in WV. You’ll find all of the NCAA basketball action you can handle on the platform.

To access mobile betting on these sites, click through on our exclusive links to create your account and to take advantage of the bonus offers. Once that’s all set, follow the instructions on the main website to download the app that corresponds with your device. Log in on mobile and you’re all set.

Afterwards, you’ll be able to bet anywhere in WV. Here are some destinations that you may want to consider popping in on to check out the games.

• Mountain Mama’s Sports Bar (1137 Van Voorhis, Morgantown): A top choice of the locals in this college town that knows how to party.
• Wild Wild West Sports Bar (100 Kensington Drive, Wheeling): Great wings, live DJ, and a pool table are among the features to look forward to.
• Prime Station (5147 Washington Street West, Cross Lanes): Awesome happy hour specials and a slew of big screen TVs make this a go-to spot. You won’t be able to catch the games in-person in WV, but neighboring Ohio is playing host for two rounds of the tournament.

March Madness First Four Near West Virginia

• When: March 17 and March 18
• Where: University of Dayton Arena
• State: Dayton, OH

March Madness First and Second Round Near West Virginia

• When: March 20 and March 22
• Where: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
• State: Cleveland, OH

Before hitting the road, be sure to log in and place your bets. You can check on your account out of state, but you’ll need to be located in WV while actually placing your wagers.

How to Bet March Madness in Indiana

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament will be that much more interesting in the Hoosier State this year. Residents can legally and safely place their wagers whenever and wherever they want within state lines. To make that happen, you’ll need a good sports betting app. Here are the top choices to consider.

• DraftKings Sportsbook IN – Up to $1,250 Bonus: One of the first operators to go live on mobile in Indiana, DraftKings has emerged as one of the top choices for consumers. The company’s land-based partner is Ameristar Casino, but you can bet on March Madness anywhere in Indiana via the app.
• FanDuel Sportsbook IN – $200 No Sweat First Bet: FanDuel is another mobile sportsbook that’s knocking it out of the park, and it has established quite a retail presence at Blue Chip Casino and Belterra Casino to boot. The app is smooth and slick and a perfect companion to March Madness.
• BetMGM Sportsbook IN – Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets: BetMGM launched in early 2020 via a partnership with Belterra Casino. This is the mobile sports betting arm of gaming giant MGM, so users can jump in and take advantage of the company’s wealth of experience as they enjoy March Madness.

To get in on the fun, click through on our exclusive links to take advantage of the awesome bonus offers and get your account set up. Follow the instructions to download the app for your device, log in, and get to it.

Since you can bet on March Madness anywhere in Indiana, here’s a trio of spots to consider visiting in your travels.

• Britton Tavern (14005 Mundy Drive, Fishers): Popular sports bar with plenty of TVs and live music on the weekends.
• Brothers Bar and Grill (910 Broad Ripple Avenue, Broad Ripple): A highly-regarded pub menu is among the features that pack folks in.
• Ale Emporium (8617 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis): Over 100 beers to choose from make this a go-to spot in Indianapolis.

Last but not least, there’s a lot to be said about catching the games live and in-person. Indiana residents are in luck as a big part of the tournament will be in the Hoosier State.

Midwest Regional Final in Indiana

• When: March 26 and March 28
• Where: Lucas Oil Stadium
• State: Indianapolis, IN

March Madness is going to be epic in Indiana this year. Get your sports betting app accounts set up by clicking on our links and enjoy the games!

Betting from Chicago, NY and Ohio 

If you live in a state that’s still stuck in neutral with legal sports betting, you’re not entirely out of luck. There’s nothing preventing you from visiting a neighboring state which is a bit more betting-friendly to get in on the fun. Let’s walk through some examples.

March Madness Betting from Chicago

For folks in Chicago and other parts of Illinois, neighboring Indiana is open for business when it comes to sports betting.

One simple trip across state lines and you’ll have access to mobile operators including DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. Click through on our exclusive links to create your accounts and you’ll get awesome bonuses for doing so.

Once your account is created, follow the instructions onsite to download the app that goes with your device. Log in on mobile and you’ll be all set to wager. Just place your bets in IN and then watch the games wherever you like.

This is also a great option for those who plan on hitting the road for March Madness live in Indianapolis, which will play host to Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games this year.

If you’re sticking closer to home to catch the games after placing your bets in IN, here are some awesome spots to check out.

• The Irish Oak (3511 North Oak Street, Chicago): Irish pub with great food and an awesome gameday atmosphere make this a go-to spot.
• The Scout (1301 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago): TVs galore, a long list of brews, and stellar food are among the highlights.
• Turtle’s Bar and Grill (3258 South Wells Street, Chicago): Indoor and outdoor seating, daily specials, and lots of fun are waiting.

You can check out and manage your account while back home in IL, just remember that you’ll have to head back to IN when it’s time to place more bets on March Madness.

How to Bet March Madness From NY

Folks in the Big Apple have an easy solution for betting on March Madness via their mobile device. A quick trip over to NJ will open up a whole world of possibilities.

The Garden State is very sports betting friendly. As such, you’ll have access to top operators such as DraftKings, William Hill, and FanDuel while within state lines.

All you need to do is click through on our exclusive links to create an account. Once that’s set, download the app to your iOS or Android device, log in on mobile, and you’ll be all set.

To actually place your bets, you’ll need to be in NJ, but you can then go watch the games wherever you like. Don’t forget that the tournament is touching down twice in NY this year, so this is a fantastic option for those who are going to catch the games in-person.

If you’re not planning to go to the games and looking for some awesome spots to kick back and watch, here are some great places to consider.

• Blondies (212 West 79th Street, NY): Great wings and awesome sight lines for viewing make this a popular destination.
• Sweet Spot (22-72 31st Street, Queens): A huge space with fantastic drink specials and 40+ TVs to watch the games.
• The Irish Rover (3718 28th Ave, Astoria): A lively Irish Pub with tons of TVs, plenty of beer, and budget-friendly prices.

Just remember that you’ll need to physically be in NJ to place your bets, but you can head back to NY to watch the games.

How to Bet March Madness from Ohio

While Ohio isn’t on board with legal sports betting as of yet, a trio of surrounding states are. As a result, folks in the Buckeye State have options to explore for wagering on March Madness.

Indiana, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia all have legal and thriving sports betting industries. They’re all serviced by top operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel.

Ohio residents are welcome to take a road trip to bet the March Madness. Just click on our exclusive links to download the app that correlates with your device in Ohio and set up your account so you can qualify for the bonus.

Next, drive over to Indiana, Pennsylvania or West Virginia, log in on mobile and place your bets. You can then head back home to watch the games.

Speaking of which, those who are looking to catch some March Madness action back home in OH have a few windows of games to choose from.

March Madness First Four in Ohio

• When: March 17 and March 18
• Where: University of Dayton Arena
• State: Dayton, OH

March Madness First and Second Round in Ohio

• When: March 20 and March 22
• Where: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
• State: Cleveland, OH

If you’d rather not head to the arena but still want to go out, here’s a trio of places to put on your list as potential stops to make.

• T-Birds Sports Bar and Grille (932 West State Street, Trenton): Known for heaping portions of awesome food, it’s a popular destination for the games.
• Bunkers Sports Bar and Grill (893 East National Road, Vandalia): Happy hour specials, 30+ TVs and 40+ beers on tap equal a great place to visit.
• James Third Base (1079 Reading Road, Mason): Daily specials and plenty of entertainment options are among the things awaiting.

Remember that you’ll need to be in one of the neighboring legal states to place your bets, but you can check on your account while back in Ohio.

What is March Madness?

March Madness is the nickname that has been bestowed on the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, a yearly event which decides the top team in College hoops for the season.

The first-ever tournament to crown a champion was held back in 1939. Oregon conquered Ohio State that year to win the title in a competition that saw only eight teams compete. The structure would remain the same for the first dozen years of the tournament.

The field has continually expanded through the years. Since 2011, 67 teams have been invited to compete. For the 2019 tournament, Virginia took down Texas Tech to win the crown.

It’s a single–elimination tournament, so there’s no margin for error. One loss and you’re done, and anything can happen in the confines of a single game.

That opens the door for massive upsets, Cinderella teams getting hot, buzzer beaters that seal the deal, and a whole host of other surprises. All of that only contributes to the excitement and is a big part of the reason why there’s such massive interest in March Madness.

Bracket competitions don’t hurt in that regard. Office pools are a staple this time of year, and there are a number of massive contests to be found on the internet as well. Filling out a bracket is almost a rite of passage into the spring.

The betting aspect certainly helps to keep folks engaged as well. After all, many brackets get busted in the opening rounds. When you’re betting on the individual games, there’s no need to worry about that.

Of course, the best of both worlds approach involves a friendly bracket competition and maybe a swing at a massive online contest, as well as taking some cracks at the individual games you find most appealing. Naturally, you’ll want to try to predict the outright winner of the whole thing in the futures market too.

March Madness is incredibly exciting, tons of fun, and potentially profitable. Let’s take a closer look at how it all comes together.

Which NCAA Teams Qualify for the Tournament?

There are two ways to qualify for March Madness. The first is by winning a conference tournament, while the second comes from passing the muster of the tournament selection committee.

The first way is the most straightforward. At the conclusion of the College Basketball regular season, there are 32 NCAA Men’s Division I conference tournaments. The winners of those tournaments are automatically invited to the dance.

The remaining 36 teams are chosen by the NCAA selection committee. Members of the group weigh teams on overall strength and aim to choose the best remaining squads to round out the field.

An excellent regular season record helps in this regard, as does success against a strong schedule. Teams that excel during the season but come up short in conference tournaments still have great shots for inclusion.

Other teams aren’t as clear cut, but the committee does its best and relies on a series of metrics to choose which squads make the cut. The process isn’t devoid of controversy, as there are often teams that have a legitimate argument for inclusion that wind up on the outside looking in.

The full tournament is announced on what is known as Selection Sunday. Through the years, this has evolved into a must-see TV event as the entire field of 68 teams is unveiled for the first time.

How the NCAA Tournament Works

After the teams are selected, the action gets underway with four play-in games, which is also known as the Opening Round. The winners of these four contests advance to the First Round, which is when the action really heats up.

The first round begins on Thursday and includes 16 games. The first one tips off early in the day, while the last one doesn’t wrap up until late in the night. In between, it’s a wild scene with games going on in arenas all across the nation.

It’s the same story on Friday as the first round continues. Another 16 games are played over the same all-day format. Once the last game on Friday is in the books, half of the field will have been eliminated.

That leaves 32 teams to compete over the weekend in second round action. There are eight games spread out on both Saturday and Sunday. While that’s less than the first round, the action is still fast and furious all weekend long.

Once round two is complete, there are 16 teams left. This is known as the Sweet 16. There’s a break in the action before it kicks back up on Thursday and Friday with eight Sweet 16 games. Once again, the winners advance to the weekend.

By this time, it’s round four and there are just eight teams remaining. The Elite 8 compete over the weekend with the winners advancing to the Final Four the following week.

The Final Four games, also known as the national semifinals, take place on Saturday. The winners of those two tilts advance to the national title game, which is held on Monday.

All told, it’s 67 games over a glorious three-week stretch. The NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament is one of the most exciting events in all of sports.

March Madness Brackets

The tournament is formatted into a bracket-style competition. There are four regions for the March Madness bracket, each of which has 16 teams that are seeded from 1-16. The winners of the four Opening Round games are playing for lower seeds, while the rest of the field has its spot locked in on Selection Sunday.

The four brackets are broken up geographically: East, South, Midwest, and West. As the tournament plays out, each team plays through its region with the goal of advancing to the regional final. The winners of the regional final games comprise what’s known as the Final Four.

That’s how the brackets work from a structural standpoint, and it’s also the same for the various pool competitions which surround March Madness. Once the field is set, participants in the bracket pool can start filling out their brackets.

Bracket competitions vary in shape and size. There are some that are winner take all, and others which pay out several places based on the top-scoring participants. The contests themselves are tons of fun, and potentially quite profitable for those who nail their brackets.

March Madness Schedule 2020

Here are the key dates you need to know for March Madness 2020.

• March 15: Selection Sunday
• March 17-18: First Four play-in games
• March 19-20: First round games
• March 21-22: Second round games
• March 26-27: Sweet 16
• March 28-29: Elite Eight
• April 4: Final Four
• April 6: National title game

Here are the host cities and arenas for the regional finals and Final Four.

• East Regional – Madison Square Garden, NY, NY
• South Regional – Toyota Center, Houston, TX
• Midwest Regional – Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
• West Regional – Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Final Four – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Types of March Madness Bets

There are a number of different ways to bet on March Madness. From picking the outright winner of the tournament to individual game matchups and a whole host of other options, you’ll have a slew of choices to consider.

Let’s take a look at the most popular ways to bet on the tournament.

• Futures: You can bet on the outright winner of the tournament. There’s an active futures market for NCAA Basketball and you’ll find odds listed all season long. Once the field is set, you may also find opportunities to bet on things such as the winner of each region, teams to reach the Final Four, and the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
• Moneyline: For each of the individual games, you’ll find a simple moneyline bet in which you can place your wager on the winner. The favorite to win will be designated with negative odds, while the underdog’s odds will be positive. 
• Point Spread: This bet revolves around a margin of points which is set by the oddsmaker. You can take the favorite minus the points, or the underdog plus the points. If your chosen side covers the spread, you have a winning ticket.
• Totals: Oddsmakers will place a benchmark total on each game. The betting public then gets a chance to have its say and decide if they like the total points scored to go Over or Under that number.
• March Madness Prop Bets: These are side wagers on something that may or may not happen during the game. You’ll find props for both individual player and team-based performance, such as whether or not a player will score a certain amount of points or what the total margin of victory will be.
• Live Betting: These are bets you can place after the action has already tipped off. Live betting has proven to be incredibly popular. The markets move fast and you will find a number of different opportunities to choose from during the course of a game, such as updated moneyline odds or total points scored in a half.

March Madness Betting Odds

For each of the bets you find on the wagering menu, there will be odds attached. Let’s take a look at the different formats you’ll come across.

For a futures bet, you’ll find each of the teams listed with their corresponding odds.

• Kansas +200
• Villanova +220
• Kentucky +240

And so on for all of the teams eligible. When it comes to the individual games, there are a couple of different odds formats. For moneyline, it’s just a favorite and an underdog.

• Alabama +120
• Marquette +140

When the point spread is involved, you’ll see the spread plus the odds.

• North Carolina +1.5 (-110)
• Florida State -1.5 (-110)

If it’s totals, you’re looking at the two choices with the odds listed.

• Over 5 (-110)
• Under 5 (-110)

When it comes to props and futures, the odds will resemble one of the formats listed up above. If it’s an instance with multiple choices, the odds will be similar to the futures market. For bets involving two selections, it’ll be listed like a moneyline, spread, or totals bet.

Teams with Most March Madness Appearances

There are a number of elite Basketball programs across the nation, so it should come as no surprise that there are several schools which are regular participants in March Madness. Here are the five colleges with the most NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament appearances.

• Kentucky, 58, eight national titles
• North Carolina, 50, six national titles
• Kansas, 48, three national titles
• UCLA, 47, 11 national titles
• Duke, 43, five national titles

Here are the programs with the most consecutive invites to the tournament, four of which are still going strong.

• Kansas, 30, 1990-present
• North Carolina, 27, 1975-2001
• Duke, 24, 1996-present
• Michigan State, 22, 1998-present
• Gonzaga, 21, 1999-present

5 Best NCAA Tournament Betting Tips

When it’s time for March Madness, opinions aren’t tough to come by. There are tons of theories on the best way to fill out a bracket and which kinds of teams to focus on for individual bets.

All of those opinions can lead to information overload, so train yourself to tune out the noise and focus on what matters. Here are five tips that can help point you in the right direction.

1. Overall Team Strength

Everyone loves a Cinderella story, but be realistic with your expectations. Higher seeds are where they are for a reason. The winning percentage is high for seeds 1 through four in early rounds, so only go against the grain if you have an excellent reason for doing so. Some programs are just stronger than others, so don’t try to force an upset that’s just not there.

2. Consider Recent Form

If a team qualifies for the tournament, they’ve obviously done something right. However, not all teams head to the dance in the same shape. Some squads are cruising and looking dangerous, while others limp in. Pay attention to how teams fared at the close of the regular season and through their conference tournaments for a sense of current state of play.

3. Pick Your Spots with Upsets 

As mentioned, the stronger teams in the tournament are reliable performers. However, upsets are going to happen. The key is to pick your spots and zero in on the ones with the best chances of happening. Recent form can help in that regard, as a team that enters flying could be in line to advance over a powerhouse that has been struggling of late.

4. Things that Move the Needle

There are enough stats out there to make your head spin, and it’s pretty easy to get lost in research as a result. As opposed to doing that, focus your time on the things that really matter. Points for and against and schedule strength are simple indicators that can be very helpful. For tiebreakers, look towards better shooting teams, stronger defenses, and squads that have a depth advantage over their opponent.

5. Manage your Bankroll

March Madness is very exciting, and it can be quite easy to get caught up in the hysteria. Avoid the temptation to go overboard. Enter the tournament with a clear plan and budget, then stick to it. For example, you can allocate a certain amount of funds for each round of the tournament. If you do well in the early going, you can always increase play, but be careful not to give all of your winnings back.