What States Allow Betting on March Madness?

Even states that permit college sports betting may have restrictions on that wagering, so here's a primer to ensure you know what exactly you're in for.

Geoff Zochodne - Senior News Analyst at Covers.com
Geoff Zochodne ? Senior News Analyst
Mar 13, 2023 ? 07:54 ET ? 5 min read
March Madness college basketball
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

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.

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Geoff Zochodne, Covers Sports Betting Journalist
Senior News Analyst

Geoff has been writing about the legalization and regulation of sports betting in Canada and the United States for more than three years. His work has included coverage of launches in New York, Ohio, and Ontario, numerous court proceedings, and the decriminalization of single-game wagering by Canadian lawmakers. As an expert on the growing online gambling industry in North America, Geoff has appeared on and been cited by publications and networks such as Axios, TSN Radio, and VSiN. Prior to joining Covers, he spent 10 years as a journalist reporting on business and politics, including a stint at the Ontario legislature. More recently, Geoff¡¯s work has focused on the pending launch of a competitive iGaming market in Alberta, the evolution of major companies within the gambling industry, and efforts by U.S. state regulators to rein in offshore activity and college player prop betting.

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