Best March Madness Betting Sites 2024

Top March Madness bonuses and promos

Editor’s Note: Only U.S. residents are eligible for bonuses.

Here are the top March Madness betting promotions across the nation as we approach the 2025 NCAA Championship tournament.

Features at the best March Madness betting sites

bet365 March Madness betting bonus

Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Claim $150

Underscoreg Review may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or casino betting site. 21+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly

Bet365 is only legal in ten states, but it is gaining popularity in the U.S. thanks to its attractive new-user welcome offer of bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets. Here are the key details you should be aware of:

• Use the bet365 bonus code SBRBONUS to claim the sportsbook’s active sign-up bonus. However, if you reside in Louisiana, you’ll need to click here.
• Following sign-up, you must deposit $10 or more. Then, you’ll have 30 days to place a $5 qualifying bet on any sports market. Regardless of your wager’s outcome, you’ll receive $150 in bonus bets.
• Your qualifying bet must have one selection with odds of -500 or greater.

If you’re not interested in the bonus bets welcome offer, bet365 also offers a high-roller alternative with up to $1,000 in first bet safety net insurance. Keep in mind that you can only choose one of the two offers, so choose wisely.

Make sure to thoroughly read our bet365 review in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the sportsbook and one of the top sportsbook promotions available.

DraftKings March Madness betting bonus

Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets

Terms and conditions apply.

Claim $150

Underscoreg Review may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or casino betting site. 21+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly

DraftKings is currently offering a promotion for new customers where they can receive $150 in bonus bets by simply placing a $5 bet.

• No DraftKings promo code is required to obtain the bonus.
• After registration, you must make a $5 minimum deposit and initial wager of at least $5 on any sport.
• Receive $150 in bonuses instantly, regardless of the outcome of your qualifying bet.
• The bonus will be sent as six (6) $25 bonus bets.
• One qualifying wager per customer.
• Bonus bets cannot be cashed out or transferred and expire after seven days.
• Offer expires August 18, 2024.

To learn more about the sportsbook, check out our review of DraftKings.

FanDuel March Madness betting bonus

Bet $5, Win $200 in Bonus Bets

Only new customers are eligible for this offer. Deposit a minimum of $5 and place your first bet of $5 or more. If your bet wins within 72 hours, you will receive $200 in Bonus Bets.

Claim $200

Underscoreg Review may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or casino betting site. 21+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly

Newcomers to FanDuel can take advantage of the welcome offer which allows them to bet $5 and potentially win $200 in bonus bets. Simply download the app, make a minimum $5 deposit, and place a wager of $5 or more on any betting market. If your bet is successful, $200 in bonuses will be added to your account within 72 hours of the bet settling. No FanDuel promo code is necessary to claim this offer.

• Minimum deposit and bet of $5 must be made on any available market.
• If your bet wins, you’ll be credited $200 in bonus bets.
• Bonus bets can be split up however you like, but expire in seven days.

Please read our FanDuel review for more details.

Caesars March Madness betting bonus

$1,000 First Bet on Caesars

Terms and conditions apply.

Claim $1,000

Underscoreg Review may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or casino betting site. 21+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly

Caesars Underscoreg remains a dominant force in the world of online betting, which is why its March Madness welcome offer for new customers is the most generous in the country, offering up to $1,000 in bet credits. Before taking advantage of this offer, be sure to review the following conditions:

• You must use the Caesars Underscoreg promo code — SBRBONUS1000 — to claim the bonus.
• An initial deposit of $10 or more is necessary after registration.
• Place your first bet on any sports market. Caesars will refund your stake, up to $1,000, if it loses, as a single bet credit.
• The bet credit has a 14-day lifespan and cannot be withdrawn as real cash.

Explore our Caesars review for further insights and information that you can use.

BetMGM March Madness betting bonus

Up To $1,500 Back In Bonus Bets

The bonus bets must be used within 7 days. This offer is only available to new customers. Other terms and conditions may also apply.

Claim $1,500

Underscoreg Review may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or casino betting site. 21+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly

When you sign up for a BetMGM account, you can enjoy a fantastic March Madness betting experience with the chance to receive up to $1,500 in bonus bets thanks to their first-bet insurance offer. Make sure to keep these key terms in mind when creating your account.

• BetMGM bonus code SBRBONUS is necessary here.
• Make a first deposit of $10 or more and place your initial bet on any sports market.
• If your bet wins, you won’t receive any bonus bets
• If your bet loses, you’ll be fully reimbursed via bonus bets, up to $1,500.
• Losing bets of less than $50 are credited as a single bonus bet.
• Losing bets of $50 or more are credited in five 20% chunks.
• You will have seven days to use the bonus bet(s), and they will appear in your account within 24 hours of your losing wager settling.

To get a better grasp of the sportsbook, be sure to check out our comprehensive BetMGM review.

ESPN BET March Madness betting bonus

Up To $1,500 In Bonuses

Terms and conditions apply

More Underscoregs

Underscoreg Review may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or casino betting site. 21+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly

By placing your NCAA March Madness bets on ESPN BET, you can take advantage of the sportsbook’s generous $1,000 First Bet Reset welcome bonus, as long as you are a new user. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions of the offer before getting started.

• An ESPN BET promo code isn’t required to snag the sign-up offer.
• Following registration, you must deposit at least $10.
• Place your initial wager on any sports market. If it loses, you’ll receive a bonus bet refund of up to $1,000.
• Bonus bets come in five (5) 20% chunks.
• You will have seven days to utilize the bonus bets, or they will expire.

Check out our ESPN BET review for in-depth analysis from experts.

BetRivers March Madness betting bonus ⚡

Up to a $500 Second Chance Bet

Terms and conditions apply.

Claim $500

Underscoreg Review may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or casino betting site. 21+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly

New users who register with BetRivers for March Madness betting can receive a second-chance bet worth up to $500. While this welcome offer is simple, it is important to remember the following details.

• Input the BetRivers bonus code — SBRBONUS — during sign-up to redeem the bonus.
• You must make a first deposit at least $10. Then, place a qualifying bet — should it fail, BetRivers will credit you the amount lost, up to $500, as a lone bonus bet.
• The bonus bet must have final odds of -200 or greater.
• You will receive the bonus within 24 hours of your losing wager settling, and you will have 30 days to use it.

Discover everything the sportsbook has to offer in our comprehensive BetRivers review.

March Madness betting summary

March Madness betting promo codes

March Madness betting odds

March Madness odds are not solely popular in March. Enthusiastic NCAAB bettors will bet on college basketball odds throughout the year, including Final Four odds, championship game odds, and everything in between. Let’s take a look at the teams with the best odds to win the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

2025 National Championship odds 

How to get started with March Madness betting sites

Even though even the most popular sportsbooks may not always have a straightforward registration process, the following is a concise step-by-step guide to help you navigate from signing up with your favorite March Madness betting site to placing your first bet.

1. Select a sportsbook and register online

To begin, choose a sportsbook from the list provided on this page. Next, find the “Create an Account” or “Sign Up” button on the homepage of the site or app and complete the necessary details, including your full name, mailing and email address, date of birth, and other required information.

You will also need to enter a promo code here if the sportsbook’s sign-up offer requires one.

2. Deposit and claim a bonus

After setting up your new sportsbook account, you must make a deposit to start online betting. Locate the cashier section on the betting site’s homepage, usually at the top or bottom, and browse through the various banking methods until you find the one you prefer. The top March Madness betting sites offer popular options like credit and debit cards, as well as PayPal.

3. Select and finalize your bet

Once you have funds in your account, you can now place your first bet. Take your time to explore the sportsbook’s betting options and choose a market that appeals to you. Enter the amount you want to bet and then proceed to confirm the transaction. Your wager will be immediately visible in your bet slip, where you can see the potential payout if your bet is successful.

4. Withdraw your payout

There are few things more exciting than seeing a big bet pay off, and you may be eager to cash out your winnings right away. To do so, go to the cashier section where you made your deposits and select the “withdrawal” option. Enter the amount you wish to withdraw and choose your preferred banking method. Typically, it takes between one to five days for a withdrawal to be processed.

Popular bet types and formats at March Madness betting sites

To learn how to bet on March Madness, you must first choose a preferred format. One of the most popular betting formats for March Madness is the bracket challenge, where bettors predict the outcomes of every game in each round, including the championship game. You can participate in this excitement by downloading our free printable March Madness bracket and making your own picks.

No one has ever been able to pick a perfect bracket in history, so the winner is usually the bettor who is most accurate. The longest streak of correct predictions in a March Madness bracket belongs to an Ohio man who correctly guessed the first 49 games of the tournament in 2019. If you are interested in placing wagers on more traditional betting markets for March Madness, popular options include prop bets.

• Moneyline (ex. taking Duke to win at +200)
• Spread (ex. picking Purdue -9.5 at -150)
• Over/Under point totals (ex. choosing over 105.5 points in Michigan vs. Villanova)
• Futures (ex. betting on Marcus Sasser’s March Madness MVP odds)
• Props (ex. wagering on a certain player to score over 17.5 points in a single game)

March Madness bracket explained

Each year, the NCAA Division I men’s basketball committee convenes to kick off the selection process for the 68 teams that will participate in the tournament. The committee first selects the top 36 at-large teams nationwide before finalizing the remaining 32 teams based on criteria such as win-loss record, team talent, and conference strength. This significant day in college basketball is known as “Selection Sunday.”

Following this, teams are strategically positioned throughout the championship bracket with the goal of achieving competitive balance. Each year after the Division I men’s basketball championship, a thorough review of the principles and procedures is conducted to ensure everything meets the necessary standards.

The initial round, known as the “First Four,” is a play-in round where the bottom eight teams compete to earn a spot in the opening round. Once the top 64 teams are set, the Round of 64 commences. From there, each game winner moves on to the round of 32.

After each game, the winner will advance to the Round of 16, also known as “The Sweet 16.” The victorious teams will then move on to “The Elite Eight,” and finally, “The Final Four.” The semi-final games of the Final Four will be played on the same day, with the championship game taking place two days later in early April.

March Madness key dates and developments

The First Four of March Madness will kick off on Sunday, March 19, 2024, leading up to the Final Four in Arizona on April 6, 2024. The national championship game will take place on April 8, 2024, marking the end of the tournament.

The American Gaming Association (AGA) predicts that this year’s March Madness will surpass the Super Bowl in total wagers, with an estimated 68 million individuals planning to place bets.

Below is a comprehensive list of important dates to keep an eye on for the 2024 tournament:

• Selection Sunday: Sunday, March 17
• First Four: March 19-20
• First round: March 21-22
• Second round: March 23-24
• Sweet 16: March 28-29
• Elite Eight: March 30-31
• Final Four: April 6
• NCAA championship game: April 8

Keep an eye out for the key dates related to the 2025 NCAA Basketball tournament.

March Madness betting apps

Navigating the college basketball betting scene can be challenging due to the differing rules across states. While some regions allow the use of sports betting apps, others may require a visit to a physical sportsbook. Although college sports betting is gaining popularity, it is not as widespread as professional sports wagering. Here are some factors to keep in mind when using March Madness betting apps.

• Underscoregs must abide by regulations specific to college sports in each state. This can include, but is not limited to, bans on betting on in-state college teams as well as prop bets.
• The best March Madness betting apps offer popular features, including live streaming — which can come in handy for those who don’t subscribe to sports channels.
• Most sportsbooks will be running some kind of March Madness betting promotion throughout the tournament, so it’s important to remember to take advantage of more than one to maximize value.

March Madness live betting

The top March Madness betting sites also excel in live betting. Unlike traditional fixed odds betting, live betting allows players to place wagers during the game. This means you can adjust your picks in real time as the game unfolds. When engaging in March Madness live betting, remember the following tips:

• Live odds are often boosted during special events, such as March Madness, and taking advantage of them can pay off in spades.
• Live betting often comes with live streaming, providing a convenient way to watch the game via your sportsbook’s website or mobile app.
• It can be difficult to prepare for live betting, but having a strong understanding of March Madness betting trends certainly helps.

States with legal March Madness betting

Sports betting laws vary by state, so regulations can change as you cross state borders. When it comes to legal March Madness betting, there are additional rules for college sports betting. Check the table below to see if you meet the age requirements for placing March Madness bets. If sports betting is not allowed in your state, it will not be listed in the table.

How we rate and review March Madness betting sites

Choosing a March Madness betting site can be a challenge due to the numerous factors to consider and overwhelming options available. Fortunately, we have dedicated ourselves to identifying the top March Madness betting sites for you. Your only concern should be selecting the perfect snack and deciding where to watch the game.

During the evaluation process, we have identified essential criteria that must be met by the best sports betting sites, especially in light of the growing demand for March Madness wagering. Key performance benchmarks that need to be achieved include:

Exclusive March Madness Promotional Offers

Understandably, sportsbooks are fully aware of the surge in interest in college basketball betting during March Madness and make sure to cater to this influx of new customers by providing special offers. One common promotion is a bracket challenge with a minimal entry fee but the chance to win a substantial cash prize.

Affiliated March Madness Sign-Up Offers

Many sportsbooks offer sign-up promotions year-round, which can often be combined with March Madness promotions during the tournament. Users are usually allowed to activate multiple offers if they provide value and appeal, with the exception being if a sportsbook combines their March Madness bonus with a sign-up bonus. However, most March Madness betting sites choose to keep these offers separate.

Payout Speed

During March Madness, the speed of payouts and bonus credit transfers is crucial. With the tournament lasting less than a month, delays in receiving winnings or betting credits means missing out on valuable wagering opportunities. While most sportsbooks have fast payout speeds, it’s essential to choose a reliable March Madness betting site that can handle the surge in demand without compromising service.

Customer Service

During March Madness, the importance of customer service is heightened due to the urgency of the situation. It can be crucial to know which sportsbooks offer the best customer support, as some may not provide immediate assistance. For instance, certain sportsbooks offer phone and live-chat support, while others rely solely on social media or email.

Common bonuses at March Madness betting sites

Beginner sports bettors exploring March Madness betting sites will discover that three main types of bonuses are commonly offered to new players: deposit match bonuses, bet and get promotions, and first bet insurance.

Deposit match bonus

A deposit match bonus is a classic offer from sportsbooks where the operator will match the amount of your initial deposit with bonus funds, up to a specific percentage.

For instance, if a sportsbook offers a 100% deposit match bonus up to $500, you could deposit $500 and get an extra $500 in bonus money.

Bet and get 

Bet and get promotions have surged in popularity among sportsbooks in recent months, particularly as appealing options for new bettors. Industry leaders like BetMGM and FanDuel often utilize these offers to entice beginners, especially during major events like March Madness, due to their low-risk nature.

To receive the bonus, you must make an initial bet with a sportsbook, usually starting at a low amount like $5. Once the bet is settled, regardless of the outcome, you will receive bonus funds that greatly exceed your original wager. As an example, bet365 is currently offering a sign-up bonus of betting $5 and receiving $150.

First bet insurance

Known for offering the best welcome bonuses in the sportsbook industry, first bet insurance allows you to take more risks with your initial bet in hopes of winning big right away. If you win, you’ll receive your winnings without activating the bonus. But if you lose, the promotion will kick in, and the sportsbook will refund your bet in bonus funds, up to a certain limit.

For instance, with a $1,000 first bet insurance sign-up offer from a sportsbook, you can place a qualifying wager of $1,000. If the bet does not win, you will receive the full amount back. Remember, bonus funds must be used for betting with the sportsbook and cannot be cashed out or transferred.

Underscoregs by category

Sports enthusiasts have the opportunity to explore the leading sportsbooks for individual sports, leagues, playoffs, and categories.

Sports betting by region

Sports betting in U.S. states

Make sure to stay up-to-date on the latest sports betting developments and updates in your state, as each state has its own unique regulations and news.

Be sure to stay updated on the top North Carolina sports betting apps and promotions now that sports betting has officially started in North Carolina as of March 11, 2024.