Selection Sunday is here, and the Kalshi Billion Dollar Bracket gives college basketball fans a chance to turn March Madness into a life-changing payday. Submit a perfect NCAA Tournament bracket, and you could win $1 billion. Even if no one gets every game right, the highest-scoring bracket will still win $1 million, with another $1 million donated to charity.
Entering the bracket contest is simple. You only need to create and verify a Kalshi account and submit your picks before the tournament begins. There is no deposit or trade required just to enter the contest.
Kalshi Billion Dollar Bracket details
The Billion Dollar Bracket contest centers on the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, with the bracket field announced on Selection Sunday, March 15, 2026. Once the teams are revealed, participants can build and submit their bracket directly on Kalshi’s platform.
To enter the contest, users must create an account, complete identity verification, and submit their bracket before tournament play begins. According to the contest details, entrants must be 18 or older, and only one bracket entry is allowed per person.
The headline prize is $1 billion for a perfect bracket, one of the largest promotions tied to March Madness. Even if no entrant achieves perfection — which is extremely likely — Kalshi guarantees $1 million to the best overall bracket.
The grand prize is insured by SIG Parametrics, adding credibility to the promotion and ensuring that the billion-dollar payout would be covered if someone beats the astronomical odds.
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How hard is a perfect bracket?
Picking a perfect NCAA Tournament bracket is one of the toughest challenges in sports. The odds are widely estimated at roughly 1 in 120.2 billion if someone makes informed picks based on team strength and probabilities.
If every game were selected at random, the odds would balloon to approximately 1 in 9.2 quintillion.
That’s why the more realistic prize for most entrants is the $1 million awarded to the top-performing bracket. Still, March Madness is famous for its unpredictable upsets, which is exactly what makes bracket contests so exciting every year.
How to claim your free Kalshi Billion Dollar Bracket entry
Claiming your free entry in Kalshi's Billion Dollar Bracket contest is simple and requires trading or real-money transactions. Follow these steps to participate:
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Visit Kalshi and create a new account.
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Complete the identity verification process.
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Navigate to the Billion Dollar Bracket contest page.
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Fill out your NCAA Tournament bracket.
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Submit your picks before the first tournament games begin.
No deposit is required to enter the bracket contest, but participants must have a verified account.
Kalshi Promo Code Details for College Basketball Trading
New users can also take advantage of Kalshi’s welcome bonus by entering the Kalshi promo code COVERS during registration.
After signing up with the code, users receive a $10 bonus upon completing their first qualifying trade. To unlock the bonus, participants must verify their identity, deposit at least $1, and complete $10 in trading volume on Kalshi’s event contracts.
This promotion is separate from the Billion Dollar Bracket contest, so entering the bracket does not require any deposit or trading activity. The bonus simply provides new users with additional funds to explore Kalshi’s event markets.
Is Kalshi Legal & where can I use the Kalshi promo code?
Kalshi operates as a federally regulated exchange overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Rather than functioning like a traditional sportsbook, the platform allows users to trade on event outcomes across a variety of markets.
Availability of the signup bonus may vary by state due to regulations, and certain states are excluded from the promotion. Users should check eligibility in their state before participating.
How does the Kalshi referral code program work?
With a Kalshi referral code, you can earn a $25 bonus for every friend you invite who signs up, deposits funds, and meets the trading requirements within 30 days. To qualify, your friend must register using your unique referral link, available in your account dashboard. Much like a traditional sportsbook referral program, Kalshi rewards existing users for bringing new traders to the platform. It’s an easy way to boost your bankroll and earn up to $1,000 through successful referrals.
Use the correct Kalshi promo code for your state
| ⏩Kalshi Promo Code | 🌎Eligible States |
| COVERS | All states except for AR, AZ, CT, IL, LA, MA, MD, MI, MT, NJ, NV, and OH |
How to Claim Your Kalshi Welcome Bonus
Getting started with Kalshi and claiming your bonus is straightforward. Follow these steps to join the action:
- Visit Kalshi and click the sign-up button, entering promo code COVERS during registration
- Complete identity verification by uploading a photo of your driver's license or passport plus a selfie
- Make a minimum deposit of $1 using your preferred payment method
- Navigate to the Sports section and trade at least $10 in event contracts on March Madness markets
- Receive your $10 bonus automatically after completing the trading requirement
- Create your bracket for the Billion Dollar Contest at no additional cost
The combination of the welcome bonus and bracket contest makes this an ideal time to explore prediction market trading. For a comprehensive look at the platform's features and offerings, read our detailed Kalshi Sports Review.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
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