Best March Madness Betting Sites 2025

March Madness betting promo codes

New users may need to input a specific promo code to claim the sportsbook promos for next year's tournament. We've taken the liberty of rounding up the top March Madness betting promo codes and bonuses in the table below. 

What are the best March Madness betting sites?

For our money, the best March Madness betting sites are BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars Sportsbook, and Fanatics Sportsbook. While plenty of platforms offer up odds and promos for the Big Dance, these five have either met or exceeded our lofty expectations.

Here are our quick but thorough breakdowns for each choice: 

1. BetMGM

$1,500 First Bet Offer

Bonus bets expire in 7 days. One new customer offer per user. Additional terms apply. 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

CVRBONUS1500

Claim $1,500

Here’s the deal: We recommend adding BetMGM Sportsbook to your March Madness betting rotation for next year's tournament. The online sportsbook provides generally good odds, and comes equipped with live streaming functionality, which is ideal to watch and wager on ongoing college basketball games. New users outside of New York can sign-up today with the BetMGM promo code 'CVRBONUS1500' and score $1,500 bonus bets.

The bottom line: BetMGM's bonus is awarded for an unsuccessful wager, up to a total of $1,500. 

Available in: Arizona, Colorado, DC, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming

💰 BetMGM Sportsbook offer	$1,500 First Bet Offer
⏩ BetMGM promo code	CVRBONUS1500
🕒 Payout speed	2 days
📱 Mobile app	iOS and Android
✅ Last Verified	May 9, 2025

BetMGM Sportsbook Review

Sign up for BetMGM Sportsbook

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2. Caesars Sportsbook

Double Your Winnings (10x)

Code: COVERSBONUSDYW

Claim Boosts

Here’s the deal: Well known in sports betting circles, Caesars Sportsbook easily ranks as one of our top March Madness betting sites since new users can snag up to a 10x 100% profit boosts, each worth up to $2,500 by signing up with the Caesars Sportsbook promo code 'COVERSBONUSDYW'.

The bottom line: Few sportsbooks offer bonuses exceeding $1,000 in maximum value in 2025, so finding a welcome promo that allows you to claim up to $25,000 — like you can via the current Caesars Sportsbook odds boost bonus — is staggering.

Available in: Arizona, Colorado, DC, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming

💰 Caesars Sportsbook offer	Double Your Winnings (10x)
⏩ Caesars Sportsbook promo code	COVERSBONUSDYW
🕒 Payout speed	Within 24 hours
📱 Mobile app	iOS and Android
✅ Last Verified	May 9, 2025

Caesars Sportsbook Review

Sign up for Caesars Sportsbook

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3. bet365

Choose: $150 Win or Lose or $1,000 Bonus

Bonus Bet amounts not returned with winnings. Minimum deposit required. Must register with the app only. T&Cs, time limits, and exclusions apply. 21+. Gambling Problem? Call or Text 1-800-GAMBLER 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ/CO/IN/IL/LA/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA) 21+, (KY) 18+

COVERS

Claim $1,000

Here’s the deal: bet365 offers you a choice of two welcome offers: a 'Bet and get' $150 offer or a No Sweat promotion worth up to $1,000 in bonus bets. Use bet365 bonus code COVERS during registration to activate the welcome bonus. Be sure to make a minimum deposit of $10 and place an initial wager $5 on any market with -500 odds within 30 days of sign up.

New IL and TN users can register with the 'CVSBONUS' — the bet365 Illinois bonus code and bet365 Tennessee bonus code.

The bottom line: We recommend the Bet $5, Get $150 Win or Lose offer for its modest minimum wager requirement and sizable return.

Available in: Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia

💰 bet365 offer	Choose: $150 Win or Lose or $1,000 Bonus
🕒 Payout speed	Within 24 hours
📱 Mobile app	iOS and Android
✅ Last Verified	May 9, 2025

bet365 Review

Sign up for bet365

4. FanDuel Sportsbook

Bet $5, Win $200

New customers only. Deposit min. $5. Place first bet of min $5 and get $200 in bonus bets if your bet wins.

Claim $200

Here’s the deal: FanDuel is one of the premier basketball betting sites in 2025 thanks to its industry-leading mobile app and slew of great bonuses, including its latest new-customer offer that allows you to score $200 in bonus bets if your initial $5 wager wins. No FanDuel promo code is required. 

The bottom line: Make sure to download the FanDuel sportsbook app to qualify for the bonus bets.

Available in: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming

5. Fanatics Sportsbook

$1,000 in No Sweat Bets

New customers only. Deposit min. $5. Choice of three offers. Daily bonus issued within 72 hours.

Claim $1,000

Here’s the deal: Fanatics Sportsbook provides a well-rounded March Madness betting experience for its new users, offering up to $1,000 in bonus bets when you sign up today. No Fanatics Sportsbook promo code is required, but you must wager at least $1 on any market with -200 odds or longer to qualify for a $100 daily bonus for their first 10 days using the platform. 

The bottom line: While you don't need a exclusive bonus code, you must place your qualifying wager within five days of registering your new account to be eligible for this promo. 

Available in: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming

6. DraftKings Sportsbook

Bet $5, Get $200 Instantly

New customers only. Deposit min. $5. Place first bet of min. $5 and get $200 in bonus bets.

Claim $200

Here’s the deal: DraftKings is a former daily fantasy sports titan that quickly made itself one of the top online betting sites for basketball's biggest yearly tournament. New bettors who register with the online sportsbook today can receive $200 in bonus bets following a $5 initial deposit and wager. 

The bottom line: Make an initial $5 qualifying deposit and wager. Whether the bet wins or loses, DraftKings will issue you $200 in bonus bets via eight $25 bonus bets. No DraftKings promo code is needed to score this March Madness bonus offer.

Available in: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming

DraftKings responsible gaming  

One bonus per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 bet. Get max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in seven days (168 hours). Stake not included with payout. Terms: Offer expires on May 18, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD).[1.5%] 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. Terms: draftkings.com/sportsbook. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS).

How to bet on March Madness

Here's how to bet on March Madness and use the best basketball promos efficiently:

Latest March Madness betting news

March Madness betting tips and trends

One of the biggest annual sports events in the United States, March Madness attracts millions of spectators and sports bettors alike. Not just for the men's tournament either, as the 2024 NCAA women's finals between Iowa and South Carolina was the most bet on women's event ever. 

Check out our how to bet on March Madness guide for a full rundown on the wide range of wagers and their supported strategies, but point spreads, Over/Under totals, and moneylines are the most popular bets placed during the NCAA basketball tournament. Meanwhile, here are several tourney-friendly tips to employ along with the most common bet types used for March Madness betting in 2025.

Covers tip

The majority of March Madness betting sites will display odds in American format, while some will show fractions or decimals. Use our odds calculator to switch between formats and determine potential payouts.

What makes a great March Madness betting site?

Top March Madness betting apps and sites 2025

1. BetMGM March Madness offer - $1,500 First Bet Offer
   
   
2. Caesars Sportsbook March Madness offer - 10x 100% Profit Boosts
   
   
3. bet365 March Madness offer - Bet $5, get $150 or $1,000 First Bet Safety Net
   
   
4. FanDuel March Madness offer - Bet $5, Win $250
   
   
5. Fanatics Sportsbook March Madness offer - $1,000 in No Sweat Bets
   
   
6. DraftKings March Madness offer - Bet $5, Get $150 Instantly + $1K Deposit Match
   
   
7. BetRivers March Madness offer - Up to $500 2nd Chance Bet
   
   
8. Hard Rock Bet March Madness offer - Up to $100 Back

Tips for March Madness bracket betting 2026

We’re not here to cast judgment on the number of brackets you fill out but be warned that others in your office pool will chastise you for completing too many. Regardless of the route you take, we encourage you to download our printable March Madness bracket and consider our expert tips for filling out an NCAA bracket from professional bettors.

Mix and match Final Four selections

The Gonzaga Bulldogs looked like a lock on paper in 2022, but they didn't reach the Final Four and should not have been picked in more than 50% of the pools you entered. Why? Well, they got bounced before the Elite Eight. Choose different combinations for later rounds and mix up your national champion picks for a well-rounded March Madness betting strategy.

Don’t get so upset, because there will be upsets

It is a virtual certainty that one or more heavy March Madness betting favorites will fall. Picking a No. 16 seed over No. 1 can happen, but remember, it has only happened twice in tournament history (2018 UMBC, 2023 Fairleigh Dickinson). Make different selections across each of the pools you enter. Going against the grain can help you make up ground against others in the pool but try to be selective. If you're struggling, take a look at Covers' bracket prediction for inspiration.

Method to the March Madness

Going with your gut is a tried, tested, and often true form of picking a winning March Madness bracket. In the end, it is up to you as to which preferred method to roll with. Much like investing, a diversified portfolio mitigates your exposure to risk. Going down that road leaves you with a good chance to win at least one of your pools this year.

If the mundane office or group chat pool is not cutting it, consider entering one or more free March Madness bracket contests. The subsequent bragging rights and big money prizes could be all yours.

States with legal online March Madness betting

More than 30 U.S. states, plus DC, have rolled out legal sports betting via mobile, online, and retail (in-person) options.

It has never been easier to do your March Madness betting in these states:

In Canada, Ontario leads the way on the regulated legal market front. The first-of-its-kind iGaming market launched on April 4, 2022.

Where to bet on March Madness 2026

The proliferation of new legal sports betting markets, available online and in retail locations, make it easier than ever to start betting on March Madness. The best sports betting sites listed within this guide offers online sports betting on the 68-team postseason tournament, along with complete coverage and a wide range of props and individual game betting lines. Several also serve up cash prizes for making the right picks.

The ability to place live March Madness bets is the biggest difference between wagering with an online sportsbook versus doing so at a land-based or retail outlet. Some retail sportsbooks allow players to bet live, but the odds update frequently, making betting apps a necessity.

Sportsbooks also offer boosted March Madness odds and bonus bets. We combed through the bunch and have identified the best offers. When it comes to finding the best March Madness betting site, you’ll want to explore the special promos and competitions available.

March Madness betting history

The NCAA men's basketball tournament — more commonly known as "March Madness" — first tipped off in 1939, with only eight teams playing in the inaugural competition. Today, the best 64 college basketball teams in the country are grouped into four regions — East, West, Midwest, and South — battle it out every March in a quest for collegiate athletic supremacy. 

Here are a few facts about basketball's biggest tournament:

Most March Madness appearances: 

1. Kentucky - 61
2. North Carolina - 53
3. Kansas - 51
4. UCLA - 50 
5. Duke - 46

Most March Madness wins: 

1. North Carolina - 132
2. Kentucky - 130
3. Duke - 119
4. Kansas - 113
5. UCLA - 110 

Biggest comeback in March Madness history? Duke trailed Maryland 39-17 in the 2001 NCAA men's tournament. The 22-point comeback is the largest overcome deficit in the tournament's 85-year history.

Most points scored in a March Madness tournament:

1. Christian Laettner (Duke) - 407
2. Elvin Hayes (Houston) - 358 
3. Danny Manning (Kansas) - 328 
4. Tyler Hansbrough (UNC) - 325 
5. Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati) - 324

Recent March Madness news

Stay up-to-date with the latest news surrounding basketball's most popular tournament:

April 5, 2025: Bettors are riding Duke and Florida to cover the spreads in their Final Four matchups.

April 3, 2025: New Yorkers feast on the March Madness favorites, forcing the local operators to just a $8.4 million hold on a $522.4 million handle during the week ending on March 30. 

March 28, 2025: New York earns a 3% yearly handle increase during the first week of March Madness.  

March 27, 2025: March Madness bettors are backing moneyline underdogs in the Sweet 16.

March 24, 2025: Kalshi surpasses $200 million in March Madness contracts throughout the first two rounds of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. 

March 24, 2025: The lack of upsets has led to success for moneyline parlays through the first two rounds of the March Madness tournament. 

March 21, 2025: March Madness 2025 drives a Vegas Strip tourism boom during the tournament's first weekend.

March 21, 2025: Sportsbooks take a hit in round one after "the most bet-on underdog" Drake upsets Missouri, who was favored by -11.5 points. 

March 20, 2025: Nevada bettor puts $100K on the ACC champion Duke Blue Devils to win the March Madness Tournament. 

March 19, 2025: Caesars Sportsbook boasts new promotions and enhanced prop markets for March Madness. 

March 19, 2025: BetMGM unveils its 'March Matchups' promotion for March Madness with interactive contests and greater betting options.

March 19, 2025: As March Madness begins, the NCAA launched an anti-harassment campaign targeting failed sports bettors, telling them, 'Don't Be a Loser', as part of the 'Draw the Line' campaign.

March 18, 2025: New Jersey's college sports betting ban on in-state events may cause a March Madness hassle as Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games will be held in the Garden State. 

March 18, 2025: Missouri faces its final March Madness without legal sportsbooks, as legalization later this year will allow Show Me State bettors to wager on the 2026 NCAA tournament. 

March 18, 2025: Texas and the University of North Carolina are popular picks at sportsbooks for the March Madness First Four games.

March 17https://www.covers.com/industry/texas-in-first-four-capturing-bettors-march-madness-attention-march-18-2025, 2025: The ban that prohibits wagering on in-state college teams for the 2025 March Madness tournament remains in effect for Illinois, New York, and Virginia.

March 17, 2025: A recently released survey from the University of Chicago revealed that 60% of Americans don't approve legalized college sports betting in 2025. 

March 17, 2025: Popular trading platform Robinhood unveils prediction markets for March Madness, powered by Kalshi.

March 17, 2025: Sportsbooks expect March Madness action to 'pour in' on Duke. ESPN BET reports that since the bracket was revealed, Duke has seen 18% of the bets and 40% of the handle.

March 16, 2025: bet365 goes live in Illinois and launches in Tennessee ahead of March Madness. 

March 14, 2025: FanDuel announces enhancements for March Madness, including letting customers combine their bracket picks across multiple rounds into a single parlay, for the first time in the tournament.

March 13, 2025: The American Gaming Association estimates that March Madness will take in over $3 billion in wagers during the tournament.  

March 12, 2025: An NCAA director claims that college players betting on themselves is becoming more common. 

March 4, 2025: Check out a state-by-state guide of where you can wager on March Madness.

March 3, 2025: The Ohio Gambling Telehealth Network (OGTN) will push gambling awareness during this year's March Madness NCAA tournament. 

Feb. 24, 2025: Fresno State and the NCAA are reportedly investigating a potential gambling scandal involving multiple members of the school's men’s basketball team placing prop bets on themselves. 

Jan. 22, 2025: Kalshi will launch sports betting-like event contracts in the near future, allowing bettors to wager on predictive markets ahead of the Super Bowl and March Madness 2025.

Oct. 11, 2024: NCAA pleads with fans to curb abusive behavior towards student-athletes on social media. 

Oct. 8, 2024: A recent NCAA study highlights the harassment that college athletes face from angry online sports bettors. 

Aug. 29, 2024: The momentum to ban college player prop betting slows down heading into the 2024 NCAAF season. 

July 12, 2024: Wyoming regulators delay decision on NCAA's proposal to ban college player prop bets. 

July 4, 2024: Kentucky regulators are still pondering the NCAA's request to ban college player prop betting in the state. 

May 18, 2024: A recent NCAA study finds that female athletes face triple the threats compared to males. 

May 9, 2024: The NCAA membership considers 'liberalized' approach to sports betting rule, loosening up their strict stance against student athletes and coaches placing wagers. 

April 16, 2024: A New York regulator says the state is not budging on its college player prop betting ban. 

Quick facts: March Madness betting

More March Madness betting resources

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Best NBA betting promos

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Blacklisted March Madness betting sites

See all blacklisted sportsbooks

Despite the increase in legal betting markets stateside, there are bettors who still leverage offshore sportsbooks for their respective wagers. We strongly advise against using these illegal offshore sites for your March Madness betting at all costs. There is little to no recourse for recouping any unpaid winnings with these unregulated sportsbooks, which is why they have found their way onto our blacklisted betting sites.

• Allegations of withdrawal issues
• No license information available on site
• Poor customer service

• Multiple reports of slow payments
• Allegations of non-payments
• Risk of account closure simply for winning bets

• Reports of confiscated winnings
• Slow customer support response times

See all blacklisted sportsbooks

Instant replay: Best March Madness betting sites

Let’s review: March Madness betting sites are plentiful, so researching each is smart. Once you’ve landed on a choice, don’t limit yourself — collecting a motley of welcome bonuses and sportsbook-specific offers is a speedy way to build value. Here again are the best March Madness betting sites in the U.S., along with their most compelling features:

Your search for the best March Madness betting sites led you here. Let us quickly recap how you can cash in safely on your bets for the Big Dance.

• Only wager with regulated and legal sportsbooks.
• Seeding matters, but parity has leveled the playing field to a degree.
• Point spreads, Over/Under totals, parlays, and moneylines are the most popular March Madness bets.
• Sports betting is now legal in 30-plus states, meaning there is no shortage of places to bet. Follow along as we track states with legal sports betting.
• Fill out as many brackets as you would like but remember to diversify your Final Four and national champion picks.

Best betting sites by sport

Interested in the best betting sites for other sports? We've identified and highlighted the top operators for each of the following sports: