Published on: March 14, 2026, 10:38h.

Updated on: March 14, 2026, 10:38h.

• NCAA Division 1 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments feature 68 teams starting next week
• Selection Sunday is set for tomorrow
• American Gaming Association anticipates a significant rise in betting on regulated platforms

The American Gaming Association (AGA) forecasts that Americans will place $3.3 billion in bets through licensed sportsbooks during the upcoming NCAA Division 1 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, commencing next week.

Selection Sunday

This projection marks a 54% increase from the last three years, indicating growing public trust in the regulated betting market. Last year, the AGA had estimated $3.1 billion.

“March Madness represents the pinnacle of college basketball, and fans are preparing for an exhilarating tournament month,” stated Bill Miller, President and CEO of the American Gaming Association. “Fans are actively engaging with legally regulated state and tribal sports betting at unprecedented levels during one of the most significant events in the sports calendar.”

The tournament is known for its unpredictability, with surprises and remarkable stories emerging from both men’s and women’s competitions, making it thrilling yet challenging for sports enthusiasts. An unusual event last year saw all four No. 1 seeds (Florida, Houston, Duke, and Auburn) reach the Final Four in the men’s category.

AGA Forecasts $3.3 Billion in Betting

With Selection Sunday just a day away, fans are eager for the official start of March Madness, which will reveal the 68-team brackets for both men’s and women’s tournaments – airing at 6 p.m. tomorrow on CBS for men, followed by women’s teams at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN.

The First Four for men is scheduled for March 17-18 at UD Arena in Dayton, OH, with the First Round on March 19-20, and the Second Round on March 21-22. The Sweet 16 will take place on March 26-27, leading to the Elite Eight on March 28-29.

Championship Matches April 5-6

The Final Four for men will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on April 4, with the NCAA men’s championship match set for April 6, also at Lucas Oil Stadium.

For women, the First Four kicks off on March 18-19 at various campus locations, followed by the First Round on March 20-21, and the Second Round on March 22-23. The Sweet 16 is scheduled for March 27-28, concluding with the Elite Eight on March 29-30.

The Final Four for women will be hosted at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 3, with the NCAA women’s championship game taking place on April 5, also at Mortgage Matchup Center.

Betting Insights

This week, H2 Gambling Capital released projections estimating a $4 billion handle for sportsbooks during March Madness, representing a 6.7% increase compared to last year’s figures.

These projections only reflect betting through legal sportsbooks in 38 states (along with Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico) and do not include prediction market betting on platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket. The landscape of prediction markets is expanding, with platforms launched by DraftKings and FanDuel in 2025.

Additionally, Missouri introduced legal sports betting in December, marking the only state to enter the regulated sports betting arena since March Madness in 2025.