This time of year is a holiday for sports fans, and the best March Madness betting sites deliver must-have welcome bonuses. Continue reading to see a rundown of the top sportsbook promos for March Madness.
Note: If you’re in a state that has not yet legalized sports betting, you’ll see a list of the top fantasy sports operators, which are available in most states.
March Madness betting promo codes
Some sportsbooks require a promo code to activate the welcome offer, while others only need you to provide some information before claiming the bonus. Below, we highlight which March Madness betting sites need a Massachusetts sportsbook promo code to remain eligible for the sign-up bonus.
| Sportsbook | Welcome bonus | Promo code |
|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | Bet $5, get a $200 bonus instantly | No promo code required |
| FanDuel | Bet $5, get a $200 bonus if you win | No promo code required |
| BetMGM | Up to $1,500 in first-bet bonuses | MASSLIVE1500 |
| Fanatics | Up to $1,000 in no-sweat bets | No promo code required |
| bet365 | Bet $5, get $150 in bonuses – win or lose | MASSBET365 |
| Caesars | Bet $1, get 10 100% profit boosts | MSCOMDYW |
March Madness betting sign-up offers
DraftKings Sportsbook
Bet $5, get a $200 bonus instantly – You don’t need a DraftKings promo code to claim our favorite March Madness sportsbook promo. A $5 bet is all it takes to add a $200 bonus to your account. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose because the bonus is sent instantly after wager placement.
FanDuel Sportsbook
Bet $5, get a $200 bonus if you win – Our FanDuel promo code (no code required) delivers a similar offer as DraftKings but with a notable difference in the terms and conditions. You must win a $5 bet to earn a $200 bonus.
FanDuel doesn’t enforce an odds restriction, meaning you can back a heavy favorite’s moneyline odds to give yourself the best shot at victory.
BetMGM Sportsbook
Up to $1,500 in first-bet bonuses – No other March Madness betting site comes close to matching the amount you can gain from BetMGM bonus code MASSLIVE1500. If your opening wager loses, BetMGM’s first-bet insurance kicks in, and you’ll receive a bonus equal to your stake.
The most you can earn is $1,500 in bonuses and winning your initial bet results in a cash payout but no bonus funds.
Fanatics Sportsbook
Up to $1,000 in no-sweat bets – A Fanatics Sportsbook promo code isn’t necessary to enjoy the second-largest bonus offer for March Madness. Start by placing a bet on the day you register, and Fanatics will provide up to $100 in bonuses if you lose. Repeat this process for nine more days to continue earning bonuses for lost wagers.
In total, Fanatics awards 10 no-sweat bets, and each is worth up to $100 in bonuses. If you bet the maximum daily amount and lose each qualifying wager, you’ll gain $1,000 in bonuses.
bet365 Sportsbook
Bet $5, get $150 in bonuses (win or lose) – First-time customers are met with a pair of premier sign-up bonuses when they redeem our exclusive bet365 bonus code MASSBET365. The first awards $150 in bonuses following a $5 bet – win or lose.
Option two is a first-bet safety net that sends up to $1,000 in bonuses if your initial wager falls short. Bet365’s welcome offers are great for bettors of all experience levels, but you can’t claim both.
Caesars Sportsbook
Bet $1, get 10 100% profit boosts – Unlike other March Madness betting sites, you won’t get a bonus if you grab Caesars Sportsbook promo code MSCOMDYW. Instead, a $1 bet will give new customers 10 100% profit boosts that double your winnings. Not receiving a bonus may be a con, but the cash payouts could be huge if the boosted bets settle as winners.
March Madness betting odds
Duke and Auburn have been the most dominant teams throughout the season and have the best odds of winning the national championship. Florida and Houston round out the top tier before the odds drop off to the rest of the field.
Here are the latest March Madness betting odds via FanDuel Sportsbook:
- Duke: +330
- Auburn: +380
- Florida: +750
- Houston: +850
- Alabama: +1100
- Tennessee: +1800
- St. John’s: +2000
- Michigan State: +2000
- Iowa State: +2500
- Texas Tech: +3000
RELATED: Check out the best Massachusetts sportsbook promos
March Madness betting overview
| March Madness betting quick facts | |
|---|---|
| March Madness start date | March 18, 2025 |
| Final Four host venue | Alamodome in San Antonio, TX |
| Best March Madness sportsbook promos | DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM |
| Common March Madness bet types | Spread, moneyline, total, props and more |
| National Championship odds favorite | Duke |
| Mobile apps | iOS and Android |
| Legal betting states | 38 and Washington D.C. |
| Legal betting age for March Madness | 21 and older |
Where can you legally bet on March Madness?
Betting on professional sports typically comes with fewer guardrails, and some state regulators enforce tighter restrictions on college athletics. Below are the states that allow betting on March Madness and the restrictions you may face depending on your location.
- Arizona: Prop betting is prohibited
- Arkansas
- Colorado: Player prop betting is prohibited
- Connecticut: Betting on in-state college games is prohibited
- Delaware: Betting on in-state colleges is prohibited
- Florida
- Illinois: Betting on in-state colleges is prohibited
- Indiana: In-game player prop betting is prohibited
- Iowa: Betting on in-state college player props is prohibited
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana: Betting on player props is prohibited
- Maine: Betting on in-state colleges and player props is prohibited
- Maryland: Betting on player props is prohibited
- Massachusetts: Betting on player props is prohibited
- Michigan
- Mississippi: Betting is only allowed at casinos
- Montana: Betting is only allowed with licensed lottery retailers
- Nebraska: Betting is only allowed at select casinos
- Nevada
- New Hampshire: Betting on in-state colleges is prohibited
- New Jersey: Betting on in-state colleges is prohibited
- New Mexico: Betting is only allowed at tribal casinos
- New York: Betting on in-state colleges and player props is prohibited
- North Carolina
- North Dakota: Betting is only allowed at tribal casinos
- Ohio: Betting on player props is prohibited
- Oregon: Betting on college sports online is prohibited
- Pennsylvania: Betting on player props is prohibited
- Rhode Island: Betting on in-state colleges is prohibited
- South Dakota: Betting is only allowed at casinos
- Tennessee: Betting on player props and all in-game prop betting is prohibited
- Vermont: Betting on player props is prohibited
- Virginia: Betting on in-state colleges and player props is prohibited
- Washington: Betting is only allowed at tribal casinos
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin: Betting is only allowed at tribal casinos
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.: Betting on in-district colleges is prohibited
March Madness betting tips
If you’ve been dialed into college basketball since the season started in November, you’re probably feeling confident heading into March Madness. However, many bettors don’t tune in until college football and the NFL come to a close.
If you’re playing catch-up in preparation for March Madness betting, here are a few tips and trends to remember before placing a wager. First-timers can head to our expert sports betting guide.
Check game locations
Home-court advantage is usually forgotten in March Madness because games are played at neutral sites. However, you can still capitalize on a team taking a short trip to a game while the other makes a much longer trek.
In the 2023 NCAA Tournament, No. 8 Iowa traveled to Birmingham, AL, to face No. 9 Auburn in the round of 64. The quick two-hour commute gave the Tigers a huge advantage in fan attendance, and Auburn advanced to the next round.
Back less-popular teams from strong conferences
The SEC has been the best conference in college basketball this season. The headliners include Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama.
But don’t sleep on teams like Kentucky, Missouri, Texas A&M, or Ole Miss. These squads may not go on championship runs, but they’re battle-tested due to tough conference schedules and could be good teams to back in the opening rounds.
Watch the live odds
Most bettors submit their wagers and check their accounts at the end of the night to see how they did. The wild momentum swings can flip an NCAA Tournament game in the blink of an eye, creating valuable opportunities to place live or in-game wagers.
If a team is trailing but starts mounting a comeback, you can get an edge by live betting the spread. Or if the best players in a high-scoring game go cold, it could be a good time to hop on the live under.
March Madness bracket betting 2025
Filling out a March Madness bracket can be intimidating. There’s a fine line between picking a bunch of favorites to make deep runs and predicting the next Cinderella team. Luckily, these NCAA Tournament trends and tips can help steer you in the right direction.
Trust certain coaches
Star players come and go, but the best veteran coaches are always reliable when March Madness rolls around. Mark Few is still searching for his first national championship, but he’s led Gonzaga to the Sweet Sixteen or further in nine straight NCAA Tournaments. The Bulldogs went to two national championships and five Elite Eights in that span.
A lesser-known head coach worth backing is Oregon’s Dana Altman. With Altman at the helm, the Ducks have made the NCAA Tournament eight times and have yet to be bounced in the first round. Altman has brought Oregon to five Sweet Sixteens, two Elite Eights, and one Final Four.
They’re 1-seeds for a reason
Choosing one of the top teams to win the national championship seems like a no-brainer, but it becomes less attractive when you remember most of the competitors in your bracket pool are doing the same thing. This is one of the few instances where fading the public is a bad idea.
Teams that earned a 1-seed have won 25 of 39 national championships since 1985. No. 2 seeds are a distant second with five titles, followed by No. 3 seeds with four. More recently, 13 of the past 17 national champions were the top teams in their region.
Just don’t go overboard and pick every 1-seed to make the Final Four. The only time that’s happened was in 2008 when Mario Chalmers led Kansas to the national championship.
Take a 12 to beat a 5
If you’re new to bracket challenges, this popular trend is extremely important to know. Since 2000, a 12-seed has upset a 5-seed in all but five NCAA Tournaments. Last year, James Madison and Grand Canyon advanced to the round of 32 as 12-seeds. The 2019, 2014, and 2013 tournaments saw three of four 12-seeds win opening-round matchups.
March Madness betting history
If you’re still hungry for trends to help you make betting picks or round out your brackets, here are a few more to consider:
Conferences with the most national championships
After back-to-back titles from UConn, the Big East is slowly climbing the list of conferences with the most national championships. Here’s a look at the top five heading into the 2025 NCAA Tournament:
- ACC: 15
- Big East: 11
- SEC: 11
- Big Ten: 10
- Missouri Valley: 4
Independents have won six national titles, but the last was in 1977. The Big Ten is in a major drought and hasn’t won the NCAA Tournament since 2000.
Most successful seeds
According to NCAA.com, here’s how many appearances the following seeds have in the Final Four and national championship (dating back to 1985):
| Seed | Final Four | National Championship |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 62 | 39 |
| 2 | 32 | 12 |
| 3 | 17 | 12 |
| 4 | 15 | 4 |
| 5 | 9 | 4 |
| 6 | 3 | 2 |
| 7 | 3 | 1 |
| 8 | 6 | 4 |
Teams seeded No. 9 through No. 11 have nine appearances in the Final Four, and none advanced to the title game. No 12-seed or higher has ever made a run to the Final Four.
Every seed in the top eight has won a national championship, except for No. 5. This gives even more reason to take a few 12 seeds to win in the round of 64.
March Madness betting sites FAQs
What is the best March Madness sportsbook promo?
DraftKings tops our ranking of the best sportsbooks promos for March Madness. You don’t need a DraftKings promo code to bet $5 and get $200 in bonuses – win or lose.
How do you bet on March Madness?
Start by selecting one of the sportsbooks mentioned higher up on this page. Then, open an account and follow the necessary steps to claim the welcome bonus. You can then browse through the NCAA Tournament markets until you find a matchup or prop you’d like to bet on.
How old do you have to be to bet on March Madness?
Customers must be 21 or older to open a sportsbook account and wager on March Madness.
When does the NCAA Tournament start?
The 2025 bracket will be revealed on Sunday, March 16, and the First Four will start on Tuesday, March 18. The round of 64 will begin a few days later, on Thursday, March 20th.
Which team is favored to win the NCAA Tournament?
The odds are subject to change, but Duke currently has the best odds of winning the NCAA Tournament.