As NCAA basketball tournaments near, the American Gaming Association estimates that bettors will legally wager $3.1 billion on men’s and women’s college games this year. That’s up from $2.7 billion in 2024.
“March Madness is one of the most exciting times in American sports, with fans fired up for both the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments,” said AGA Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications Joe Maloney. “As legal wagering expands across the U.S., more fans than ever have the opportunity to bet legally and responsibly.”
In March, the AGA’s Have a Game Plan. Bet Responsibly campaign will provide messages to fans to encourage responsible sports betting.
The campaign promotes five key principles:
- Set a Budget: Determine how much you are willing to spend and stick to it.
- Keep it Social: Betting should be a form of entertainment shared with others.
- Know the Odds: Understand the games and your chances of winning.
- Play Legally: Use regulated, legal betting platforms.
- Keep Your Cool: The result of a bet – win or lose – is not an invitation to criticize players, coaches or officials online or in-person.
“‘Keep Your Cool,’ our newest ‘Have A Game Plan’ principle, is all about keeping betting fun and respecting the game – no matter how unpredictable March Madness becomes,” Maloney said.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, legal sports betting has expanded to 38 states and Washington, D.C. The AGA states that American support for legal sports betting continues to grow. According to the AGA’s 2024 American Attitudes Survey, 75% of Americans support legal sports wagering in their home state and 90% view sports betting as an acceptable form of entertainment.
