How Much Money Will Be Wagered on March Madness in 2026?

The madness is in full swing as conferences duke it out in tournament fashion to decide the conference champion. There has been some really great basketball to this point with the excitement of the NCAA tournament on the horizon.

Fans have been betting on the games are a steady pace and this year’s handle is expected to exceed all other previous years. The AGA has estimated that over $3.3B will have been wagered on March Madness basketball when all is said and done. This number is about double what is wagered on the Super Bowl, which mind you is one single game and exemplifies the draw of that sporting event.

Bill Miller, president and CEO of the AGA, said in a statement “Fans continue to engage with legal, state- and tribal-regulated sports betting in record numbers during one of the biggest moments on the sports calendar.”

These figures rely on regulated sportsbooks and prediction markets located within the U.S. and do not account for offshore betting totals. Those exact numbers are almost impossible to quantify. Why do people bet offshore? The simple answer is convenience and value. A bettor can open an account and wager from anywhere in North America and not have to worry about being in the wrong state or using a VPN. Offshore books also have lower overhead and are typically able to offer better bonuses and perks.

The NCAA tournament will bring about the bracket contests which appeal to serious sports bettors and causal fans alike. It is estimated that 39 million brackets were filled out and submitted last year. Will this year see that number increase as well? Most likely.