AGA Estimates Americans Will Bet $3.3 Billion on March Madness
The American Gaming Association (AGA) is projecting that Americans will wager $3.3 billion across legal sportsbooks on the March Madness NCAA Division 1 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, which get started next week.
Selection Sunday
That would be a 54% increase over the past three years, which the AGA said reflects public confidence in the regulated market. Last year the AGA projected $3.1 billion.
March Madness is the highlight of the college basketball season and fans are gearing up for a month of tournament action,” said Bill Miller, President and CEO of the American Gaming Association."Fanscontinue to engage with legal, state- and tribal-regulatedsports bettingin record numbers during one of the biggest moments on the sports calendar.”
The tournament always brings complete unpredictability, on both sides – upsets, buzzer beaters, Cinderella stories. That makes it both interesting and challenges for sports bettors. Last year was an anomaly on the men’s side – all four No. 1 seeds (Florida, Houston, Duke and Auburn) advanced to the Final Four on the men’s side.
AGA Projects $3.3 Billion in Wagering
Selection Sunday is just a day away, the official kick off to March Madness, when the 68-team fields for both the men’s and women’s tournaments are revealed – 6 p.m. tomorrow on CBS for the men, followed by the women at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN.
On the men’s side, the First Four gets going March 17-18 at UD Arena in Dayton, OH, with the First Round March 19-20, Second Round March 21-22. Sweet 16 March 26-27, then the Elite Eight March 28-29.