How to Bet on March Madness 2026: A Beginner’s Guide to Betting on the NCAA Tournament

March is synonymous with college basketball chaos: buzzer-beaters, Cinderella runs, and March Madness excitement. But for fans new to wagering, it can be daunting to figure out how to bet on March Madness responsibly and effectively.

With dozens of games played over a short period and new matchups unfolding every round, the NCAA Tournament offers far more betting options than a single championship event.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how March Madness betting works, the most common ways to place a bet, including bracket and game wagers, and what beginners should know before placing their first wager.

We’ll also explain how betting on a multi-round tournament differs from betting on one-off sporting events, highlight common pitfalls to avoid, and outline simple strategies to help you approach March Madness betting with confidence and control.

How to bet on March Madness (step-by-step)

Betting on March Madness doesn’t require years of experience, just an understanding of the steps involved and the types of wagers available.

1. Choose a licensed sportsbook

To bet legally on NCAA Tournament games, U.S. bettors need to choose a licensed sportsbook that accepts wagers in their state. Many popular options include DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars, all of which offer March Madness betting markets, competitive odds, mobile apps, and beginner-friendly features, such as tutorials and betting limits.

2. Create and fund your account

Once you’ve selected a sportsbook, you’ll need to create an account before placing any bets. Sign up using accurate personal details, as sportsbooks are required to verify your identity for security and regulatory purposes. After completing identity verification, deposit funds using available payment methods such as a debit card, bank transfer, or digital wallet.

Many sportsbooks also offer welcome bonuses or promotions that can be used toward March Madness bets, though terms and wagering requirements apply.

3. Navigate to the NCAA Tournament section

After funding your account, look for the NCAAB or March Madness section in the sportsbook app or website. This is where you’ll find odds and markets for individual games, futures, props, and bracket-style markets, with betting options updated each round as teams advance or are eliminated.

4. Review available odds and place your bet

Browse the available odds (whether moneylines, point spreads, totals, futures, or props) and choose a wager. Enter the amount you want to risk, review your selections on your bet slip, and submit.

Bettors can place wagers before and during the tournament, and odds may change after each round as new information becomes available, including injuries, matchup adjustments, and recent team performance.

How March Madness betting works

March Madness refers to the NCAA Tournament, a single-elimination competition featuring 68 teams, where one loss ends a team’s season.

The tournament advances through:

• First Four
• Round of 64
• Round of 32
• Sweet 16
• Elite Eight
• Final Four
• National Championship

Each stage brings new betting opportunities — along with a greater chance of upsets, where lower-seeded teams beat favorites.

Types of March Madness bets

Here are the most common wager types you’ll encounter:

Moneyline bets

You simply pick which team will win a game outright. Favorites offer lower payouts, while underdogs offer higher potential returns because they are considered less likely to win.

Point spread bets

You bet on a team to “cover the spread,” meaning they must win by a certain number of points or lose by fewer points than the spread predicts. This is one of the most popular ways to bet on March Madness, because it helps balance mismatched teams.

Totals (over/under)

You wager on whether the combined score of both teams will be over or under a number set by the sportsbook, regardless of which team wins.

Futures

These are long-term bets, such as betting on a team to win the national championship or reach the Final Four. Futures stay active across multiple rounds and often offer higher payouts, but they require patience.

Prop bets

Prop bets focus on specific outcomes, rather than final scores — such as how far a team will advance or how many games a lower seed will win. Availability varies by sportsbook and state.

Bracket betting vs. sportsbook betting

A bracket contest typically involves predicting every result across the tournament. These are often run by pools or contest platforms and have set payouts. Bracket betting may offer odds on overall performance or round winners, but it’s different from traditional odds-based wagers with sportsbooks. Bracket pools usually require all picks to be submitted before the tournament begins, leaving little room to adjust once games are underway.

In contrast, sportsbook betting lets you make wagers with odds that change based on betting activity, probabilities, and team performance. These bets are usually placed on individual games or futures markets rather than an entire bracket, allowing bettors to react to injuries, momentum shifts, and matchup changes as the tournament progresses.

March Madness betting strategies for beginners

March Madness is a frenetic betting period with dozens of games in a short span, so it's important to have a strategy.

• Rather than betting on every matchup, prioritizing specific games or rounds can help you manage risk. 
• Underdogs often cover spreads at higher rates than they would if they won outright, especially early on, when volatility is highest.
• Spread your bankroll across markets and rounds rather than placing large bets immediately
• Remember: No strategy guarantees outcomes in a single-elimination tournament, where frequent upsets are common.

How to stream March Madness using a VPN

If you’re traveling or in a region where your usual streaming options aren’t readily available, a virtual private network (VPN) can help you access your home streaming service more securely and consistently. VPNs work by encrypting your internet connection and routing it through a server in another location, which can help prevent buffering and protect your privacy on public Wi-Fi.

You can also use a VPN to access out-of-market NCAA games. Here's how.

1. Download a trusted VPN on your preferred device.

Choose and install a top VPN provider, such as NordVPN, on your device. 

2. Connect to a U.S. server.

Connect to a server in the state where the local NCAA game is streaming. 

3. Log in to your streaming service.

Pick a streaming service that includes the main channels airing March Madness games, like CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. Log in to your preferred streaming app, such as ESPN+ or CBS All Access. Other options include the NCAA's own March Madness Live, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV. Make sure you have a valid subscription.

4. Watch games live and track matchups.

Once connected, stream the NCAA tournament and follow games closely to stay informed. You can also experiment with connecting to different servers within the state for the fastest internet speeds. 

5. Confirm the rules before betting.

If you're traveling and want to place secure bets while you stream, you can use a VPN. However, sportsbooks typically block known VPN IP addresses and prohibit VPN use for betting. You will need to confirm the legality of placing sports bets, which varies by state. Review streaming platform policies and sportsbook location requirements before placing any wagers. Just like with streaming, you'd need to connect to a VPN server in a location where online sports betting is legal before logging into your sportsbook account. 

You can learn more about how to place sports bets in our guide for beginners. 

Bottom line

If you’re new to sports betting and gambling, navigating the March Madness Tournament can be tricky. But to break it down in simplest terms:

1. Confirm legality.
2. Choose a regulated sportsbook.
3. Start with basic bets.
4. Set a budget.
5. Protect your account.

If you’re traveling, prioritize security and compliance. Use tools like VPNs for privacy, not shortcuts. And remember to enjoy the game, not stress over it.

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