We outline the legal college basketball betting states, and what wagers are accepted in each U.S. state.
Caesars Sports SPECIAL OFFER
March Madness is a popular term used to describe the period of time in which the NCAA Men’s Division 1 Basketball Tournament takes place. It lasts from mid-March to Early April.
There are 68 teams to start across four regions with their own No. 1 through No. 16 seeds. March Madness is huge thanks to the high-profile upsets that take place, the atmospheres, bracket excitement, and the stars that are born. The NCAA March Madness tournament generates millions in revenue each year.
Here, we’ll look at whether or not you can bet on it when it comes around in 2023.
Can I Bet On March Madness?
Generally speaking, yes, you can bet on March Madness. However, there are limitations to sports betting and, more specifically, college sports betting, depending on the state you reside in. Not all legal sports betting states are legal college basketball betting states.
Since May 2018, when the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was repealed, more than half of the United States has legalized some form of online sports betting.
In the sections below, we’ll look at the states where sports betting is legal online, followed up by the March Madness and College Basketball betting regulations from state to state.
If you don’t see your state listed, remember that it could be because online sports betting isn’t yet legal or online sports betting is not yet live.
We’ll also list states where you can bet on sports, but only at retail sites.


Where Can I Bet On March Madness Online?
Below are the legal online sports betting states in the United States as of March 2023:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maine (pending launch)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi (can bet at BetMGM online, but have to be on the land-based premises)
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- NY
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
- Washington D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
If you are in one of these states, it’s definitely worth checking out the bonuses available at the online sportsbooks.
States Where Retail-Only Sports Betting Is Legal
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Montana
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Washington
- Wisconsin
College Basketball Betting Limitations By State
While roughly half of the United States has legal online sports betting right now or is pending launch, college sports betting does have some restrictions depending on the state you reside in. That said, not all legal online sports betting states have limitations.
Below is a list of states that have limitations and what they are.
State | Sports Betting Limitation |
Arizona | You cannot bet on team or player props. |
Colorado | You cannot bet on player props. |
Connecticut | You can only wager on in-state teams if they play in an inter-collegiate tournament. |
Illinois | You cannot bet on in-state games or teams. |
Indiana | You cannot bet on live player props. |
Iowa | You cannot bet on player props. |
Mississippi | You cannot bet on player props. |
New Hampshire | You cannot bet on in-state teams. |
New Jersey | You cannot bet on games in the state or in-state teams. |
New York | You cannot bet on games in the state or in-state teams. |
Oregon | You cannot bet on college sports. |
Pennsylvania | You cannot bet on player props. |
Rhode Island | You cannot bet on games in the state or in-state teams. |
Tennessee | You cannot bet on player props pregame or live. |
Washington D.C. | You cannot bet on games in the state or in-state teams. |
West Virginia | You cannot bet on player props. |