NCAA Basketball Betting Expected to Reach $3.3 Billion in 2026

According to the American Gaming Association (AGA), U.S. sportsbooks are expected to see approximately $3.3 billion wagered on the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments in 2026, representing a modest increase from the previous year. Over the past three years, betting on these tournaments has grown by 54 percent, based on monthly reports from state gaming regulators, though this growth appears to be slowing, with this year’s increase projected at about six percent. The projected $3.3 billion in wagers nearly doubles the AGA’s estimate for Super Bowl LX, highlighting the continued popularity of legal, state- and tribal-regulated sports betting during major sporting events. Bill Miller, president and CEO of the AGA, emphasized that fans are increasingly participating in these regulated betting markets. These estimates focus on licensed sportsbooks across 40 states and the District of Columbia, excluding amounts traded on prediction markets or in office bracket pools. For instance, the prediction market Kalshi reported nearly $1.9 billion in college basketball wagers during February alone, averaging $395,000 per game. The highest trading volume occurred during the February 16 game between Houston and Iowa State, which saw approximately $12.7 million wagered on the Cyclones’ 70–67 victory.

Additionally, bracket participation remains strong. Last season, the NCAA reported 39 million publicly submitted men’s and women’s brackets, including a record 24.4 million men’s brackets in ESPN’s Tournament Challenge .