Legal NCAA Betting

College sports betting is legal in roughly two dozen states today.

Most states with legal sports betting allow licensed sportsbooks to take wagers on NCAA games, often subject to certain restrictions on the types of wagers that sportsbooks may accept on college games.

Each state approaches sports betting differently, resulting in a patchwork of rules and regulations that can be confusing. On this page, BettingUSA provides a straightforward rundown on how college betting works in each state.

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States With Legal College Sports Betting

The following map displays where college betting is legal for quick reference. Readers may click or tap on any state for more information about local laws and licensed sportsbooks.

Map Key

• Blue: It is legal to bet on college games online
• Green: State is home to retail sportsbooks that may accept wagers on NCAA games
• Red: Sports betting is legal but college betting is prohibited

Rules Governing NCAA Sports Betting

States that legalize sports betting often give college sports special consideration due to concerns of corruption. As a result, many jurisdictions pass regulations that specifically address college sports betting. For example, it is common for states to permit college sports betting but prohibit wagers on games involving local teams.

The inclination of regulators to treat college betting differently stems from several concerns that are either unique to college sports or magnified at the collegiate level.

• Young, unpaid athletes may be more susceptible to bribery and outside pressure to throw games or share inside information
• Universities are interested in protecting the wholesome, amateur image of the sports programs upon which they depend for funding and recruitment
• University officials say they are subject to increased integrity costs as they must educate staff, students, and players on the rules governing their behavior, what information they can share with others, risks students and staff face, and more

Proponents of legalization contend that it is better to regulate the activity rather than push it underground to illegal offshore sportsbooks and local bookies. If people are going to bet on college sports regardless, it is better to have a regulatory regime. A well-regulated sports betting industry provides oversight, funding for problem gambling treatment, and the ability to detect suspicious betting patterns.

Both arguments have merit, but most states that have legalized sports betting allow college betting with some restrictions.

Below is an overview of the NCAA sports betting rules in each state, followed by more detailed explanations.

Licensed College Betting Sites

Nearly every state with legal online sports betting permits wagers on NCAA games. Finding a place to bet on college games online is a matter of knowing where to look. BettingUSA provides listings of licensed sportsbooks in each state for quick reference. Every online sportsbook and mobile betting site listed at BettingUSA.com is legal, licensed, and safe.

Most state gambling regulators also provide lists of licensed sports betting operators online. For example, New Jersey customers can see licensed sportsbooks here, while Indiana customers can view all licensees here. Other states provide similar resources. Readers can visit BettingUSA’s state-by-state guides for more information and links.

Aside from the occasional outlier, most licensed sportsbooks in the US provide a high-quality experience in presentation, promotions, customer support, and security. Where many sportsbooks differ is in the quality of lines offered to customers.

The difference in lines for anyone college game can be significant from one sportsbook to the next in some cases. Therefore, bettors in every state should know which operators are available and pay attention to the odds they offer on college games. In many cases, it is worth keeping a portion of one’s bankroll at two or more online sportsbooks to get the best prices as often as possible.

NCAA Betting Bonuses and Promotions

Legal online sportsbooks have a lot to offer to promo-minded college bettors. First, college basketball and football fans can claim large welcome bonuses when signing up for accounts with the nation’s most prominent NCAA betting sites.

Typical NCAA betting bonuses for new customers are worth anywhere from $500 to $1,000, but even casual bettors can deposit as little as $10 to claim high-quality welcome promotions.

Additionally, fans can look forward to unique college betting promotions throughout the football and basketball seasons. Between the many NCAA odds boosts, parlay insurance offers, March Madness brackets, and college football bonuses launched every year, fans suffer no shortage of opportunities to pad the bottom line.

Of course, the devil is in the details, and bettors must understand how the most common types of NCAA betting promotions work to ensure they get the most value for their wagering dollars.

College Betting Bonuses for New Customers

Welcome bonuses offer more value to college football and basketball fans than any other type of NCAA betting promotion. Whether NCAAF or NCAAB is your first love, new customer bonuses offer the most upside and flexibility.

The one big downside to registration bonuses is that they’re only available once at each sportsbook. So, bettors should make extra sure they understand each offer’s terms so they can take full advantage.

The vast majority of new customer NCAA betting bonuses take one of three forms.

NCAA Second Chance Bets

Second chance bets (sometimes called “no sweat first bets”) are almost like insurance for your first wager. The typical second chance bet bonus invites new users to register, deposit, and place a cash bet on college sports online.

If the initial wager loses, the customer receives a bonus bet of equal value to try again. If the initial wager wins, the bettor receives a standard payout, and the promotion ends.

The upsides of second chance bet promos are that they tend to be larger than other NCAA betting bonuses (often worth $500 to $1,000 or more) and come with minimal or zero wagering requirements. The downsides are that they pay refunds as bonus bets (effectively site credit) rather than cash and only pay if the initial wager loses.

College Betting Deposit Bonuses

A handful of NCAA betting sites welcome new customers with deposit bonuses sized as a percentage of their first deposit. For example, a new customer who makes a first deposit of $100 with a 20% bonus would receive $20 in bonus funds.

The biggest advantage deposit bonuses offer over other types of NCAA betting bonuses is that they benefit all customers, not just those who place a first wager and lose.

On the other hand, deposit bonuses are usually either smaller than second chance bet promotions or feature low percentage match rates. Additionally, deposit bonuses almost always have higher wagering requirements before allowing customers to withdraw.

College sports bettors should always look into the details before claiming any deposit bonus to be sure they understand the following:

• Are the bonus funds withdrawable?
• How many times do I have to wager the bonus before I can withdraw my winnings?
• What is the match rate, and how much would I have to deposit to receive a sizable bonus?

By answering the above questions, bettors can verify that they can maximize the bonus responsibly and avoid any surprises when it’s time to withdraw.

NCAA First Bet Match Bonuses

First bet match bonuses give new customers a bonus in return for placing their first wager. Unlike deposit bonuses, first bet match promos usually offer a fixed bonus amount. For example, the sportsbook may invite new customers to place a first wager of $20 or more on NCAA games in return for $200 worth of bonus bets.

One of the nice things about first bet match promotions is that they usually offer a significantly larger bonus than the initial qualifying wager. As a result, fans can earn a sizable bonus without as much upfront risk as other NCAA betting bonuses require.

College Football Betting Promotions

Online sportsbooks launch a standard array of short-term college football betting promotions every season, plus special offers tailored to customers’ favorite teams based on their wagering habits and geographic locations.

Here’s a small sampling of what to expect for NCAA football betting bonuses this season:

• No-Brainer College Football Bets: Usually reserved for new customers only, no-brainer bets welcome first-time bettors to sign up for accounts and place wagers at odds anyone would have to be crazy not to accept. For example, one such offer last season invited new customers to wager $5 on any college football moneyline to earn $200 in bonus bets if their team won.
• Bet and Get CFB Promotions: NCAA betting apps occasionally launch “bet and get” promotions to encourage existing customers to bet on upcoming games. For example, one past promo offered $25 in bonus bets to anyone who wagered at least $50 on each of the College Football Playoff semifinal games.
• NCAAF Pools and Prediction Contests: Major operators like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM host free-to-play betting pools and prediction contests with real-money prizes. DraftKings offers the most consistent college football prediction promos, but FanDuel and BetMGM also host similar promos, often with even larger prize pools. Some college football prediction contests span the season, while others run for just a day or weekend.
• First Touchdown Scorer Insurance: First touchdown scorer promotions refund customers who place losing wagers on players to score the game’s first touchdown. Some promos issue blanket refunds, while others only pay the refund if the selected player scores at some other point during the game. In all cases, college football betting sites pay refunds as bonus bets, not cash.

College Basketball Betting Promotions

College basketball season is another prime time for sports betting promotions. The best NCAAB betting sites launch dozens of short-term and tournament-long promos that can take many forms.

Here’s a look at some of the most common types of NCAA basketball betting promotions that fans can look forward to each year.

• No-Brainer College Basketball Bets: Fans can find a variety of no-brainer college bets that essentially boost the odds on specific wagers to absurd levels. Sometimes, sportsbooks temporarily change their welcome offers to something like “bet $10 on any college basketball game and get $200 in bonus bets if either team scores a three-pointer.” Some sportsbooks also offer no-brainer bets to existing customers, often during March Madness.
• Free College Basketball Betting Pools: Some sportsbooks host free-to-play prediction pools that offer real-money payouts to the customers who make accurate predictions about a slate of upcoming college basketball games. DraftKings is the most prominent sportsbook known for offering frequent free-entry betting pools.
• Insurance on NCAA Basketball Parlays: Another frequent promotional offer is for sportsbooks to offer refunds to customers who place college basketball parlays and lose by just one leg. In nearly every instance, these promos pay refunds as bonus bets.
• Random College Basketball Bonus Bets: Mainstream sportsbooks offer the occasional bonus bet at random to customers who log in to their accounts during the college basketball season. These promos are generally unpredictable, so it pays to check in with your favorite college betting apps once in a while throughout the season.

March Madness Betting Promotions

Online sportsbooks significantly ramp up their promotional efforts as the Men’s NCAA tournament approaches each year. In the run-up to the event and through each round, fans can take advantage of March Madness bet refunds, parlay super boosts, and much more.

Here are just a few examples of the types of March Madness betting promotions fans may encounter every Spring.

• No-Sweat March Madness Bets: Although the details vary from one offer to the next, no-sweat March Madness bets offer refunds paid as bonus bets to customers who place qualifying wagers on any college team and lose.
• March Madness Profit Boosts: A running theme with some NCAA betting apps is to offer temporary profit boosts on all wagers customers place each round of the tournament. For example, a sportsbook may offer a 16% boost on any college basketball bet customers place on Sweet 16 games.
• Early Payout March Madness Betting Offers: Early payout offers grade pending wagers as winners if the selected team secures a big lead at any point, even if that team goes on to lose the game. For example, a sportsbook may instantly grade all pregame college basketball moneylines as winners if the chosen team gets ahead by 18 points or more at any point during the game.

Free March Madness Brackets

Free March Madness bracket contests are some of the most popular promotions, and bettors can usually find a handful on offer each year. The most worthwhile free March Madness brackets offer seven-figure prize pools and require nothing from fans except to log in and make their picks.

In-Play College Betting

In-play college betting is permitted in states with legal sports betting.

A handful of states enforce limits on the types of college bets that may be accepted. For example, Illinois prohibits wagers on in-state college teams, and Indiana prohibits in-play prop bets on individual players. Still, college betting is widely available in most states where sports betting is legal.

The types of in-play bets offered on NCAA games vary by sportsbook and state, but the options range from betting on the outcome of the game to the outcome of the next play.

Mobile sportsbooks usually provide a greater variety of in-game markets for high-profile games. One thing that differentiates NCAA sports from the professional leagues is the sheer number of games played in a given week. The best NCAA betting sites cover games across the spectrum of competitiveness, but games involving big-name teams consistently provide the most betting opportunities.

The types of in-game betting options offered for NCAA games vary by sportsbook, but some of the most common include:

• Game outcome: Bet on the point spread, moneyline, or total after the game has started at updated odds – most common type of in-play bet and can be found for even the smallest college games – some games also offer alternate point spreads and totals
• Team totals: Bet on the total points to be scored by one team only – offered throughout the game with odds adjusted in real-time based on what’s happening on the field or court
• Quarter and halftime bets: Bet on the point spread or total for a single half or quarter
• Race to points: Bet on which team will be the first to score X points
• Next scoring play: Predict the type of play that will score next (will the next score be a Michigan touchdown, Minnesota field goal, etc.)
• Outcome of the next play: Bet on whether the next play will result in a score, turnover, punt, field goal attempt, and more, depending on the sport
• Instant markets: Instant markets, also called flash bets, are the shortest-term in-play wagers offered and cover outcomes such as the outcome of the next pitch or free throw

NCAA College Basketball Tournament Betting

March Madness accounts for a significant portion of legal college sports betting every year, with the tournament attracting billions in betting handle each iteration.

According to the American Gaming Association, upwards of 45 million Americans bet on March Madness every year. Millions of American also participate in bracket contests, office pools, and informal wagers with friends.

With 63 games, teams representing schools nationwide, and national broadcasts, the NCAA college basketball tournament is one of the year’s preeminent sporting events. It ranks behind the Super Bowl in single-day betting handle, but the tournament as a whole generates more wagering activity than any other event in the nation.

NCAA Stance On Sports Betting

The NCAA approaches sports betting from a position of skepticism and caution.

After all, it was the NCAA who led the years-long lawsuit that challenged New Jersey’s sports betting efforts all the way to the United States Supreme Court.

The NCAA’s position on sports betting has evolved in the years since the Supreme Court ended the federal sports betting prohibition, but “skepticism and caution” remain the best descriptors of its stance today.

A statement published prominently on the NCAA website makes the organization’s position on sports betting clear:

NCAA rules ban participation in sports betting activities and prohibit providing information to individuals involved in or associated with any type of sports betting activities concerning intercollegiate, amateur or professional athletics competition.

In other words, if you are a student-athlete, coach or athletics staff member, regardless of sport or division, you are not allowed to bet or provide any useful information that can influence a bet in any sport the NCAA sponsors at any level.

The NCAA exercises significant control over student athletes’ relationship with sports betting, but colleges maintain a great degree of autonomy otherwise. As a result, individual colleges sometimes take very different approaches to sports betting.

Within two years of the Supreme Court’s decision, several colleges had secured high-value partnership agreements with licensed sports betting operators. At various points, the University of Colorado Boulder, Louisiana State University, Michigan State University, the University of Denver, and the University of Maryland College Park all had an “official sports betting partner.”

Widespread criticism ultimately led to the dissolution of every college-sportsbook partnership and the American Gaming Association updating its responsible marketing code to prohibit such agreements.

At the other end of the spectrum are colleges that directly advocate against authorizing betting on NCAA games. One example comes from Massachusetts, where eight state university presidents and athletic directors signed a letter asking lawmakers to prohibit wagers on college games.

In part, the letter said this:

We recognize that during the current difficult economic climate, the Legislature desires to develop new sources of revenue, including sports wagering. But like other states, Massachusetts can gain those benefits without legalizing college sports betting.

Such a limitation is necessary to safeguard the longstanding distinctive role and contribution of student-athletes as well as to preserve the integrity of intercollegiate athletics in the Commonwealth.

Similarly, Purdue University policy prohibits students, staff, faculty, and independent contractors from placing wagers on events involving the school. Purdue officials implemented the rule shortly after Indiana legalized sports betting to “to reduce the potential for any student-athlete to feel compromised, for any implication of profiteering or inside information, or other problems.”

The NCAA continues to monitor the effects of sports betting on students, athletes, and game integrity nationwide. If NCAA officials perceive a threat to any of those interests, it will act.

For example, the NCAA convinced Ohio to prohibit prop bets on individual college athletes in early 2024. The introductory paragraph in its letter to Ohio regulators requesting the ban reiterated the NCAA’s position on sports betting:

“Since the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, the NCAA has closely monitored the legalized sports betting landscape to understand the impacts it has on intercollegiate athletics. Specifically, the NCAA is deeply concerned about the dangers it poses to the health, safety, and well-being of over 500,000 student-athletes and the integrity of NCAA competition.”

Maryland regulators followed suit a short time later and banned player props on college athletes over concerns of potential harassment.

NCAA Betting FAQ