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There’s nothing like March Madness. With dozens of tournament games, there’s drama, heartbreak, and, of course, betting opportunities outside of the traditional bracket. However, the betting offerings depend on where you’re located.
While March Madness offers countless spreads, moneylines and totals to bet, it also gives many fans a chance to try their luck at college basketball prop bets.
While some legal sports betting states allow college props year-round, they can be overshadowed by the abundance of professional sports options.
Some states govern college markets differently than professional markets, partly because they’re concerned with problem gambling among youth and fan abuse towards college players.
As more states have legalized sports betting, the governance of college markets has been up for debate. College betting markets have more state-to-state variance than those for the pros.
What Are March Madness Props?
A prop bet in college basketball is a side wager on a specific part of the game outside the usual spread, moneyline and Over/Under markets.
Like in the NBA, many college basketball player props depend on a player going Over or Under his or her line in a certain statistical category.
Example: Purdue and Zach Edey are facing off against Minnesota in a Big Ten matchup. A sportsbook might offer a prop on how many points Edey will score, with the oddsmakers setting the total at 24.5 points.
Bettors can wager if Edey will score more than 24.5 points (Over) or fewer than 24.5 points (Under), with separate odds attached to each selection.
Some other stats you can bet on for props are assists, 3-pointers and rebounds, all of which will have an Over or Under attached to a line.
If you think a player will have a strong all-around game, some sportsbooks will offer combined lines like points + rebounds + assists. Sometimes, sportsbooks will allow you to turn those props into a parlay.
While defensive props like steals and blocks are available for almost every NBA game, they’re rarely available at the collegiate level.
You can also bet on game props, often tied to specific events or teams rather than players. So, if Purdue plays Minnesota, some game props might include which team will first reach 10 points or whether one side will go Over or Under its team point total.
Best Sportsbooks for March Madness Props
Many sportsbook promotions are available for new bettors looking to try March Madness betting.
Here are our favorites (availability depends on state):
- FanDuel Sportsbook: FanDuel is known for having one of the smoothest interfaces in the industry. New customers can claim $150 in bonus bets if they win their first $5 wager after signing up through this link.
- DraftKings Sportsbook: The other big name in North American sports betting, DraftKings features a solid parlay builder and an abundance of profit boosts. New users can get a bonus bet back up to $1,000 if their first wager loses by using this link.
- BetMGM Sportsbook: The self-proclaimed “King of Sportsbooks.” New users can get $150 in bonus bets after placing a $5 wager when they sign up using this link with the code FORBES150.
- Caesars Sportsbook: Known for its odds boosts, Caesars lets new users claim a bonus bet up to $1,000 when they sign up using this link with the code FORBES1000.
- Bet365 Sportsbook: A British-based company founded in 2000, Bet365 offers new users a bonus bet up to $1,000 when they sign up at this link using the code FORBES.
- Fanatics Sportsbook: Previously known as PointsBet, Fanatics launched in 2023. New users can get up to $1,000 in site credit when they register using this link.
States That Allow March Madness Props
Of the 38 states (plus Washington, D.C.) where sports betting is legal, 27 offer the ability to bet on some form of a college prop, while 12 jurisdictions don’t allow college prop bets.
An asterisk connotes a state where college prop bets are only legal for out-of-state teams.
States that allow March Madness props:
- Arkansas
- Connecticut*
- Delaware*
- Florida*
- Illinois*
- Indiana*
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Montana
- Nebraska*
- Nevada
- New Hampshire*
- New Jersey*
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Rhode Island*
- Vermont*
- Washington*
- Washington, D.C.*
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
- Wisconsin*
States prohibiting March Madness props:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Iowa
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- New York
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Virginia
Here are the college prop guidelines in states with legal sports betting.
Arizona
Although bettors in Arizona can place bets on standard college basketball markets like spreads and totals, college prop bets are illegal in the state. It’s illegal to bet on the number of points, rebounds or assists a player will have in a game.
That said, bettors in Arizona can bet on individual college awards like the Heisman Trophy or Wooden Award. They can also wager on team markets, such as which team will win the NCAA tournament.
Arkansas
While there are regulations that could restrict betting on collegiate props in Arkansas, there are no restrictions, which means that college prop bets are legal. Bettors in Arkansas are also able to place team and player prop bets on both in-state and out-of-state universities.
Colorado
Colorado has rules similar to Arizona’s in that bettors can bet on college sports outcomes but not individual player props. Team props are also available.
Connecticut
Whereas Arizona and Colorado allow for wagering on in-state universities, Connecticut does not.
That said, bettors in Connecticut can place player prop wagers on any college game not involving an in-state university.
The exception to that rule is when an in-state team plays in an intercollegiate tournament like March Madness. So, while bettors can’t bet on UConn to beat Villanova in January, they can bet on the Huskies to win the NCAA tournament.
Delaware
Unfortunately for Delaware residents, there is no betting allowed on in-state universities such as the University of Delaware. This applies to team betting and player props.
Bettors in Delaware can wager on player props for out-of-state teams, however.
Florida
Bettors in Florida can place college prop bets on any collegiate match not involving an in-state university.
Illinois
The Prairie State doesn’t allow player prop betting on in-state universities such as the University of Illinois and Northwestern University.
Illinois offers markets on team and player prop markets for out-of-state schools. However, these markets are limited to pregame bets, so no live betting markets are offered.
Indiana
Bettors in the Hoosier State can bet on in-state universities such as the University of Indiana.
Player prop markets are available but with specific restrictions. Bettors can only bet these markets before the game, with no in-play wagering options available.
Team prop markets such as futures odds and win totals are also available.
Iowa
Iowa allows for team betting on in-state teams, but bettors can’t wager on college player props regardless of who’s playing.
Kansas
There are no restrictions on college sports betting in Kansas. All player prop markets – including on the Kansas Jayhawks – are available in Kansas.
Kentucky
There are no restrictions on college sports betting in Kentucky.
Louisiana
There are no restrictions on college sports betting in Louisiana, so player props for teams like LSU are available.
Maine
Bettors in Maine are not allowed to wager on college player props.
Maryland
There are no prop restrictions for college sports betting in Maryland.
Massachusetts
Bettors in Massachusetts are effectively limited from betting on in-state universities such as UMass and Boston College. Additionally, bettors aren’t allowed to place bets on college player props.
Michigan
There are no restrictions on college props in Michigan. Bet away on in-state universities, team prop markets and player prop markets.
Mississippi
Bettors in Mississippi are unable to place any bets on college player props.
Montana
Montana is a bit unusual when it comes to sports betting. While college player props are legal, it’s tough to bet on them.
Sports betting is legal in the state at any licensed lottery retailer, but mobile sports betting is only allowed through the state’s app (Sports Bet Montana) and can only be done at a licensed lottery retailer. You can have the app on your phone and prepare wagers on your phone from home, but you have to be at a lottery retailer to place a bet.
Nebraska
Bettors in Nebraska aren’t able to wager on any college player props for in-state schools.
Nevada
Nevada has no restrictions on college sports betting.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s rules are a bit complex.
Bettors can’t wager on any in-state university or a collegiate event that takes place in the state. For example, if a March Madness Round of 32 game between USC and Duke takes place at a neutral site in the state, it’s unavailable for wagering.
That said, both college team and player props are available for wagering in the state for teams NOT based in New Hampshire. So if Duke and USC play each other in a different state, you can place prop bets on it.
New Jersey
Players can wager on college team and player props so long as they don’t involve an in-state university.
Bettors in New Jersey can’t place bets on in-state universities regardless of the event’s location.
New Mexico
Bettors in New Mexico can bet on college player props. That said, sports betting is only legal at in-person sportsbooks in the state.
New York
College player prop bets aren’t available in New York. Additionally, bettors in New York can’t wager on in-state universities such as Syracuse University, no matter where the game is played.
North Carolina
There are no restrictions on in-state colleges in the Tar Heel State, so bettors can place player props freely on schools like UNC and Duke.
North Dakota
Bettors in North Dakota can bet college players props.
Ohio
While there weren’t restrictions on college prop bets in Ohio for all of 2023, the state banned college player prop bets in February 2024 at the NCAA’s request. However, it is still possible to bet on game and team props.
Oregon
Oregon is extremely restrictive when it comes to college sports wagering. Simply put, there’s no wagering allowed on any college sports markets.
Pennsylvania
College player props are not available in Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island
Bettors in Rhode Island are prohibited from placing player prop bets on games involving in-state universities like Providence College or Brown University.
South Dakota
Bettors in South Dakota are prohibited from placing player prop bets on any college basketball game.
Tennessee
Tennessee doesn’t allow any college player prop markets. Additionally, bettors aren’t allowed to make live bets on team prop markets.
Virginia
Bettors in the state can’t wager on any college player prop markets.
Vermont
Bettors in Vermont can’t wager on in-state college teams except during out-of-state tournaments like March Madness. Otherwise, it’s possible to bet on college player props from out-of-state teams.
Washington
While bettors in Washington can’t wager on in-state teams, they can place prop bets on college players from outside the state.
Washington, D.C.
If you’re in the District of Columbia, you’re unable to bet on college teams from the area. That said, you can bet on college player props for schools outside the area.
West Virginia
There are no restrictions for betting on college sports in West Virginia.
Wisconsin
While Wisconsin bettors can’t bet on the state’s college teams, they can bet on college player props from out-of-state universities.
Wyoming
There are no restrictions for betting on college sports in Wyoming.
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