The True Madness of March: Betting on NCAA Tournament

With the Final Four happening this weekend, it’s a good time to consider the influence of ”the tournament,” particularly the less attractive aspects of competitive sports. The American Gaming Association reports that Americans are expected to legally wager around $3.1 billion on the tournaments, up from $2.7 billion in 2024. 

Placing a bet? It’s the digital dance of chance

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), opened up legal sports gambling beyond Nevada. Over the span of seven years, total

sports wagers skyrocketed from $4.9 billion in 2017 to $121.1 billion in 2023. Notably, 94% of total sports bets placed in 2023 were made online.

The dark underbelly of betting

Recent research by NCAA has revealed that athlete harassment related to betting is widespread across all college sports. The study found 17% of Division I men’s basketball players reported experiencing harassment from sports bettors.