The American Gaming Association expects legal wagers on the 2026 NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments in the US to total about $3.3 billion. The association said the estimate is more than 50% above the figure from three years earlier and compares with $3.1 billion last year.
The forecast gives operators and suppliers an indication of expected legal betting activity during the 2026 tournaments.
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DraftKings and ESPN announced account linking for customers ahead of the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments, which begin March 17. DraftKings customers can connect their ESPN accounts through the sportsbook app’s “Bet Your Bracket” feature to see wagers aligned with their bracket picks and tailored suggestions. ESPN’s Mike Morrison said further integration would let users track bets and receive personalised offers through ESPN platforms.
South Dakota casinos recorded $1.6m in sports bets in March 2026, reportedly. The total was 3% above the figure for March a year earlier.
Reportedly, the American Gaming Association expects regulated sportsbook wagering during the 2026 NFL season to remain close to last season’s level. The association attributes slower growth to competition from prediction markets and raises concerns about taxation, minimum ages and regulatory oversight.
Missouri sportsbooks accepted $329.4m in bets in March, according to reports. The state’s quarterly betting total was almost $1bn.
New York’s eight mobile sportsbooks accepted $26.3bn in wagers during 2025, up 15.8% from 2024, according to figures attributed to the New York State Gaming Commission. Annual gross revenue reached $2.55bn, while the state collected $1.32bn in tax revenue; FanDuel and DraftKings accounted for 76% of operator revenue.