The NCAA asked an Indiana federal court on 20 March to order DraftKings to stop using March Madness and other NCAA tournament marks in betting menus and promotional material. DraftKings said it uses the terms descriptively and as fair use, and expects the court to reject the injunction request.
The court's decision could affect DraftKings' use of NCAA tournament names in its betting products and promotions.
Quarter ended 30 September 2026
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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 American Gaming Association (AGA) projected that Americans would wager about $3.3bn legally on the 2026 NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. It said the estimate was 54% above the amount wagered three years earlier, attributing the increase to expanded regulated markets and greater confidence in legal betting.
Optimove's study of the 2026 NCAA basketball tournaments found betting activity rose 60% during the men's First and Second Round weekend, 19–22 March. Existing customers accounted for 97% of depositing players throughout the tournament through 6 April, while first-time depositors made up 3% during that peak period.
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.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission announced its Bet on Respect initiative in Massachusetts on 31 August 2026. It will investigate suspected harassment connected to sports wagering, and people found responsible may face involuntary exclusion from sports wagering and casinos under state law and regulation 205 CMR 152. The commission also opened a reporting portal for leagues, players’ associations, college athletics programmes, venues and players.