Jimmy Boyd in 
It is nearly impossible to determine the total amount actually wagered on the NCAA Tournament.
Not only do you have to track the legal wagering in Nevada and other states where sports betting is now legal, but you can’t forget the illegal wagering online, through bookies, and with friends.
On top of that, there are millions (if not billions) of dollars wagered with office pools and other bracket contests by people who normally don’t even know how to bet on NCAA basketball.
Total Money Bet in Las Vegas Sportsbooks & Profit During March Madness
Vegas Numbers Since 2004
| YEAR | AMT WAGERED | BOOK W/L | RETURN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $562,706,422 | $36,801,000 | 6.54% |
| 2025 | $665,625,000 | $24,495,000 | 3.68% |
| 2024 | $611,374,765 | $32,464,000 | 5.31% |
| 2023 | $655,921,053 | $44,865,000 | 6.84% |
| 2022 | $708,916,914 | $47,781,000 | 6.74% |
| 2021 | $501,452,581 | $41,771,000 | 8.33% |
| 2020 | No tournament | No tournament | N/A |
| 2019 | $495,464,789 | $35,178,000 | 7.10% |
| 2018 | $436,567,164 | $38,025,000 | 8.71% |
| 2017 | $429,500,520 | $41,275,000 | 9.61% |
| 2016 | $422,235,294 | $21,534,000 | 5.10% |
| 2015 | $375,282,258 | $27,921,000 | 7.44% |
| 2014 | $343,539,823 | $19,410,000 | 5.65% |
| 2013 | $324,283,560 | $21,500,000 | 6.63% |
| 2012 | $288,660,352 | $21,332,000 | 7.39% |
| 2011 | $256,530,055 | $18,778,000 | 7.32% |
| 2010 | $264,060,847 | $19,963,000 | 7.56% |
| 2009 | $218,492,366 | $11,449,000 | 5.24% |
| 2008 | $238,964,539 | $16,847,000 | 7.05% |
| 2007 | $228,269,755 | $16,755,000 | 7.34% |
| 2006 | $195,527,831 | $20,374,000 | 10.42% |
| 2005 | $170,884,211 | $16,234,000 | 9.50% |
| 2004 | $163,861,893 | $12,814,000 | 7.82% |
The Nevada Gaming Control Board’s figures for all basketball bet at Nevada sportsbooks in March: college and NBA, the tournament and every other game. The board reports the books’ win and the hold; the amount wagered is the win divided by the hold. The Final Four and the title game fall in April most years, so they count in April’s figures.
| SEGMENT | AMT WAGERED | BOOK W/L | RETURN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. (2004-2026, no 2020) | $389,005,545 | $26,707,545 | 6.87% |
| Last 5 Years (2022-2026) | $640,908,831 | $37,281,200 | 5.82% |
By the Gaming Control Board’s figures, the action taken at Nevada sportsbooks on basketball in March has ranged from about $164 million in 2004 to about $709 million in 2022. In March 2026 it was about $563 million, and the books kept $36.8 million of it (a 6.54% hold). Those figures count every basketball game in March, the NBA included, and leave out the Final Four and title game when they fall in April, as they do most years.
For comparison, Nevada books took about $133.8 million in Super Bowl bets on Super Bowl LX in February 2026. The record is $185.6 million, set in 2024.
Keep in mind the Super Bowl is one game, while March basketball includes every game played over an entire month.
Look at How Much is Wagered on the NCAA Tournament Outside of Sin City
Before the 2026 tournaments, the American Gaming Association (AGA) estimated that Americans would legally wager about $3.3 billion on the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments, up from $3.1 billion in 2025 and $2.72 billion in 2024.
That is a big change from 2017, before the Supreme Court let states legalize sports betting. The AGA’s estimate that year put only about 3% ($295 million) of the $10.4 billion bet on the tournament through legal books, with the other 97% ($10.1 billion) going to offshore books and local bookies.
Outside of Las Vegas, informal bracket pools and office contests contribute significantly to the total amount wagered. The full extent of these contests is difficult to track, but it is estimated that millions of dollars exchange hands through these private betting pools.
The Big Dance also has a negative impact on U.S. workplace productivity. Before the 2026 tournament, Challenger, Gray & Christmas estimated that the time workers spend on it could cost employers more than $12 billion in lost productivity.
Most of the money is bet on the spreads of the games. There will be a small amount on money lines and totals, but fans love to throw down on their team to win the tournament. However, if you look at the seed history, not many teams worse than a 3-seed have cut down the nets.
