Whether you're a casual gambler or seasoned wiseguy, the excitement of the March Madness is unparalleled. Tens of millions of Americans will be filling out brackets, competing in pools at the office and getting very little done at work. But we wouldn't have it any other way.
The 2019 NCAA Tournament is especially exhilarating — and historic — because it marks the first March Madness in the post PASPA world. Following the landmark Supreme Court decision in May of 2018, eight states have legalized sports betting, with dozens more waiting in the wings.
A recent study from the American Gaming Association estimates that $8.5 billion will be bet on this year's Big Dance. If you're looking to get in on the fun, here is quick breakdown of where you can place a legal wager on this year's Madness.
1. Nevada
Las Vegas is the gambling mecca of the world and remains the top, go-to destination for sports bettors, especially during the NCAA Tournament.
There are hundreds of different sportsbooks and casinos you can choose from, including the Westgate Superbook, Wynn, Mirage and Caesar's Palace.
2. Delaware
On June 5, 2018, Delaware became the first state to legalize sport betting outside of Nevada. Bettors can place wagers at any of the state’s three casinos: Delaware Park, Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway.
3. New Jersey
The Garden State is quickly becoming the gambling capital of the East Coast. Bettors can place wagers at several different locations, headlined by DraftKings Sportsbook at Atlantic City and Fan Duel Sportsbook at the Meadowlands. Bettors can also place bets via mobile as long as they are within state borders.
Other places to bet include the Borgata, Monmouth Park, Harrah's, Bally's, SugarHouse, Bet Stars, 888 Sport, Ocean Resort Casino, Tropicana, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock and Caesar's Atlantic City. Almost all casinos offer mobile betting within the premises.
4. Pennsylvania
One of the biggest and fastest expanding legal sports betting states is Pennsylvania. New sportsbooks are popping up every day.
Bettors can currently place wagers at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, SugarHouse Casino and Harrah's in Philadelphia, Parx Casino, South Philadelphia Turf Club and the Fan Duel Sportsbook at Valley Forge.
5. Mississippi
Bettors can place wagers at two main casinos in Mississippi: Beau Rivage, known as Biloxi, and Gold Strike, known as Tunica. Both casinos are run by MGM. Bettors in Mississippi also have access to the playMGM mobile app, but at the time being, you can wager on mobile devices only when you’re within the casino.
Bettors can also go to Sam’s Town Casino in Tunica, Horseshoe Casino in Tunica and the IP Biloxi Hotel and Casino.
6. West Virginia
Bettors have a few options to choose from in West Virginia. They can place bets at the Hollywood Casino in Charles Town or at Fan Duel sportsbook located at The Greenbrier.
Other locations include Mountaineer Casino in New Cumberland, Mardi Gras Casino and Wheeling Island.
7. Rhode Island
The Ocean State offers two destinations for placing wagers: Twin River Casino in Lincoln and Twin River Casino in Tiverton. Mobile betting is not yet available in Rhode Island, but it should be by the end of the summer.
8. New Mexico
Of all the states with legal betting, New Mexico is the one that often gets forgotten. Bettors can place wagers at only one sportsbook: the Santa Ana Star Casino and Hotel located near Albuquerque.
No matter where you place a legal bet, be sure to bring the Action Network App along so you can monitor the latest odds, percentages, live scoring and track all of your bets.
