What is March Madness Betting and Should You Be Worried?

For college basketball fanatics, March Madness is among the most exciting times of the year. The NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament is a single-elimination tournament of 68 teams that compete across four divisions in seven rounds. The ongoing rounds have become known in popular culture due to their memorable names: the round of the Sweet Sixteen leads to the Elite Eight that leads to the penultimate round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament: the Final Four. The NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament has been played since 1939. 

Though betting on March Madness has no doubt occurred illegally throughout its history, the spread of legal sports betting throughout the U.S. means the amount wagered is larger than ever before.

But what does that mean for college students, NCAA athletes, their friends and family, and other at risk for problem gambling through sports betting populations? With two-thirds of college students betting on sports, parents, professors, university administrators, and educator in general need to be aware of the risks that can occur during March Madness.

History of March Madness and Gambling

The first NCAA Division I Men's Basketball tournament was played in 1939. When March Madness started, it only had eight teams. In the final round of that original tournament, Oregon was the first NCAA March Madness champion, beating Ohio State for the championship trophy. It was not until 1951 that the bracket grew bigger, with the field growing to 16 teams then, and doubling again in 1975 to 32 teams. The bracket as we know it with its current size of 64 teams (not including the four extra teams with play in games) started in 1985 for the first time. The first play in games with the opening round games was included in 2001 and is often called "the First Four," a fun distinction against "the Final Four." Though the term "March Madness" was actually initially used in 1939 in reference to basketball by a high school referred called Henry V. Porter who was based in Illinois, the official association between "March Madness" and the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball tournament was first defined in 1982 when American sports commentator Brent Musberger used it in his media coverage.

March Madness has historically been known for significant betting. Even when outcomes may seem predictable, wagering on college basketball can be quite chaotic. The most common form of sports betting that occurs through March Madness is filling out a 64 team bracket. However, that can yield quite a number of combinations and possibilities to wager incorrectly. Due to the size of the field and the included teams, there are 9.2 quintillion possible brackets. As of 2023, there has never been a known (and officially confirmed) 100% correct bracket. The longest streak of picks that could actually be verified correct was 49 and occurred in Ohio in 2019. However that lack of 100% correctness does not stop people trying.

College Sports Betting Statistics

Gambling in college is a significant issue. Below are some statistics about college gambling as well as two tips to avoid problem gambling behavior in college and during March madness:

• 75% of college students have gambled during the past year (whether legally or illegally)

• 6% of U.S. college students have a serious gambling problem

• The most common gambling activities for college students are the lottery (41%), card games (38%) and sports betting (23%)

• Nearly 30% of male athletes bet on sports, and 66% of those athletes began in high school

For additional information:

New NCAA survey reveals troubling trends, but has flaws

Sports Betting is Worryingly Rampant at Colleges

Alarming Scale of Abuse of College Athletes Revealed

Which states allow NCAA College Basketball Prop Betting?

Significant Risks of Gambling Addiction in Young Men

Treatment for Problem Gambling: Birches Health

Sports Betting and Gambling Addiction can ruin lives and quickly have disastrous consequences. It can destroy family and friend relationships as well as cause individuals to go into debt and worse. Birches Health connects gambling addicts and those who just want to gamble a little less to licensed, expert, gambling specialists for personalized treatment plans and custom high quality care. We ensure high quality clinical outcomes by only using board certified clinicians.

Birches Health offers the following ways to get started:

• Book a confidential consultation by clicking here

• Call 833-483-3838

• Email help@bircheshealth.com