The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament is one of the most wagered-on sporting spectacles in the world. From the tip-off of the First Four to the final strains of “One Shining Moment,” March Madness wagering has something for everyone.
Currently, Texas does not offer legalized sports wagering. When that day comes, residents will be able to wager on everything from single games, futures odds, teams or conferences to reach the Final Four, and more. However, Texans have legal alternatives in daily fantasy sports (DFS) apps that provide prop-style pick’em contests and a fun way to stay engaged during every buzzer-beater and upset. The same goes for prediction markets, such as Kalshi and Polymarket.
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Top March Madness betting sites
As a reminder, you cannot wager on sports in Texas. But DFS sites, social sportsbooks, and prediction markets offer March Madness pick’em platforms that provide a similar look and feel.
Here are some of our favorites for Texas residents.
Kalshi
Kalshi has quickly skyrocketed in popularity, which means the prediction market is prime for a big March Madness in Texas. Users simply decide to buy or sell, selecting yes or no on certain things. For example, one of those could be buying “yes” for Texas Tech to make it to the Sweet 16. Like a traditional sport wagering operator, Kalshi has an enormous market selection, including a sizeable futures offering for the NCAA Tournament.
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Rebet Social Sportsbook
Rebet Social Sportsbook provides Texas residents with a wide variety of March Madness picks on an extremely fast, user-friendly app. A solid welcome bonus is a plus, especially during the NCAA Tournament, too. One of the best components of Rebet is the ability to compete directly against friends, much like you would in an office bracket pool.
DraftKings Pick 6
Similar to its traditional sports wagering venture, DraftKings Pick 6 platform provides a DFS option that’s a great alternative. Users simply select the college basketball game, then pick more or less for player statistics. It’s that simple. There are fun wrinkles, such as the site letting you pick a points + rebounds + assists stat line. Other options, like 3-pointers and rebounds, are available during March Madness, too.
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Polymarket
Similar to Kalshi, Polymarket is one of the leading prediction markets, specifically when it comes to college basketball and the NCAA Tournament. You make the same picks as you would with a sports wagering operator, such as moneyline, spread, total, and can also select the over or under for individual player statistics. Polymarket also lets you make your picks live, meaning you can get better odds as the game flows.
How to make March Madness futures picks in Texas
Futures are picks on long-term events or outcomes. That means teams to make it to the Final Four, for example, or which team will win the entire March Madness bracket.
With futures, the odds most favor the bettor right when the sports lines are released. Those willing to take a higher risk for a higher potential reward will jump on these bets as soon as possible.
Some bettors, however, prefer a more calculated approach. They wait for more information, which also reduces their potential profits as the March Madness lines get tighter.
Across all legal sports wagering alternatives like DFS or prediction markets, you’ll find a nice selection of March Madness-focused futures picks. Here are some that you might come across in Texas:
- Which team will win the National Championship?
- Which conference will the champion come from?
- Which team or teams will win their regional?
- Which team or teams will make the run to the Final Four?
Some of these futures odds are available nearly as soon as the last March Madness concludes. Others are available before the start of the regular college basketball season.
How to pick pre-tournament seeds and props
You have more than just winners to select in the NCAA Tournament. You’ll also find many prop-style picks: essentially side bets you make with an operator.
March Madness prop selections aren’t typically focused on which teams win and lose. Instead, they vary quite broadly and can range from being serious and stat-based to more lighthearted and fun. The variation will depend on the platform you’re using.
Here are some prop-style picks you’ll likely come across on DFS, social sites, and prediction markets during March Madness:
- How many teams from each conference will be invited to March Madness?
- Over/under bets on the seeds that teams are assigned
- Which teams will be awarded No. 1 seeds?
- Over/under bets on the number of wins for a team all tourney long
How to make First Four picks
Not every team in the NCAA Tournament gets there simply by being invited. There are four games in which teams square off to decide which will advance as the No. 16 seeds in each region.
This First Four play-in tournament consists of the four teams with the lowest-seeded at-large bids and the four lowest-seeded automatic bids. This is essentially a miniature first round to the NCAA Tournament. As with the full 64-team tourney, you can make picks on the First Four.
Once the participating teams are announced, the different operators in Texas will release March Madness lines for each game. You’ll also be able to try your hand at things like parlays and point spread predictions during this prologue to March Madness.
How to make March Madness picks in Texas
Three major picks/prediction types will dominate operators for March Madness. Below, we look at each of these popular March Madness picks.
- Moneylines: These are as simple as they come. Two teams play; you pick which team will win. NCAA Tournament moneylines are released once the entire field is announced. From that point forward, moneylines are released as upcoming matchups are determined.
- Point spreads: During March Madness, point spread selections get the most attention from experienced fans. The basic concept of the spread pick is that the favorite in an upcoming game is given a margin by which they must win to clear the bet. The underdog doesn’t need to win outright; they can’t let the favorite reach that winning margin.
- Totals: A totals pick is also known as an over/under. These predictions focus only on how many points the two teams playing will combine to score. If the two teams combine to score more than the predicted points total, then you would pick the over. If you think the two teams won’t be able to live up to those scoring expectations, then you’d select the under.
March Madness bracket contests
If you’re one of those March Madness fans who just can’t get through the spring without filling out a bracket, there are a lot of free-to-play contests at Texas sports wagering operators. Here are three operators that have previously offered a free bracket challenge for customers, each with real prizes available to win.
- BetMGM Sportsbook: The top-scoring bracket in this free contest won $100,000. If someone one day manages to fill out a perfect bracket, they’ll claim $10 million for that historic feat.
- FanDuel Sportsbook: Each selection that users correctly picked resulted in points. These add up to determine the winners of the free bracket contest. The total prize pool came in at $5,000.
- DraftKings Sportsbook: A twist on the traditional bracket challenge, DraftKings offered a Zero Right Bracket Challenge in past season. The goal in this challenge to get as few matchups correct as possible. Each correct selection resulted in a point, but the goal was to be as close to zero as possible. The winners would earn a share of $100,000 at the end of the NCAA Tournament.
How to bet on March Madness online in Texas
With no legal sports wagering offered, your best alternatives are DFS sites, social sportsbooks, and prediction markets.
Registering for these accounts is quick and easy. First, you’ll need to go to the operator of your choice. We have many listed here that are our favorites, but do some research within this site. Once you find an operator you like, click the “sign up” or “register” button and provide all the details they ask for.
Once your account is created, you can claim your welcome bonus, make a deposit, and start making your picks. Make sure to read the terms and conditions for any promotions you will accept. You’ll want to understand what you will need to do to claim your winnings.
Related pages:
- Baylor March Madness betting
- Houston Cougars March Madness betting
- Texas Longhorns March Madness betting
March Madness betting rules
Every operator has rules governing betting procedures, including NCAA basketball betting and the tournament.
Most rules are similar, but you can always read through them by visiting an operator’s website. You can also find them in the terms and conditions you must agree to sign up for an account.
Here are some examples of rules you might find at the site of your choosing when it comes to March Madness:
- All picks are settled using only official data and statistics from the NCAA.
- If the tournament is canceled for any reason, selections will be voided, and refunds issued to all bettors.
- Games must start on the scheduled day to have action.
- All picks include overtime unless otherwise stated.
Things to keep in mind for March Madness betting in Texas
Until sports wagering is legal, Texas residents will have to use DFS sites, social sportsbooks, and prediction markets. These are great alternatives, providing a similar look and feel as the big names that could one day operator in Texas. Remember to do research before making college basketball picks, study historical trends, and try out different operators. That way, you’ll be prepared for March Madness betting in Texas.
