Best College Basketball Betting Sites for Beginners & Experienced US Bettors
The best college basketball betting sites include BetMGM, FanDuel, Fanatics, DraftKings, and bet365. The 2026-27 season gets underway soon, making it a great time to grab a welcome offer and join an NCAA basketball betting site.
Below, we have curated a list of the top options for betting on college hoops, as well as detailed information on how you can sign up to wager in states in which college basketball betting is legal. Depending on a state’s college betting rules, the wagering options may vary but can include moneylines, spreads, totals, props, and futures. Here’s a look at college basketball betting and how to do so legally in the US.
Best college basketball betting sites
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How to bet on college basketball
- Choose a sportsbook where you like the college basketball odds. There’s a list of top legal online sportsbooks above, along with information on the currently available promotions for new customers. You can begin the sign-up process by clicking on the “play now” button. Note that you must be located in a state where the sportsbook is legal, and that age and eligibility restrictions apply.
- Complete the registration process. Once you’re set to sign up, follow the prompts and enter the necessary information. The sportsbook needs to verify your identity to create an account. Standard information generally includes your name, address, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
- Download the sportsbook app if you plan to wager via a mobile device. After doing so, enable geolocation so the sportsbook can verify your location when you’re ready to start placing bets.
- Add funds to your account to place wagers. Online sportsbooks offer several deposit options, and the sportsbook’s cashier function will walk you through the process.
- Review the college basketball odds from the sportsbook and choose what you want to bet on. There will be a menu listing all sports available for wagering. Once you click on the college basketball link, all of the available options will become available. If you find something you want to bet on, click on the odds to do so.
- Finalize and place your wager. After you click the odds, the bet will move to your betting slip. You’ll be able to add the amount that you want to wager, verify that everything is correct, and click to place the bet. Afterward, you can track the progress in the open bets section of your account.
Why should you trust our links?
We have reviewed all the sportsbooks we link to on our pages. Once you click the link, you’ll arrive at the sign-up page to complete the registration process. We only feature sportsbooks that are legal and regulated in the states in which they operate. When reviewing sites, we thoroughly assess key areas, including reliability, banking options, payout times, odds, and offerings, and more.
Sportsbook deposit and withdrawal methods
All of the top online sportsbooks provide a range of ways to deposit and withdraw money. The exact options may vary, but top choices generally include ACH, credit/debit cards, and PayPal. The cashier will walk you through the process. Deposits typically process instantly, while the sportsbook generally has to review and process withdrawals.
Typical welcome bonuses
Many sportsbooks offer sign-up bonuses for new customers. You can find some examples of what to expect at the top of this page. The bonuses will vary and may be subject to change. You can consult the terms and conditions for full details. A typical welcome bonus could be a deposit match or wagering credit.
Legal college basketball betting sites
Here are our top recommended college basketball betting sites, all of which are available for real-money wagering in many US states.
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM has expanded its reach and brings a solid mobile offering to the table. Odds and lines stack up well against its competitors, and it offers a good variety of sports and bets.
BetMGM Sportsbook is available in the following states: AZ, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MS, MO, NJ, NV, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV & WY - Note: Offer not available in NY.
FanDuel Sportsbook
The busy NCAA basketball season can be tough to keep up with, but FanDuel makes it a bit easier with a clean layout. It lists all of the upcoming games in clear-cut fashion, and you can sort through them easily.
FanDuel Sportsbook is available in the following states: AR, AZ, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV & WY.
Fanatics Sportsbook
A relative newcomer, Fanatics has been steadily expanding its reach. The Fanatics app is clean and user-friendly, offering a variety of features, including the FanCash Rewards program.
Fanatics Sportsbook is available in the following states: AZ, CO, CT, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, & WY.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings is one of the leaders in legal online sports betting. College basketball bettors will find odds and lines that stack up well with the competition, as well as betting pools for March Madness. If you decide to sign up, feel free to claim the newest DraftKings promo code.
DraftKings Sportsbook is available in the following states: AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MO, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV & WY.
bet365 Sportsbook
A huge international brand in online sports betting, bet365 it is working toward the same status in US markets. The platform is simple and easy to use, while also offering competitive lines and all of the standard college basketball betting options.
You can bet at bet365 Sportsbook in the following states: AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, NJ, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA & WV.
College basketball betting terms
Here are some of the standard college basketball betting terms that you’ll come across as you get set to wager on games:
- Moneylines: The moneyline bet is where you choose which side you think will win the game. There will be odds on both options: negative for the favorite and positive for the underdog. If the team you select goes on to win, you win your bet.
- Point spreads: They require a more strategic approach. Sportsbooks will set a line for each game. If you place a spread bet on the favorite, you would need that team to win by more than the sportsbook’s line for your bet to win. On the other hand, if you bet on the underdog, you would win the bet if your pick lost by less than the line or won by any amount.
- Totals: The sportsbook sets a line for the total combined score of a game. You can wager on whether the actual total score will be over or under that line.
- Props: A prop is a side bet on the performance of an individual player, a team accomplishment, or on the game as a whole. Examples include the exact margin of victory or an over/under on one team’s points.
- Points: Player props for college basketball aren’t available in every state where sports betting is legal, but in states where they are, one option is to bet on the total points a specific player will score in a game.
- Halves: Betting lines are available for the individual halves of a game, such as moneylines, spreads, and over/unders.
- Futures: A futures bet is a long-term wager on a season-long outcome, such as the winner of a conference, the number of games a specific team will win, or whether a team will reach the Final Four.
- National championship: The most popular futures bet for college basketball is on the winner of the next national championship. Odds come out over the offseason, and the market stays active nearly all year round.
Upcoming college basketball dates
The 2026-27 college basketball season officially tips off on Sunday, November 1. Once the season gets rolling, we’ll regularly update this section with highlights from the NCAA men’s basketball schedule.
State-by-state college betting rules
Individual states set their own sports betting rules and regulations. One area where these rules tend to vary is wagering on college sports. Here’s a look at the key details for the current legal states and any restrictions that might impact college basketball betting.
| State | Launch date | Restrictions | Legal betting age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | September 2021 | No college prop bets. | 21 |
| Arkansas | March 2022 | None. | 21 |
| Colorado | May 2020 | No college prop bets. | 21 |
| Connecticut | October 2021 | No betting on games involving in-state college teams (unless they are playing in a tournament). | 21 |
| Delaware | June 2018 | No betting on games involving in-state college teams or player props. | 21 |
| Florida | December 2023 | No college prop bets. | 21 |
| Illinois | June 2020 | No betting on games involving in-state college teams. No college prop bets. | 21 |
| Indiana | October 2019 | Pregame prop betting only. | 21 |
| Iowa | August 2019 | No prop bets on individual college athletes. | 21 |
| Kansas | September 2022 | None. | 21 |
| Kentucky | September 2023 | No prop bets on individual in-state college athletes. | 21 |
| Louisiana | January 2022 | No prop bets on individual college athletes. | 21 |
| Maine | November 2023 | No betting on games involving in-state college teams. | 21 |
| Maryland | November 2022 | No prop bets on college athletes. | 21 |
| Massachusetts | March 2023 | No betting on games involving in-state college teams (unless they are playing in a tournament). | 21 |
| Michigan | January 2021 | None. | 21 |
| Mississippi | August 2018 | None. | 21 |
| Montana | March 2020 | None. | 18 |
| Nevada | 1949 (retail); 2010 (online) | None. | 21 |
| New Hampshire | December 2019 | No betting on in-state college teams or events. | 18 |
| New Jersey | June 2018 | No betting on games involving in-state college teams or college events taking place in the state. | 21 |
| New Mexico | October 2018 | No betting on games involving in-state college teams (UNM, NMSU). | 21 |
| New York | January 2022 | No betting on games involving in-state college teams. No prop bets on individual college athletes (any team). | 21 |
| North Carolina | March 2024 | None. | 21 |
| Ohio | January 2023 | No prop bets on college athletes. | 21 |
| Oregon | October 2019 | Must place college bets in person at a retail sportsbook; no online college betting. | 21 |
| Pennsylvania | May 2019 | None. | 21 |
| Rhode Island | September 2019 | No betting on games involving in-state college teams or on college events taking place in the state. | 18 |
| South Dakota | September 2021 | No betting on games involving in-state college teams or player props. | 21 |
| Tennessee | November 2020 | No prop bets on college athletes or in-game college props of any sort. | 21 |
| Vermont | January 2024 | No betting on games involving in-state college teams (unless they are playing in a tournament). No player prop betting. | 21 |
| Virginia | January 2021 | No college prop bets or betting on games involving in-state college teams. | 21 |
| Washington | December 2021 | No betting on games involving in-state college teams; no player prop betting. | 18 |
| Washington, DC | June 2020 | No betting on college games taking place in the district or colleges that call the district home. No team or player props on DC schools. | 18 |
| West Virginia | August 2019 | None. | 21 |
| Wyoming | September 2021 | None. | 18 |
College basketball betting sites FAQs
It’s legal to bet on college basketball in states where sports betting is legal. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that state-specific rules can vary regarding college prop bets and wagering on in-state college teams. Take the time to review the rules and regulations in your state.
College basketball is available for online betting in states where it’s legal to do so, provided you are of legal betting age in that state.
The best way to bet on college basketball or any other sport is to begin by assessing your overall knowledge and risk tolerance for the various wagers. To begin, start with a bet that aligns with your preferences and learn all that you can. There is no one single wager that is the best or easiest.
Regularly beating the spread is challenging for both college basketball and the NBA. It’s not easier to win one over the other, but you may find that one of the two aligns better with your overall approach to sports betting.
There are no guaranteed ways to be profitable by betting on college basketball. Anything can happen when two teams square off on the court, and there’s always the possibility of completely unexpected outcomes as a result.