College basketball is a popular offering at online betting sites across the US. There’s a massive menu of games to choose from during the regular season, and interest increases even further come tournament time. March Madness is one of the signature betting events of the year. All throughout the season, bettors have a host of wagering options available, including moneylines, spreads, totals, 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

  1. Choose a sportsbook for betting on college basketball. 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.
  2. Complete the registration process. Once you’re set to sign up, just 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 Social Security number.
  3. 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.
  4. Add funds to your account to place wagers. Online sportsbooks offer a number of deposit options, and the sportsbook’s cashier function will walk you through the process.
  5. Review the college basketball odds from the sportsbook and choose what you want to bet on. There will be a menu that lists all of the sports that are 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.
  6. 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 conducted reviews of all of the sportsbooks that 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 go through a thorough check of key areas, including reliability, banking options and 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. An example of a typical welcome bonus could be a deposit match or wagering credit.

Caesars Sportsbook

The Caesars name has come to be known for much more than its resort destinations and online casino. Top features at the Caesars Sportsbook include a rewards programs for sports bettors.

Caesars Sportsbook is available in the following states: AZ, CO, IN, IA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA & WV.

BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM has expanded its reach and brings a solid mobile offering to the table. Odds and lines stack up well in relation to 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, NJ, OH, NV, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV & WY – Note: Offer not available in DC, MS, NV or NY.

BetRivers Sportsbook

A member of the Rush Street Gaming family, BetRivers has also been expanding its reach in steady fashion. The BetRivers app is clean and user-friendly, and it offers a variety of features.

BetRivers Sportsbook is available in the following states: AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, LA, MD, MI, OH, NJ, NY, PA, VA & WV.

FanDuel Sportsbook

The busy NCAA basketball season can be tough to stay on top of, 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: AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV & WY.

Bet365 Sportsbook

Bet365 is a huge international brand in online sports betting, and it is working toward the same status in US markets. The platform is simple and easy to use, while also featuring competitive lines and all of the standard college basketball betting options.

Bet365 Sportsbook is available in the following states: CO, IA, KY, NJ, OH & VA.

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.

DraftKings Sportsbook is available in the following states: AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NH, NJ, OH, PA, VA, WV & WY.

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:

Upcoming college basketball dates

We’re several months away from the start of the next college basketball season. As the offseason moves along and the calendar changes to the colder months, here are some of the key dates to look forward to:

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 when it comes to 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.

StateLaunch dateRestrictionsLegal betting age
ArizonaSeptember 2021No college prop bets.21
ColoradoMay 2020No college prop bets.21
ConnecticutOctober 2021No betting on in-state college teams (unless they are playing in a tournament).21
IllinoisJune 2020Can wager on in-state college teams only with pregame, in-person bets.21
IndianaOctober 2019Pregame prop betting only.21
IowaAugust 2019No prop bets on individual college athletes.21
KansasSeptember 2022None.21
MarylandNovember 2022None.21
MassachusettsMarch 2023No betting on in-state college teams (unless they are playing in a tournament).21
MichiganJanuary 2021None.21
Nevada2010None.21
New HampshireDecember 2019No betting on in-state college teams or events.18
New JerseyAugust 2018No betting on in-state college teams or events.21
New YorkJanuary 2022No betting on in-state college teams.21
OhioJanuary 2023None.21
OregonOctober 2019Must place college bets in person at a retail sportsbook.21
PennsylvaniaMay 2019No prop bets on college athletes.21
Rhode IslandSeptember 2019No betting on in-state college teams or events.18
TennesseeNovember 2020No prop bets on college athletes or in-game college props of any sort.21
VirginiaJanuary 2021No college prop bets or betting on in-state college teams.21
Washington, DCJune 2020No betting on college games taking place in the district or colleges that call the district home.18
West VirginiaAugust 2019None.21
WyomingSeptember 2021None.18

FAQs for college basketball betting

Is it legal to bet on college basketball?

It’s legal to bet on college basketball in states where sports betting is legal. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that individual state rules can vary when it comes to college prop bets and wagering on in-state college teams. Take the time to review the rules and regulations in your state.

Can you bet on college basketball online?

College football is available for online betting in states where it’s legal to do so, provided you are of legal betting age in that state.

What is the best way to bet on college basketball?

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.

Are college basketball spreads easier to beat than the NBA?

Regularly beating the spread is challenging for both college basketball and the NBA. It’s not easier to win one over the other, but it is possible that you’ll find that one of the two aligns better with your overall approach to sports betting.

What’s the easiest way to be profitable with college basketball 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.