AGA says Americans to place estimated $3.1bn on upcoming March Madness

• Americans of the legal gambling age are expected to spend $3.1bn on March Madness wagers
• This estimate beats AGA's $2.72bn prediction for 2024
• AGA encourages the public to adopt safer play practices and bet for fun only

The American Gaming Association (AGA), a prominent trade body in the country, has issued its latest prediction about the upcoming March Madness competition, arguably the second-biggest sports betting event in the United States.

AGA estimates $3.1bn to be wagered on upcoming March Madness

The event is expected to attract massive interest from sports fans who are poised to legally wager an estimated $3.1bn with regulated sportsbooks across the nation. This project is a step up from 2024’s results, when the AGA estimated that around $2.7bn had been placed legally.

Although sports gambling has not expanded by too much over the past months, its popularity has continued to climb steadily upwards. Commenting on these exciting times, AGA SVP of Strategic Communications Joe Maloney had this to say:

"March Madness is one of the most exciting times in American sports, with fans fired up for both the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments. As legal wagering expands across the US, more fans than ever have the opportunity to bet legally and responsibly."

Responsible gambling is once more at the very heart of this projection, as the AGA has urged consumers to stay vigilant and espouse safer gambling practices.

The association has been pushing forward with its Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly campaign that is focused on educating the biggest number of people possible on what constitutes safe play and how to avoid overspending.

AGA Urges Sports Fans to "Keep [Their] Cool"

As Maloney argues, it’s about "Keep[ing] Your Cool" and betting for fun while respecting the game. As of today, regulated sports betting is available in 38 states and Washington, DC, giving plenty of individuals the opportunity to place a wager first-hand.

The American Gaming Association is also trying to limit the influence of platforms that it sees as illegitimate, raising concerns over both prediction markets and sweepstakes casinos.

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