For the first time ever, Pennsylvanians can wager on March Madness on PA sports betting apps. Online sportsbooks in the state went live in PA in the summer of 2019 but missed out the NCAA Tournament since it was cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Now, the NCAA is back and there are more options than ever when it comes to betting in PA.
Here’s the game plan on where to bet on March Madness in Pennsylvania.
2021 March Madness schedule
- First Four — 4 p.m. start on Thursday, March 18
- First round — 12 p.m. start on Friday, March 19, and Saturday, March 20
- Second round — 12 p.m. start on Sunday, March 21, and Monday, March 22
- Sweet 16 — 2 p.m. start on Saturday, March 27, and 1 p.m. start on Sunday, March 28
- Elite Eight — 7 p.m. start on Monday, March 29, and 6 p.m. start on Tuesday, March 30
- Final Four — 5 p.m. start on Saturday, April 3
- NCAA championship game — 9 p.m. Monday, April 5
Online sportsbooks in PA
Pennsylvania is home to twelve legal sports betting apps. If you are 21+ and physically located in the state, you can log in and bet on apps like FanDuel, DraftKings, Fox Bet and BetMGM.
For March Madness, there are many promos and bet boosts to sift through. Play Pennsylvania breaks down some of the best promos here.
Retail sportsbooks in Pennsylvania
Fifteen sportsbooks are spread across the state of Pennsylvania and only one is not located inside a casino.
After being closed for about a third of 2020, casinos are operating at 50% capacity with the enhanced health and safety measures.
If you decide to go to a sportsbook at a casino to watch the NCAA tournament, here are some things you should know before you go about eating and drinking:
- Casinos are operating at 50% capacity and masks are required for visitors and employees.
- If you want an alcoholic beverage, you have to order food.
- No bar seating or drinking on the gaming floor.
- Guests may remove masks while eating and drinking in restaurant areas only.
- On April 4, the coronavirus restrictions that banned drinking on the casino floor/no bar seating/alcohol with food purchase will be lifted. So, for the NCAA Championship game on April 5, you can enjoy drinks without ordering wings and/or sit at the bar.
Rivers Casino Philadelphia
At the BetRivers Sportsbook, writer windows are open during select times and self-service kiosks are open 24/7. High-definition monitors will also be playing the games on the patio at Jack’s Bar + Grill, weather pending.
From March 14 through April 5, Rush Rewards Members who make a wager in the BetRivers Sportsbook or at a self-service kiosk will earn 2x Bonus Reward Points.
Dining options and specials at Rivers Casino Philadelphia for the NCAA Tournament
- Jack’s Bar + Grill: $1 wings and $3 Miller Lite bottles special at Jack’s Bar + Grill during every NCAA men’s basketball game.
- Mian — $20 Lunch Menu — From noon to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, guests can enjoy Mian’s lunch special featuring a vegetable spring roll, small wonton soup and choice of entree for $20.
- Hugo’s Frog Bar & Chop House: Buck-a-Shuck — Buck-a-Shuck days, featuring $1 oysters, are Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m.
- Brats & Beers — Located just outside the Poker Room, Rivers has quick bites and drinks at Brats & Beers including savory hot dogs, fountain sodas, draft and canned beers, wine and more.
Reservations are suggested for Hugo’s Frog Bar & Chop House, Jack’s Bar + Grill and Mian.
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh
“March Mania” returns to Rivers Casino Pittsburgh. The casino has viewing parties for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, new food and beverage menus, and live DJs. The BetRivers Sportsbook writer windows will open at 10 a.m. and will close at the conclusion of the last game. BetRivers betting kiosks are open 24/7.
Throughout the NCAA tournament, reserved-seating viewing parties will be held in both BetRivers Sportsbook and The Event Center. Reserved seats are available in BetRivers Sportsbook from March 19 through March 22, March 27, March 28, April 3, and April 5. Reserved seats are available in the Event Center March 19 and March 20. Doors open to each viewing area will open at 11 a.m. with games beginning at noon.
- BetRivers Sportsbook Seating — Guests interested in purchasing a reserved seat for BetRivers Sportsbook will have the option of booths, lounge chairs or table seating. Pricing starts at $25 for single seats and goes up to $600 for a booth that seats up to six.
- The Event Center Seating — Reserved seats in The Event Center range from tables of two, four and 10 and are $25 per seat. Food and beverage concessions will be available for purchase.
All individual and group reservations are single-day only and guests will have the option to wager at both venues. Tables reservations available now at RiversCasino.com/Pittsburgh.
Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino
The William Hill Sportsbook at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino will feature a special food cart on weekends throughout the tournament. The cart will be open one hour before the first game and close at the completion of the last game each day. The food cart menu has game day eats like pizza, wings, hot dogs and snacks.
Harrah’s newest restaurant, Philly Tap & Tavern, will be offering food and drink specials throughout the tournament. Specials for the tournament include:
- “The Slam Dunk” ($19): 5 classic wings with choice of sauce, 2 cheesesteak eggrolls, and onion rings with house special sauce
- 14oz Miller/Coors Draft ($2)
- “You-Call-It” Absolut Elyx ($4)
- “You-Call-It” Jim Beam ($3)
And of course, Harrah’s customers that prefer to place their bets online can make use of the Caesars Sportsbook app.
Live! Casino Philadelphia
Sport & Social Philly at Live! Casino Philadelphia features a FanDuel Sportsbook and Lounge. The venue boasts a state-of-the-art AV system, including a giant 52-foot LED display and 24 televisions so you can catch all the NCAA tournament action. Email [email protected] for reservations.
FanDuel Sportsbook at Valley Forge Casino
At the FanDuel Sportsbook at Valley Forge Casino, guests who bet $20 or more will receive a FanDuel branded water bottle tumbler.
How to bet on the NCAA tournament in PA
At Pennsylvania sports betting apps, the following markets are available for college basketball games:
- Moneyline
- Point spread
- Over/under
- Alternate point spread
- Alternate total points
- Halves (total points, spread, moneyline, alternate spread, alternate total points)
- Game props (total points by team, total points by team each half), odd/even
Futures markets have been available for months, with Gonzaga and Baylor as the favorites to win the NCAA Championship.
Additional markets added (at DraftKings) since the NCAA Tourney bracket was announced include:
- To make Elite 8
- To make Sweet 16
- Winning state
- To win a game (yes/no)
- Winning seed
- Gonzaga or Baylor vs The Field to win the NCAAB outright
- Conference Props
Novelty props for NCAA Tournament:
- A team with “Bulldogs” as their mascot to reach final four (yes -240/No+ 165)
- A team with “Huskies” as their mascot to reach the Sweet 16 (yes +325/No -465)
- A team with “Tigers” as their mascot to reach the Final 4 (yes +550/no -910)
- A team with “Wildcats” as their mascot to make the Final 4 (yes +1110/no -3325)
Betting on the NCAA Tourney
College basketball betting has certain restrictions that you won’t encounter when betting on the NBA. Legal sportsbooks comply with state specific rules for NCAA basketball betting markets.
In Pennsylvania, legal sportsbooks are not able to offer betting markets on player props.
In New Jersey, legal sportsbooks can’t offer betting markets on any college sport or game that takes place in New Jersey. Also, while you are physically located in New Jersey, you can not bet on any New Jersey college team regardless of where the game takes place.
For example, the 2021 NCAA tourney is in Indianapolis. You can not bet on Rutgers on any legal, regulated sportsbook app while physically located in New Jersey.
