63 million Americans bet on March Madness

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63 million Americans bet on March Madness

There are sixty-eight million Americans expected to place bets on March Madness games when it is all said and done, according to the American Gaming Association.

That is 18 million more people betting than last month s Super Bowl.

Saturday kicks off the Elite Eight, and one of the men's tournament games between Gonzaga University and the University of Connecticut takes place in Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the United States.

Casey Clark, Senior Vice President of the American Gaming Association, said March Madness is one of the two biggest sports betting events of the year. American adults will bet as much as $15.5 billion during the course of the tournament. More than 56 million plan to participate in a bracket contest, 21.5 million plan to bet casually with friends and 31 million plan to place a traditional sports wager, according to the AGA.

Many people are betting for the first time this year.

Sports betting is the ultimate engagement factor in a sporting event. Clark said that they've known it for a long time here in Las Vegas, but now the rest of the world gets to see it.

In the last few years, 36 states and Washington, DC have legalized sports betting.

According to the American Gaming Association, 45 million dollars were spent on the March Madness tournament last year compared to the previous year's estimated 68 million.

There are plenty of in-person options for those who want to experience the traditional Vegas betting experience.

The Sahara Las Vegas draws fans in with its sports book dining experience at Chickie's and Pete's.

There isn't a lot of sports books in the United States where you can get a Philly cheese steak or lobster roll, world-famous cat crab fries, said Andrew Patterson, vice president of SaharaBets.

The William Hill Sports Book at Sahara Las Vegas also features a 10,000 square foot LED screen by its Azilo Ultra Pool and Lounge.

Patterson said that when you have money on a game, you're going to be a little bit more engaged in it and want to watch a little longer. Sports betting is the ultimate engagement factor in a sporting event. We've known it for a long time here in Las Vegas, but now the rest of the world gets to see it. Sports bettors and fans can look forward to Las Vegas hosting the Super Bowl LVIII and Formula 1 Grand Prix next year. The Oakland Athletics MLB team is expected to relocate there, and LeBron James has even announced his desire to bring an NBA team to Sin City.