March Madness

We’re on the verge of one of my favorite sporting events of the year, the NCAA tournament. The storylines, the pageantry, and the unpredictability make this in my opinion one of the most fun times of the year.

Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to watch much college basketball this year. With the move to the east coast and a young kid, I’ve prioritized spending time with my family and sleep over sports. But the beauty behind the tournament is that you don’t need to be a mega fan to enjoy it.

Of course, maybe the star of the show is gambling. Estimated predict that over $3.3B will be gambled on this year’s NCAA tournament. According to the American Gambling Association, the number has grown from $2.7 to $3.1 from 2024 and 2025. I’m taking the over on the $3.3B. Given the rise of “prediction markets” and effectively unregulated sports gambling in these apps, I think we’ll see record breaking growth in gambling this year.

I’ll be mostly sitting on the sideline besides maybe tagging on $20 or so with my friends. I stay away from sports gambling as I know how much I’d love it. I’m not afraid about the money lost, but more of the time spent doing this. Maybe when Colin is a bit older.