The 10 Best U.S. Casinos to Watch NCAA Basketball March Madness

Caesars Palace is a great place to watch any sporting event, but it gets especially dressed up for March Madness. Typically, on the opening Thursday and Friday, they’ll open the large Forum Ballroom for a basketball party and set up shop there.

Although you must buy a ticket, the event includes an all-you-can-eat buffet, an open bar with beer, and live betting stations.

Of course, you can always grab a seat in the regular sportsbook, which is bound to be packed. There, you’ll find televisions showing every game on the board.

A train ride from New York's Penn Station will bring you to the FanDuel Sportsbook in East Rutherford, next to MetLife Stadium.

Inside is a sleek sportsbook with a chic feel. The lights are dim, the bar is massive, and, most importantly, TVs line every corner of the sportsbook.

Typical of a modern sportsbook, the menu offers more than just beer and wings. You can get that classic sports-bar combo, as well as specials like braised brisket, chicken and waffles, and a beurre blanc Atlantic salmon.

This is one of the best options on the Gulf Coast. While the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino might best be known for its 85,000-square-foot gaming space, it’s also a good place to check out March Madness.

Before and after games, you can entertain yourself with the incredible array of 1,846 slot machines (along with 96 table and poker games). During the game, go to the sportsbook where televisions, plush leather couches, and tables are everywhere—and the sportsbook has a full-service menu and bar, so you can sit down and plug in for hours.

After recent renovations, the Wynn Race & Sportsbook is one of the top spots in Las Vegas to find a seat and enjoy a full day of action. This place feels like a cut above, with a sophisticated interior design that includes plush red seats and stylish carpeting.

The highlight of this venue is a 1,600-square-foot wraparound LED video screen, offering a movie theater-like vibe. It’s great when there’s one major event like the Final Four, and everyone has a good view no matter where they’re seated.

I’m a big fan of the high-tech touches here. Each seat has a personal monitor, electrical outlet, and USB plug, handy for live betting, checking fantasy, and refreshing scores.

Resorts World Catskills is one of New York State’s newest casinos. If you’re in the Northeast looking for a place to watch March Madness and lay some bets, this is it.

While there’s no massive sportsbook area, Doubletop Bar & Grill is a high-energy sports bar. That means you’ll find a big selection of craft beers and big screen TVs. What else do you need?

Take a deep breath and relax inside the Palace Casino Resort. It’s the city’s only smoke-free casino and one of the few nationwide that doesn't allow smoking indoors.

CONTACT is the sportsbook inside the casino, and it earns high grades. It’s a comfortable, contemporary sports bar with more than 50 screens that offer sports betting and is a great place to watch games.

If you’re looking for booze or bites to accompany your meal, it’s worth noting that they have daily happy hours starting at 5 p.m. that include discounts on wings, drinks, and other food.

An option in the South is the L’Auberge Casino Resort in Louisiana. Now that Louisiana has legalized sports betting, you can place wagers here and enjoy the resort as a nice spot to watch the games.

Overall, it’s a cool casino to visit. It feels opulent with an enormous glass dome and a grand vaulted ceiling. There are more than 1,600 slots to play along with 80 table games, so even when the March Madness games aren’t on, you’ll still find plenty to do.

The best place to catch college basketball action in the casino is the Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill. They have 35 TVs to tune into and a pair of large projector screens. 

As sports betting and casinos become increasingly accepted, they continue to inch closer to big cities. Harrah’s Philadelphia is just a ten-minute ride from Philadelphia International Airport.

Harrah’s is primarily a casual place to watch sports, but it’s a bit more refined than a typical sports bar. Televisions offer games, no matter where you look, so you’ll have a good view from almost anywhere.

The Cosmopolitan in Vegas isn’t always the first casino that comes to mind when watching sports, but it does a great job for March Madness.

While its sportsbook isn’t much to write home about, the casino becomes a luxury sports den during March Madness. In one recent year, it transformed the Chelsea Theater into a vibrant March Madness zone.

A single-day pass costs about $65 a person and includes pretzel rolls, Philly Cheese Steaks, Italian chopped salads, and much more.

In between games, you can also take advantage of some fun activities like shuffleboard, billiards, and pinball to pass the time.

Those keener on getting action on the games will enjoy the SuperBook. Located one block east of Las Vegas Boulevard, this casino isn’t as touristy as those on the Strip, but it is renowned for opening the lines for most sporting events. It becomes a fun place during March Madness, offering many great props during the NCAA Tournament.

And it’s quite the epic venue. There’s 30,000 square feet of space, 350 seats, and an 18-foot-tall (and 220-foot-wide) video wall. This place jumps when you start to feel the drama of March Madness, with an epic comeback or a buzzer-beater.