The 5 Best Casinos to Watch NCAA Basketball March Madness

Dave Golokhov

September 10th, 2018

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March Madness is one of the most exciting sports betting events of the year as 68 teams enter the tournament, then plenty of suspense, drama and upsets follow as the NCAA Tournament whittles its way down to a champion.

The first Thursday and Friday are epic, as there’s seemingly an endless waves of games for college basketball betting. But the question is where is the best place to watch?

We’ve picked out five of the best land-based casinos to visit and tune in, and while a couple of Vegas options make the list, we tried to spread it out around the country in case visiting Sin City come March is too far of a trek.

1. Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

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

   While its sportsbook isn’t much to write home about, the casino sets up what equates to a luxurious man cave during March Madness. Last year, it transformed The Chelsea Theater into a vibrant March Madness zone.

   A single-day pass can cost about $65 a person, but with that you’ll get pretzel rolls, Philly Cheese Steaks, Italian chopped salads and much more.

   And while you’ll get to see every game that’s tipping off on the big screens, you’ll also get some fun activities like shuffleboard, billiards and pinball to pass the downtime.

2. L’Auberge Casino Resort | Lake Charles, La.

   An option in the southern part of the country is the L’Auberge Casino Resort in Louisiana. Keep in mind that while the state is looking at legalizing sports betting, you won’t be able to place your bets here. Of course, you could just bet on March Madness online and enjoy the resort as a nice spot to watch the games.

   Overall, it’s a really cool casino to visit. With an enormous glass dome and a grand vault ceiling, it feels opulent. There are more than 1600 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 the basketball action in the casino is the Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill. They have 35 TVs to tune into as well as a pair of large projector screens. While it’s mostly tame throughout the year, the patrons do get a little amped up when it’s the NCAA tournament is on.

3. Resorts World Catskills | Monticello, NY

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

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

4. Beau Rivage Resort and Casino | Biloxi, Miss.

   If you’re looking for the best option on the Gulf Coast, this is one of them. 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 the games, you can entertain yourself with the incredible array of 1846 slot machines (along with 96 table and poker games). During the game, make your way to the sportsbook where there are a number of televisions, plush leather couches and tables everywhere.

   It used to be mostly a dry place for sports fans because of the federal sports betting rules but now Mississippi has legalized sports betting, so this is a hopping place to be.

   And the sports book has a full-service menu and bar, so you can sit down and plug in for a good 10 hours without worrying about having to move.

5. Caesars Palace | Las Vegas

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

   Although you have to buy a ticket to join, it includes an all-you-can-eat buffet, open bar with beer (Miller Lite and Coors Light) and live betting stations.

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