Event · College basketball

March Madness bets, settled in your group chat.

March Madness is the largest single annual gambling event in the US by participant count. An estimated 60M+ brackets get filled out each year — and most of them carry at least one side bet that nobody bothers to write down.

Bracket pools turn every casual fan into a basketball expert for three weeks — and Settled records every side bet around them.

By the numbers

AGA estimates $15B+ wagered on March Madness annually, with bracket pools alone accounting for the largest share. The bets between bracket-pool participants are the real volume.

A real example

Five friends each put $20 in a bracket pool. They also have a side bet: $50 to whoever has the most Sweet 16 picks. Settled records the side bet so the bracket spreadsheet doesn't have to.

When it happens

Mid-March through early April.

Popular March Madness bet types

  • Bracket pool
  • Round-by-round upsets
  • Final Four outright
  • Cinderella futures

Why friend-bets dominate the March Madness

More money changes hands between friends on the March Madness than any other event of its type — squares, prop sheets, "loser pays for the bar tab" pacts. None of that lives on a sportsbook. Settled gives every bet a signed, permanent record so the friend who calls the right side actually gets credit.

FAQ

When is the March Madness?

Mid-March through early April

Can my work bracket pool use Settled?

Yes — Settled tracks the bets between participants in a clean ledger. The bracket itself runs on whatever site you already use.

Does Settled handle Cinderella futures bets?

Yes — '#11 seed makes the Sweet 16, you owe me $30' is exactly the bet shape Settled exists for.

Is it free?

Yes — free for personal use.

Sign your first March Madness bet.

Free to start, free forever for personal use.

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