Residents of North Carolina are gearing up for this year's NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments with a new twist - the ability to legally bet on the games through smartphone apps and computers for the first time. This marks a significant shift as the number of states allowing legal sports betting has been steadily increasing over the past six years, with a total of 38 states and the District of Columbia now permitting some form of sports betting, including 30 states that allow online wagering.
Previously, only Nevada allowed legal wagering on games during the 2018 college basketball tournaments until the U.S. Supreme Court paved the way for expansion. However, the rules for sports betting vary by state, with some prohibiting bets on home-state college teams or specific player performances, while others allow a wide range of betting options.
