New Study Finds $7.7 Billion Spent On March Madness Office Pools
A recent research study by VegasInsider, based on a survey of more than 3,000 full-time college basketball fans, estimated that $7.7 billion has been spent on March Madness office pools across the United States.
VegasInsider’s estimate was based on the research study’s 59% participation rate and an average annual spend of about $97 per participant, relevant to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ February 2026 estimate of employed full-time employees.
Conducted between February 23 and February 27, 2026, the study investigated how March Madness has been shaping U.S. workplace habits, including how much workers spend on office pools, whether they use AI tools to help fill out their brackets, and whether the NCAA Tournament has ever gotten them into trouble at work.
March Madness Office Pools’ National Spending
According to VegasInsider, 59% of full-time U.S. workers say that they’ve spent money on March Madness office pools. The average full-time U.S. worker spends about $97 per year, which adds up to an approximate $7.7 billion nationwide.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a bigger part of March Madness bracket planning in modern times. 52% of workers say that they’ll use AI for their brackets this year, while 38% said that they’ve used AI in the past.
Workplace trouble can manifest in many forms, and the NCAA Tournament is one of those forms. Approximately 21% of workers say that they’ve gotten into trouble at work over March Madness and subsequently received a penalty, whether a formal warning or an informal call-out from a manager.
March Madness Office Pools’ State Spending
New York’s sports culture is extremely strong, with a significant number of online searches and a sizeable sports betting interest to justify the lead in the research study. New York leads the United States in March Madness office pool participation, with 76% of full-time workers saying that they’ve put money into these office pools.
The NCAA Tournament’s effect in Washington state extends past office pools, with bracket talk, AI-assisted bracket picks, and full-on NCAA Tournament rituals dominating workplaces. Washington reports the highest rate of March Madness-related trouble in the workplace, with 49% of workers saying that they’ve gotten into trouble over the NCAA Tournament.
Florida is best known for its beaches, theme parks, and natural attractions, but also its college basketball scene. Florida ranks the highest in the previous use of AI-assisted brackets, with 57% of workers saying that they’ve used AI before. Many workers use AI to analyze large amounts of data and potentially improve their bracket predictions.
In contrast, Washington and Virginia tie the U.S. in potential AI use at 67%. New York and Georgia trail these states at 64% and 63%, respectively. North Dakota ranks last in said AI use, with just 30% of workers planning to use or consider using AI for their brackets.
In Conclusion
March Madness is often seen as harmless fun, but the NCAA Tournament can sometimes spill into the workplace itself. Younger full-time workers are at risk for March Madness-related trouble, with said workers aged 18 to 24 the most likely to suffer from namesake trouble in the workplace.
Single workers are more likely to suffer from March Madness-related trouble in the workplace at 63% compared to their married counterparts. Single workers’ participation rates in March Madness office pools are also higher than those of married workers.
Minnesota and Virginia were ranked among the U.S. states with the lowest levels of March Madness-related trouble in the workplace at 6% and 4%, respectively. North Dakota was ranked last with just 2% of workers reporting trouble.
March Madness is no longer just a college basketball postseason but also a big part of the workplace for many Americans. Most of the fun is friendly, but some take the postseason more seriously than others.
