Sportsbook performance during March Madness: Who led the charge?

With college basketball’s fast pace and unpredictable flow, sportsbooks have faced a different challenge from professional leagues. This latest analysis, based on data collected by Bettormetrics during high-stakes NCAA March Madness games, evaluates how major sportsbooks managed key performance metrics like uptime, pricing strategy, unmatched downtime and crucial in-game availability.

Best March Madness uptime among betting sites

BetMGM led the field with a 90.1% uptime, demonstrating strong platform stability throughout games. Hard Rock followed closely at 88.3%, with BetRivers (86.8%) rounding out the top three. These operators proved resilient even during the tournament’s most volatile moments.

Despite the leading uptime, BetMGM suffered from their pricing strategy more than any other operator as they may have rejected up to 9% of business due to frequent price changes. The company spent 10.4% of the total fixture duration trading in potentially unprofitable positions (Off Market Time).

In contrast, ESPN Bet (74%) and Caesars (74.6%) struggled significantly with uptime. Such inconsistent availability directly impacted bettor experience and trust, particularly during tight, fast-moving college contests.

Sportsbooks with strong in-play acceptance and green time

Green time is where operators are both online and accepting bets. This metric was led by Hard Rock at an impressive 86.2%. DraftKings (80.9%) and BetMGM (79.7%) also performed well. These platforms maintained high availability during crucial moments, aligning operational performance with bettor needs.

With Hard Rock leading in green time while maintaining second-best uptime and market-leading off market time, the data suggests they are taking profitable business more than any other operator. However, they do so with a standoffish 7% overround and are potentially rejecting a lot of business due to frequent price changes.

Fanatics and ESPN Bet showed weaker performance in this metric, with green time scores of 72.5% and 71.4%, respectively. Caesars and Bet365 lagged the most, with Bet365 managing only 59.4%, a concerning figure in such a fast-paced sport.

Off-market time: Risk sensitivity in March Madness betting

Off market time offers a look into how risk-averse each operator is. Hard Rock (2.1%), ESPN Bet (2.6%) and DraftKings (3.8%) kept off-market periods relatively low, suggesting tight risk controls and a more consistent market presence.

On the other end of the spectrum, Bet365 posted a staggering 19.7%, indicating frequent removal of betting lines during uncertain phases. Considering that they also have the shortest average overround, this presents a pricing strategy of sharp prices at the cost of market presence, a clear outlier from the rest of the cohort.

Competitive overrounds and pricing strategy among online sportsbooks

DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars and Bet365 all posted overrounds near or below 5.4%, maintaining competitive pricing likely aimed at market share. BetRivers and Hard Rock leaned toward higher margins at 7.5% and 7%, respectively, possibly trading off user acquisition for profitability.

DraftKings is the standout among operators with ~5% overround, combining top-tier uptime and one of the lowest off market time figures. This balance between availability and competitive pricing provides a consistent presence with controlled risk.

With a slightly higher overround of 5.8%, Fanatics has pursued a strategy that has kept its pricing competitive while exhibiting the smallest gap between uptime and acceptance uptime. This implies relatively stable odds, yet they have also maintained a 5% off market time.

Which operators managed risk the best?

Hard Rock emerged as a standout, balancing uptime, green time and low off-market periods while accepting slightly higher overrounds. BetMGM also performed strongly, although its higher off-market rate could be refined. DraftKings delivered a well-rounded performance with strong availability and low risk exposure.

At the other end, Bet365’s high off-market time and low green time undercut its relatively competitive pricing. Caesars and ESPN Bet also struggled with both availability and acceptance uptime, which may hinder bettor confidence.

However, ESPN Bet uniquely combined this with minimal unmatched downtime indicating that, although they suspend markets frequently, they are trading this uptime for justified caution.

In a tournament defined by momentum swings and unpredictable finishes, staying live and confident defines success. Operators that manage this risk while maintaining competitive odds will continue to gain an edge in this high-intensity space.