WASHINGTON — As the excitement of March Madness sweeps across the nation, a significant number of Americans are engaging in the tradition of filling out NCAA tournament brackets. A recent survey by the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research highlights the proportion of people participating in this annual ritual and their reasons for doing so.
According to the poll, nearly one-quarter of Americans fill out a men’s March Madness bracket “every year” or “some years.” However, when it comes to the women’s tournament, there’s still room for growth in participation. Despite a rise in the popularity of NCAA women’s basketball, which is closing the viewership gap with men’s games, only 16% of adults say they fill out a women’s tournament bracket with similar frequency. Among those who do, only a small percentage focus solely on the women’s bracket, showing a preference still skewed towards men’s tournaments.
For those who do partake in the bracket fill-outs, about 70% are driven by the thrill of victory, the potential monetary gain, or simply the camaraderie of participating alongside others. Supporting a specific school or team was found to be less of a motivator.
The survey also highlights the growing role that gambling plays in the NCAA basketball tournaments. As legality surrounding sports betting expands, more Americans are likely placing bets on their brackets. The poll reveals that 56% of adults perceive entering a bracket pool for money as a form of gambling. Opinions vary, however, with about 20% considering it dependent on the stakes and another 20% not regarding it as gambling at all.
Delving into the demographics, men are more likely to be avid participants in March Madness bracketology. Among regular participants, about 60% are male, with a significant portion under 45 years old. Those who exclusively fill out men’s tournament brackets also predominantly consist of men, with older and younger males nearly equally represented.
Conversely, a notable segment of Americans steer clear of the bracket mania altogether. Approximately 70% of adults say they “never” engage in filling out either men’s or women’s brackets, with women making up the majority of this group.
This data stems from an AP-NORC poll conducted between February 6-10, surveying 1,112 adults from a representative sample of the U.S. population. The findings come with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points, providing a snapshot of the country’s engagement with one of its most cherished sporting traditions.
