The Best Places to Slam Dunk March Madness on the Strip

Second only to sitting courtside, Las Vegas is the prime spot to enjoy all of the excitement of March Madness on the Strip. The city boasts some of the best deals and viewing parties around the world for enjoying the game, and covers all your basics from where to watch, what foods to eat, how to bet and where you can stay to continue the fun throughout the month. Deals range from unlimited food and drinks to sports bars filled with equally enthusiastic fans with each spot along the Strip providing a different experience worth checking out. 

March Madness kicked off on March 13 with Selection Sunday, but the real fun begins the week of March 15 when the First Four takes place. Excitement will build during the first and second rounds on March 17 to 20, and the Sweet 16 stress will take place on March 24 and March 25. The Elite Eight will be held on March 26 and 27 and the final blowout with the Final Four and National Championships will take place April 2 and 4.

Whether you plan on attending the early games, coming out for the Final Four and National Championships, or staying for the entirety of the month-long celebration, the Las Vegas Strip has the perfect parties, the biggest television screens, the best bars and places to bet all along the Strip. 

Where to Watch

A variety of hotels and casinos throughout Vegas will be providing the ultimate viewing experiences for fans to enjoy the games throughout March Madness.

SAHARA Las Vegas

Sahara has two parties to celebrate March Madness on the Strip: one at the energetic Azilo Ultra Pool and a can’t-miss eatery on the Strip, Chickie’s & Pete’s Crab House and Sports Bar. Keep in mind that both viewing parties have over $200 food-and-drink minimums, but the vibes and views are well worth the price.

Caesars Palace

Caesars Palace will have several places to view the game at their bars and restaurants. If cigars are more your speed, The Montecristo Cigar Bar located within Caesars Palace has television screens and tables to seat sports fans looking for the best combination of cigars and whiskey to enjoy with the latest game. 

Caesars is not the only Caesars property that’s bringing the game fun. The LINQ and Flamingo Las Vegas are both hosting pool parties that celebrate March Madness, but also the return of Vegas pool season. For fun restaurants, Planet Hollywood Resort is ramping it up at Ringer’s for college bball viewing alongside delicious food.

To enjoy even more sportsbooks, bars and basketball extravaganzas, check out Paris Las Vegas, Bally’s, Rio Las Vegas and Ellis Island.

Not looking for a sportsbook to enjoy the game? To enjoy a unique hoops experience, visit Harrah’s Carnaval Court to get in on the basketball action yourself with games and .

Topgolf, located at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino will also have multiple TVs set up throughout the month for players to watch while working on their swings. The Topgolf March Madness Viewing Party will offer daily sessions from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Pricing for the event differs, but a group of eight can cost $600, with $300 for a food and beverage minimum and $300 for golf. Topgolf also has a second level pool open to anyone, where fans can go to cool down after working up a sweat. 

If you’re looking for big TVs and the comfort of a neighborhood sports bar, fans are encouraged to stop by Distill and Remedy’s at any of their 11 locations throughout the greater Las Vegas area. Whether you’re looking for mix and match buckets of beer or a tasty special like their Jalapeño Roast Beef Sliders or Vegas Cheesesteak Fries, Distill and Remedy’s have you covered.

What to Eat

Sickie’s Garage has a few extra benefits in addition to their tasty food. The spot boasts 30 television screens, 25 flavors of wings and 50 different burgers and craft beer brews to experiment with and find the perfect pairing. Forget to take time off work for the games? Sickie’s has you covered with a link to a “Hooky Day” note any patron can download from their website.

Shake Shack has several specials going on for March Madness as well, including their location on the Strip at New York-New York Hotel & Casino. Check out the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich or Buffalo Spiced Cheese fries. If you plan on staying within the area, Shake Shack also offers catering to any events. Want HD TVs and a few small bites to enjoy while watching the game? Check out Nacho Daddy and enjoy one of their specialty house margaritas while you enjoy all the hoops hysteria with other fans. 

Where to Stay

Starting March 16, Circa Resort & Casino will be hosting a March Mayhem event where guests can enjoy poolside dunks at Stadium Swim or at the world’s largest sportsbook, Circa Sports. Fans can also enjoy several game day bites at restaurants throughout the Circa including Victory Burger & Wings Co., Project BBQ, and Saginaw’s Delicatessen. 

Just down the way on Fremont Street, The D Las Vegas will be hosting their own March Hoops events. The D will have several private Man Caves where fans can have a more intimate, home-style experience with 70-inch High Definition TVs, live casino sports betting, stadium style food and drinks, as well as a private cocktail server.

The D will also host “Basketball in the Ballroom” where The D will transform its 12th floor Detroit Ballroom into a public viewing event where patrons can play blackjack and craps while keeping up with the games on their high-definition TVs. The D will have several events at their bars such as Longbar with 15 large flat screen TVs and BarCanada, where 20 lucky guests can enjoy the game on their 85-inch big screen. 

Where To Bet

Prior to placing those big bets that can change your weekend and your life forever, it might be helpful to get a few tips from some of the experts.

At Rampart Casino betting tips are being offered by Rampart Casino’s Race & Sports Booking Manager Duane Colucci. An expert at the Bracket, Colucci provides advice on risking those large spreads, checking who earned automatic bids, and keeping up with weekly team rankings. Rampart is also hosting several other March Madness events including a Book Bracket Buster Drawing from March 17 to 20 where players can receive $100 in free slot play and can participate virtually at Rampart’s website where fans can win up to $1 million via weekly leaderboards. 

After learning the tools of the trade from Ramparts, feel free to head to any of the other sportsbooks throughout Las Vegas. All of the spots are open for a full-day of game watching excitement.

Visit Caesars Palace for their 20-foot by 50-foot LED Board and comfy couches.

ARIA Las Vegas offers over 90 HD screens for optimal game viewing.

Visit The Venetian Resort with its 118 betting stations to cash in on a good game outcome.

MGM Grand has sportsbook seating for 104 people in its massive venue.

The Mirage boasts the 85-foot HD projection screen to watch the game in a big way.

The Westgate contains a 4K video wall, as a unique vantage point for March Madness streaming.

Circa is arguably the best place to watch and bet on March Madness via the world’s largest sportsbook.

Key things for guests and visitors to plan for are getting to the Casino sportsbooks early, booking hotels online beforehand, and braving the packed casinos and nightclubs that will be the centers of game day action. Nearly 3 million people plan to attend the city during the month of March to take part in all the ensuing celebration. Combine the games with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and it’s bound to be an exciting time.

Where To Party

After a break from high-stress games and exciting wins, fans can make their way to several of the nightclubs for live entertainment and a show.

Las Vegas Strip Nightclubs

Starting Thursday, March 17, Tao Group Hospitality’s nightclub venues will be hosting epic party experiences all month long. Stop by the likes of Hakkasan at MGM Grand, TAO at The Venetian and Marquee located in The Cosmopolitan.

On the night of March 17, Grammy-nominated producer and world-famous DJ Steve Aoki, will be performing at Hakkasan, which happens to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day. Doors open for the Hakkasan Nightclub at 6 p.m. Other DJs throughout the week on the Tao Group’s lineup include Illenium, DJ Pauly D and Tyga along with several others.

Looking for an open bar and 40,000 square feet of viewing lounge? Check out the Hoops and Hops event at The Cosmopolitan located at Level 4’s Belmont Ballroom. Tickets range from $300 on Thursdays and Fridays to $150 on Saturdays. They include a wide selection of craft beer from around the globe. For a craft cocktail or three, CliQue Bar is serving up sports and drinks packages through the end of March with a variety of price ranges

Caesars Sportsbook is also hosting a Hoops on the Strip event which is more exclusive with reserved seating. Prices vary depending on date and location between $75 to $265 and up. There’s also Stadia Bar’s March Madness watch party which includes tables for two, four and and 10 as well as booths for four and 10. The exclusive event can earn guests up to $800 beverage credits, with the event costing anywhere from $150 to $1,400 and up. 

Drai’s at The Cromwell

Some of the biggest names in music and rap are coming to Drai’s at The Cromwell in March for the month of basketball. Catch the likes of Ludacris, Tory Lanez, Yo Gotti and 2 Chainz at the Strip’s rowdiest beachclub.

All The Best Deals

Ready to relax after a series of stressful games? The JW Marriott Spa Aquae has a variety of deals and basketball-themed spa treatments to bring you back down to your most relaxed state before sending you off to watch the next nail-biting game. 

Hoping for a more adult-centric version of March Madness? Several gentleman’s clubs throughout Las Vegas are hosting special events for the month as well. Stop by The Sapphire Club, The Crazy Horse III and Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club all of which offer special VIP packages that include bottle service, an open bar, game day food and even free transportation by limo to and from the clubs.

The Sapphire Club will have all the games on their massive HD Screens as well as a full bar where over 400 patrons can enjoy the game. Looking for something a little more private? The Sapphire also offers Skyboxes where 10 friends can gather in a private lounge outfitted with HD TVs, private dancers and access to the full bar menu along with a personal waitstaff. 

Utilize social media to stay up to date with all the events that casinos and resorts will have planned, as well as for real time updates of where the excitement is at. For basketball fans around the world, there’s no better place to celebrate March Madness than in Las Vegas. 

Frequently Asked Questions About March Madness on the Strip