Betting in March 2026
A look at some of the best sporting events to bet on this March, including the knockout stage of the Champions League and the world-famous Cheltenham Festival.
This March is an exciting time for sports and betting. We see the Champions League start to heat up with knock-out fixtures like Real Madrid v Manchester City, the Cheltenham Festival is upon us, it's the Carabao Cup final, and we have continued action from the Premier League of Darts, boxing, and F1. Here's what's on, and where's best to bet on it all.
BetMGM Premier League Darts
Luke Warm
The BetMGM Premier League of Darts has thrown up some interesting winners in the first few weeks, with unexpected names taking nightly honours while the main tournament favourites have yet to record a single victory. The two best players in the world, Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, will be looking to restore the status quo and do not be surprised if between them they dominate the March nights. Despite not winning, Van Veen has been the most consistent player so far and will be desperate to show his rivals he is ready to disrupt the dominance at the top of the rankings. Cardiff is first on the March calendar with two more nights including Nottingham.
BetMGM offer various promos and specials for the darts as well as the best variety of markets. Based on past nights you probably can get some decent odds for either of the Lukes but they probably will still be at the top of the market.
Max Holloway vs Charles Oliveira 2
Las Vegas, USA
Two icons of the modern UFC era go head to head in Las Vegas in March and they are polar opposites in how they look to win fights. The first contest ended with an injury to Oliveira in round one, so despite the result it did not conclusively prove who the better fighter is. Holloway is one of the best strikers ever to enter the Octagon, while Oliveira remains one of the most dangerous submission specialists in UFC history.
This is a genuine 50-50 fight and anyone going all in on either man is braver than me. The undercard looks fairly underwhelming for such a feature event. Fan favourites such as Rob Font and Cody Garbrandt are scheduled to fight, but it lacks real depth.
Oliveira is a superb fighter but he has struggled against elite strikers in the past and can be broken under pressure. I see a similar outcome again, a first round win for Holloway, currently priced at 15/2.
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Melbourne, Australia
Formula One returns in March with the Australian Grand Prix, as Max Verstappen looks to secure his fifth Drivers' Championship and Red Bull aim to regain the Constructors' Championship.
The 2024 season saw Verstappen claim his fourth consecutive Drivers' title, although Red Bull’s dominance was far less overwhelming than in 2023. McLaren made a huge step forward, with Lando Norris regularly fighting for wins and helping secure their first Constructors' title since 1998. Ferrari were consistent contenders and picked up victories, while Lewis Hamilton will be determined to remain competitive as he approaches the latter stages of his F1 career. Mercedes improved but remained just behind the leading teams. Overall, it was a much tighter and more competitive season at the sharp end.
I will be honest, I am not a huge F1 fan and can find it tedious, but plenty of people love it. With back to back race weekends in March, there will be plenty of betting opportunities. As we do not yet know which cars have improved most, this can be one of the best times of year to bet on the Constructors' Championship and the opening races. Verstappen is 7/2 to win the opener, George Russell leads the market at 2/1, and Hamilton is 6/1 for the Drivers' Championship.
Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham, England
It is finally here, what serious racing fans wait for all year, the Cheltenham Festival, the highlight of the National Hunt calendar. Five days of top class jumping captures the nation and bookmakers expect close to half a billion pounds to be wagered during the week.
The Irish contingent will once again be strongly represented by leading trainer Willie Mullins, who could set another record for most winners at the Festival. Some of the major firms will likely price up specials on that and it is something I would consider. The Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup are the standout races of the week, however almost every race is Grade 1 or Class 1, meaning competitive action daily with decent sized fields and solid prices throughout.
Have a look around different betting sites before the Festival to find the best offers. Extra places and Best Odds Guaranteed are key benefits, along with money back specials based on race outcomes.
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Claim this offerPrice boosts available on selected UK and Irish Horse Racing markets. Best odds guaranteed is available only on selected UK and Irish Horse Racing markets. Separate terms apply on match specials.UEFA Champions League
Round of 16
The Champions League Round of 16 gets underway with some outstanding ties to look forward to. The new tournament structure has certainly added drama this season, keeping qualification battles alive right until the end of the group stage.
English sides have impressed so far, but the knockout stages are unforgiving. One poor performance can end your European ambitions. Galatasaray host Liverpool, while Spurs travel to Madrid to face Simeone’s Atletico. The standout ties, however, are Real Madrid v Manchester City and Newcastle v Barcelona. It promises to be a huge week of football. With the international break approaching, now is the time to get your fill of club action.
As Official partner of the Champions League, Bet365 serve up match by match promos and boosted odds and are on the most part offer the best odds on football.
Carabao Cup Final
Wembley, England
Arsenal take on Manchester City in this season’s Carabao Cup Final, with both sides looking to secure early silverware. It could also set the tone for the rest of the Premier League campaign, with the title race finely balanced, although I still expect Arsenal to fall short.
Arsenal have been consistent in cup competitions in recent years and will view this as a chance to underline their progress under Mikel Arteta. The pressure is mounting and a trophyless season would not sit well with supporters. Manchester City, serial winners under Pep Guardiola, are targeting yet another domestic trophy, even amid transition.
The competition may have lost some prestige in recent years, but this should still be a strong contest. City at 15/8 looks decent value in what I see as a 50-50 game.
