The court noted that the NCAA is likely to win the case when it proceeds to a full hearing.
How the dispute began
On 3 March, the NCAA demanded that DraftKings remove all official tournament names from its platforms. On 10 March, DraftKings removed pages with the phrase “March Madness”, but continued to use other names. On 17 March, the NCAA determined that the infringements were still active, and on 20 March it filed a lawsuit.
The court’s ruling
Judge Pratt found that the NCAA had met three of the four requirements for an interim injunction. In particular, the court agreed that the association was likely to succeed in the main proceedings.
The association was unable to meet the fourth requirement: proof of irreparable harm at this very moment. The court noted that DraftKings has been using these terms for over five years. The NCAA was aware of this but has only now sought an injunction for the first time. In the judge’s view, this delay suggests that the issue is not as urgent as the association claims.
Pratt also rejected DraftKings’ argument that its use of the terms “March Madness” and “Final Four” was in good faith. She noted that the bookmaker is under no obligation to use those specific terms. Kalshi and other platforms have already switched to neutral phrasing such as “Men’s Round of 16 Qualifiers” without any loss of business.
After the ruling, the NCAA stated that it was grateful to the court for acknowledging its chances of success in the main case.
What DraftKings says
DraftKings maintained that it was using these terms not as another party’s trademark, but as ordinary descriptive expressions. The company also pointed out that the parties had been discussing trademark issues for several years, but that the NCAA had, until that point, only objected to the phrase “March Mania”.
What happens next
The case is still active. The parties will now move on to collect evidence, after which there may be a jury trial. The threat of a permanent ban on DraftKings remains.
According to the American Gaming Association, Americans will wager $3.3 billion on both tournaments in 2026. The terms “March Madness” and “Final Four” bring bookmakers additional traffic, so the stakes in this dispute are high.
The situation reflects a wider conflict. The NCAA refuses to partner with bookmakers and opposes a number of types of bets on college sport. Yet its most recognisable phrases have been freely used in betting companies’ adverts for years. The outcome of the main case will show if a sports organisation can ban the commercial use of its terminology in an industry from which it publicly distances itself.
