EndGame: Judge Denies NCAA Complaint Against DraftKings, March Means Madness

The U.S. sports betting world moves quickly and unpredictably in 2026. In order to properly take stock of it all, we offer InGame’s “EndGame,” an end-of-week compilation of the top storylines, some overlooked items, and all the other news bits from this past week that we found interesting.

NCAA loses to DraftKings

The NCAA was relatively polite when it sent a cease-and-desist letter last month to Kalshi over trademark infringement compared to its complaint against DraftKings that the league filed March 20 in federal court. The NCAA requested an emergency restraining order from the Southern District of Indiana to stop DraftKings from using such trademarked terms as “March Madness,” “Sweet Sixteen,” “Elite Eight,” and “Final Four” in its sports bets, promotions, or marketing, according to the Associated Press.

Thursday, a federal judge denied the NCAA’s request for a restraining order, concluding at this stage that the league did not show convincingly that DraftKings’ use would cause irreparable harm. DraftKings can continue using the trademarked terms in its promotions — for now.

If it walks and quacks like gambling …

Republican Senator John Curtis and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff Monday introduced the Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act, bipartisan legislation to prohibit Commodity Futures Trading Commission-registered entities from listing any prediction contract that resembles a sports bet or casino-style game.

If it looks and talks like gambling, it is gambling. Regulation of sports betting and casino-style prediction markets belongs to the states—not the federal government. Joined @SquawkCNBC to discuss our bill to keep these products out of spaces where they don’t belong. pic.twitter.com/aOyGRrEdJA
— Senator John Curtis (@SenJohnCurtis) March 25, 2026

Big wins, big loss, and big futures bet

In March Madness zaniness, a bettor turned $5,000 into more than $332,000 on a five-leg parlay at Fanatics that included a moneyline pick on VCU, which erased a 19-point deficit to win in overtime. Another gambler sweated a $500 nail-biter at +1000 on DraftKings that paid $5,500 when St. John’s won on a last-second layup. Both were reported by Fox Sports. A third bettor dropped $110,000 on Prairie View A&M +35.5 against No. 1 Florida at Hard Rock Bet; Florida won by 59 points (114-55), so the spread didn’t come even close, according to Sports Illustrated.

The favorites made history during the action on March 20, going 16-0 for the first time since 1992.

Fox Sports also covered a massive futures ticket: $10,000 on Purdue +600 to reach the Final Four; it’s still alive, after the Boilermakers won a squeaker on Thursday, as one of the biggest liabilities reported, potentially paying out big.

Why it matters: The recent ruling underscores the ongoing tension between sports leagues and betting companies, highlighting the evolving landscape of gambling regulations in the U.S. The implications of this case could set precedents for how trademarks are treated in the context of sports betting.

What to watch:

Future court rulings on trademark use in sports betting.
Progress of the Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act in Congress.
Impact of March Madness on betting trends and regulations.

Source credibility: Yahoo Sports is a reliable outlet known for its comprehensive sports coverage and analysis.

Published: March 27, 2026 4:39 PM

Source: Yahoo Sports — https://go.noligarchy.us/fNm4V9