Your Guide to March Hoops at French Lick Casino and Valley Bar


It’s never too early to start thinking about college basketball’s big show in March. So as you start strategizing on how you’ll be watching and enjoying the upcoming NCAA hoops tournament in a few weeks, strive to get on Richard Coyne’s level of preparedness for the madness to come in March.

“We started planning it way back in September,” Richard said of the visit he’s planning to French Lick Resort on the NCAA Tournament’s opening weekend with a group of about 10 guys. When sports betting in Indiana was approved last year, the light bulb went off for Richard and his buddies who live just across the border in Illinois.

“We talked about going to Vegas all the time for March Madness. It’s so crowded and so hard to get a place to stay. And then when this sportsbook opened up, we said, ‘Here’s our March Madness.’ It was kind of on my bucket list to do something like this.”


Whether you make it a stay-for-the-weekend party like Richard’s crew, or need a hoops viewing headquarters for the evening, here’s what’s awaiting you hoops fans in March:


• 40 screens with wall-to-wall hoops: True hoops fans know that at tournament time, you can never have too many screens in your life. We’ll have that covered, with 40 HD big screens at French Lick Casino and the Valley Bar, including the pair of 16-foot LED walls in the sportsbook viewing area. (And with many rooms in the new Valley Tower featuring 75-inch flat screens, you might not want to leave your guest room at all for the viewing party.)


• 300 premium seats: Find a spot to post up and watch all the madness go down. Between the sportsbook viewing area, high-limits area, smoking lounge and Valley Bar, there’s more than 300 seats for your viewing pleasure. Additional seating is being added to the sportsbook viewing area, though you’ll still want to get there early — this will be prime real estate with a 180-degree view of wall-to-wall TVs. 

• 3 on-site betting options: Have your eye on a #12 seed that’s going to pull off a first-round upset, a #16 seed that’s going to shock the world, or a horse you’re riding all the way to win the whole thing? Make all your picks count at the sportsbook. Lay down your tourney wagers at the 24/7 kiosks or the betting counter at the sportsbook, or through BetRivers.com, French Lick Casino’s online sports betting partner.

• Food and drink specials: If you’re setting up shop in the sportsbook viewing area, order up a special party platter with snacks and appetizers to refuel without having to leave your seat. Cash in on $6 beer specials on 25-ounce Bud Light and Michelob Ultra at the Sportsbook during all 67 NCAA tourney games. If craft beer is more your taste, hit up Valley Bar for a round of drinks and a bite to eat off the new menu.

Each day of the tournament Valley Bar will be open one hour before the first games tip off, giving you a little extra time to eat and get settled in before the games begin.

• Bring the clubs, too: You couldn’t ask for better timing with the NCAA Tournament overlapping with the start of golf season. Before or between the basketball madness, brush off the clubs and work in a round. The Donald Ross Course at French Lick opens for the season March 13, while opening day at The Pete Dye Course at French Lick is set for March 27. If you’re looking to play a quick nine, Valley Links Golf Course is already open, weather permitting. (Fingers crossed for those mild early-spring days.)