SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - When it comes to the famous college basketball tournament, MGM Springfield said not only will this weekend be busy with the first rounds getting underway, but they're expecting three packed weekends for their sportsbook as people hope for the best for their brackets.

“It's a marathon, right? All the other sports, you get that big championship maybe series a week," vice president of casino operations Robert Westerfield said. "This is three weeks of action. So, it's a lot of excitement.”

March is a busy month for the Massachusetts casino. MGM Springfield’s Robert Westerfield said interest in sports betting continues to grow for both the men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments.

“It's picked up immensely. Really has even without Caitlyn Clark and all of those big names in there, they really brought light to the sport last year," Westerfield said. "And coinciding with the men's, it's a groundswell. It's really grown a whole lot.”

The American Gaming Association estimates $3.1-billion will be legally wagered on the tournaments this year across the country and Westerfield said the popular betting month coincides with Problem Gaming Awareness Month.

“We're really looking forward to it. It's ironic, it falls in the same month is Problem Gaming Awareness Month, so, that's a benefit to us as well," Westerfield said. "We want everybody to come and enjoy the property and have a great time, but we want them to be responsible.”

“Here at GameSense," Daniel Miller said, "it is a center that's welcoming to everybody.”

Daniel Miller is the casino’s director of compliance. He said the GameSense initiative works to help people understand gambling from how to play games and place wagers to the advantage the house has.

“We just want everybody to know that we offer gambling as a fair and reasonable way for them to have a fun time. You should not come here expecting to make money," Miller said. "Just treat it like any other time out, day out, evening out; that you're going to pay for the experience, you're going to enjoy yourself. If you do win a little bit of money, all the better, but it's not guaranteed.”

During March, Miller advises setting a budget, tracking your bracket, and taking breaks. As Westerfield says, it’s a marathon for sports fans.

“Three full weeks from morning to night of games," Westerfield said. "It's a dream for anybody that likes basketball and likes to make wagers on it. It's a real good time for us. We're happy.”