Legal gambling in March Madness generates $2.7 billion – and a lot of abuse for players

Tristen Newton's UConn is among the betting favorites in the men's NCAA tournament. Photo: Brad Penner/USA Today Sports

March Madness is notoriously fickle, but as the tournament gets underway, one prediction seems safe: It will involve more money than ever before. But higher stakes come with greater risks, and threats and abuse directed at student-athletes are on the rise.

Americans will legally wager an estimate $2.72 billion at this year's March Madness events for men and women, according to the American Gaming Association, a trade group. That's just a small part of the likely total, with many more billions ...