The NCAA basketball tournament is off to its best ratings start since CBS and TNT began broadcasting all tournament games in 2011, according to viewership data.

Meanwhile, Las Vegas casinos are hosting large-scale watch parties and events centered around the tournament, commonly known as March Madness. The city's gambling establishments are positioning the tournament as a major attraction for visitors.

Projections suggest Americans could wager approximately $3.3 billion on the NCAA tournaments this year. The betting volume represents a significant component of the tournament's economic impact.

Las Vegas tourism officials view the tournament as an opportunity to attract visitors during what has been characterized as a challenging period for the city's tourism industry. The combination of sports viewing and betting has become a key strategy for casinos seeking to draw crowds.

The strong television ratings indicate sustained public interest in college basketball's premier tournament, which features 68 teams competing in a single-elimination format over three weeks.