Office around the country are filling out brackets and buying into March Madness betting pools. However, the U.S. Navy wants military members to know that they should be careful if they want to get in on the March Madness fun.

It’s technically illegal to buy into a betting pool in many states, but few actually enforce that rule. An estimated $9.2 billion will be wagered on March Madness this year, and only a paltry $262 million will be done legally.

In a civilian office, screwing the rules and enjoying some basketball only risks your hard earned money, not your squeaky clean criminal record. On federal property and military bases, however, military members risk far more.

On an official Navy blog post, Lt. Kathy Paradis wrote that gambling while on duty could get a service member in a lot of trouble.

“As service members, we are prohibited from engaging in most gambling activities, which could include a March Madness office pool, while on federal property or onboard naval units,” Paradis wrote. “We are also prohibited from using government computers for unofficial purposes without supervisor approval. Violations of the regulation could result in adverse administrative action, or even disciplinary action under the UCMJ.”

She adds that participating in March Madness betting pools only becomes an issue when you “pay to play.”

Here are Paradis’ main tips for staying in the clear throughout March Madness:

  • Don’t “pay to play.” Paying in to win the cash (or some other prize) at the end is gambling, and it is illegal on federal property.

  • You may participate in office pools that don’t involve paying in to win a prize.

  • Don’t use government computers for unofficial purposes. Even if the office pool is just for “bragging rights,” make sure any personal use of government computers has been approved by your supervisor.

  • You may participate in March Madness pools, even those where you “pay to play” to win a prize, with your friends on your personal time and in your personal space (off-base or in on-base home or barracks), as long as permitted by local laws.

  • If you are a supervisor, don’t pressure subordinates to participate in March Madness, even if the pool is otherwise okay.

  • If you are a commanding officer, don’t hold “official” March Madness activities that could imply DON/DoD endorsement of the NCAA, March Madness, any particular conference or team, or any other non-Federal entity.