Sports19 August, 20262 min read
Offshore Sportsbooks Offer Little League World Series Betting Odds Despite Little League Condemnation
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Offshore sportsbooks posted LLWS betting odds despite Little League condemnation. Critics say gambling on under-12 athletes is inappropriate and risky for youth sports.
8 outlets told this the same way.
Offshore Books Offer Odds
Offshore sportsbooks are offering Little League World Series betting odds for the tournament of 10-to-12-year-old baseball players, even as state-regulated sportsbooks and federally regulated prediction markets do not allow such wagers. Futurism reported that BetOnline brand manager Dave Mason boasted on Sunday, “California is getting bet like they are the 1998 Yankees,” and noted that “Almost half of the bets are on the youngins’ from the Golden State.”
The Futurism article also said the Little League World Series is “set to kick off later today,” while USA Today reported that the Little League World Series officially got underway on Wednesday. USA Today added that Little League International released a statement condemning sportsbooks and bettors who are gambling on youth sports, reiterating that “there is no place for betting on Little League games and players or any youth sports competition.”
Outrage, Quotes, and Pushback
The Futurism report described users reacting on the Elon Musk-owned social media platform, including one reply that said, “Betting on children is repulsive,” and another that urged, “Get help.” Futurism also quoted Dustin Gouker and Eric Ramsey lamenting that “It feels like every summer we go through a cycle of discovery and outrage when people learn/remember that offshore sportsbooks take bets on kids playing baseball.”
USA Today said Little League International’s statement first issued last year was repeated on Wednesday, and it framed the organization as “a trusted place where children are learning the fundamentals of the games.” USA Today further reported that ESPN has been the Little League broadcaster since 1983, while the same article described offshore books like Bovada and BetOnline as listing Little League games as wagerable events despite the condemnation.
What’s at Stake Now
The TechCrunch article argued that offshore sportsbooks can offer LLWS wagers because they “don’t have to adhere to U.S. laws,” and it cited BetOnline’s Dave Mason saying, “We offer Little League World Series odds because there’s a massive demand for it.” TechCrunch also said the LLWS put out a statement last year that it reposted on Wednesday, including the line: “no one should be exploiting the success and failures of children playing the game they love for their own personal gain.”
In parallel, Futurism reported that the Little League was forced to issue that statement almost exactly a year ago clarifying that “we feel strongly that there is no place for betting on Little League games.” Futurism added that it is “unlikely that regulators will step in,” pointing to president Donald Trump’s “strong personal ties to the gambling industry,” and it said 50 state attorneys general signed a letter in August of last year to “address the rampant spread of illegal offshore gaming operations.”