Sportsbook defends offering betting lines on Little League World Series games
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Little League condemned betting on youth games, citing ethical concerns.
- Nevada bans betting on youth sports; offshore sportsbooks still offer lines.
- BetOnline defends offering Little League bets, citing customer demand.
The Little League World Series took an unusual step last week of releasing a statement about gambling.
The tournament began last Wednesday and continues until Aug. 24, and there’s been a discussion about betting on the kids’ games in the annual tournament.
“While Little League International continues to monitor the complexity and ever-evolving world of sports betting, we feel strongly that there is no place for betting on Little League games or on any youth sports competition,” it said in the statement.
“Little League is a trusted place where children are learning the fundamentals of the games and all the important life lessons that come with having fun, celebrating teamwork, and playing with integrity, and no one should be exploiting the success and failures of children playing the game they love for their own personal gain.”
Wise words, right?
Fortunately, the state of Nevada doesn’t allow wagering on amateur events other than college sports and the Olympics, the Reno Gazette Journal noted.
Youth baseball coach Dan Gallagher summed up the feeling many have about gambling on a game played by kids.
“It just has a creepy, gross feeling to it,” Gallagher told the Gazette Journal. “Just to think that there’s adults betting on this, on the outcomes of these kids living their dreams, is just unsettling.”
Nevertheless, some online sportsbooks put lines on the games, and one offshore site took the equally unusual step of defending its lines for the games featuring 10- to 12-year-olds.
“We offer Little League World Series game lines and futures because there’s a clear demand for it,” BetOnline brand manager Dave Mason said in a news release. “Our customers request these markets annually, and we’ve already seen thousands of bets on this year’s tournament.
“We don’t force it on our customers ... heck, we don’t even send out LLWS promotional material. These games captivate audiences on national TV every summer, and we simply provide an option for people who want to watch and wager on these remarkable athletes.”
Mason also addressed the statement released by the LLWS.
“We recognize that gambling is not for everyone, and throughout BetOnline’s 25-year history we’ve prioritized responsible gaming,” Mason said in the statement. “We’re not forcing anyone to wager on these Little League games, and our platform is strictly for adults who choose to participate.”
This story was originally published August 20, 2025 at 11:39 AM.
