It needed to be said, apparently.
Little League World Series officials have released a statement urging fans not to gamble on the 10-, 11- and 12-year-olds currently competing in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The annual international tournament should have nothing to worry about, given existing regulations: All 39 states that have legalized sports wagering also have accompanying laws banning betting on children’s athletics.
But while US- based sportsbooks don’t offer Little League World Series betting lines, offshore websites like BetOnline and Bovada do.
Organization officials offered opposition to that practice on Thursday.
‘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,’ the statement began.
Japan’s Yuki Kubota slides into home against Czech Republic in the first inning Thursday
Irmo, South Carolina’s Joe Giulietti, center, is greeted by teammates after hitting a home run
‘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.’
Most online responses ranged from acceptance to indifference. After all, who could really oppose such a request?
Well if the last four years are anything to go by, it’s BetOnline, which explained its position to USA Today.
‘The Little League World Series is an exciting tournament that our customers absolutely love to watch, and we get requests from them every year around this time to offer odds,’ BetOnline brand manager Dave Mason said in a statement.
‘This will probably be shocking to hear, but we’ll take more bets on these Little League games than we will on any professional tennis or soccer match over the next two weeks.’
BetOnline perviously faced criticism for offering betting lines on the Berlin Special Olympics. However, that practice stopped in 2025.
