Little League World Series Betting Draws Renewed Scrutiny

Betting on the Little League World Series is drawing renewed criticism as offshore sportsbooks continue offering wagering markets on games played by children ages 10 to 12.

The Closing Line reported that state-regulated U.S. sportsbooks and federally regulated prediction markets do not offer betting on the Little League World Series. Offshore sportsbooks, however, continue to make those markets available outside the U.S. regulated system.

BetOnline says demand continues to grow.

BetOnline Sports & Casino is offering Little League World Series odds for a sixth consecutive year. In a press release published by Gambling911, BetOnline brand manager Dave Mason said customer demand for the markets remains strong and claimed the sportsbook expects more betting activity on the tournament than on several established professional sports markets.

The company also said the total amount wagered on its Little League markets doubled from 2024 to 2025. BetOnline limits maximum wager sizes and says its platform is restricted to adults.

Mason has continued promoting the betting activity publicly. In a post on X, he highlighted wagering interest in a matchup between South Korea and Canada, comparing the activity to betting on some Major League Baseball games.

Little League opposes betting on youth games.

Little League has repeatedly pushed back against gambling on its games. The organisation has said children should be able to learn teamwork, sportsmanship and other lessons without their successes or failures being used for someone else’s financial gain. It reiterated its position on social media as attention returned to tournament wagering.

The controversy underscores a clear divide in the sports betting market. Regulated U.S. operators have stayed away from Little League wagering, while offshore sportsbooks remain able to offer markets that would not be available through state-regulated betting platforms.