The Little League World Series (LLWS) has made a forceful plea to fans to quit betting on its games, saying this practice does harm and does not suit the tournament as it kicks off its second week in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Little League Slams Offshore Sites for Profiting From Children’s Games
On Thursday, Little League International put out a statement. It stressed that youth sports should stay a safe place where players ages 10 to 12 can build skills and have fun playing without the extra stress from gambling. Officials said that betting on kids’ games weakens the event’s honesty and takes advantage of young athletes’ ups and downs to make money.
US-regulated sportsbooks do not offer bets on youth competitions. They follow state laws that ban gambling on athletes under 18. However, offshore operators like BetOnline in Panama and Bovada in Costa Rica still post odds. These companies, which do not have US licenses, have promoted betting lines for the LLWS for years, despite legal challenges.
Dave Mason, who speaks for BetOnline, says that in some markets, people want to bet on LLWS games as much as on major professional sports. He claims bettors place more wagers on these games than on professional tennis or soccer during the same time.
Little League Stands Firm Against Betting as World Series Nears Finale
Betting on the games has sparked strong criticism from team managers and youth sports supporters. Coaches call the practice “distasteful,” stressing that the tournament aims to celebrate community pride and good sportsmanship, not to make money from gambling. Hawaii team manager Gerald Oda believes Little League’s core is about the kids’ happiness and innocence, which he worries gambling might spoil.
Experts have voiced worries about how betting might affect players. Jon Solomon from the Aspen Institute’s Project Play program highlighted studies showing that many kids know when grown-ups bet on their games, reported The Daily News. This adds extra stress to do well. He cautioned that this trend could echo the abuse seen in professional sports, where athletes sometimes get threats from angry gamblers.
Since the U. Supreme Court decided to make sports betting legal at the state level in 2018, gambling has become more common. Ads now flood broadcasts and major leagues team up with betting companies. However, Little League has kept a firm position.
It bans any sponsorships related to gambling and asks fans to respect the limits of youth sports. The LLWS, which includes 20 teams from across the world, will end with its championship game on August 24. Event planners hope that by talking openly, they can protect young players from the shadier aspects of the growing sports betting business.