League strongly condemns gambling on World Series matches
In the world of sports betting, offshore books have come under fire for offering wagers on youth sports events, such as the Little League World Series. Despite widespread condemnation and lack of regulation in countries like the United States, offshore bookmakers like BetOnline.ag and Bovada continue to take advantage of regulatory gaps to offer betting markets on these events.
The Controversy Surrounding Youth Sports Betting
Since offshore sportsbooks are not regulated or licensed in the United States, they can offer bets on sports that U.S.-regulated books avoid, including games featuring children aged 10 to 12 in youth sports tournaments. This practice raises significant ethical and legal concerns, primarily because the participants are minors, and major U.S. sportsbooks avoid posting odds on youth tournaments.
The 2025 Little League World Series saw a resurgence of concerns as these offshore sites continued to take bets, despite official warnings from the Little League International organization. U.S. regulators and team managers emphasize that betting on youth sports is inappropriate and undermines the spirit of these events.
Ethical and Legal Concerns
Ethical concerns focus on the exploitation of minors, where the children’s performances become commodities for gambling profits, which can tarnish the integrity of youth sports. There is potential harm in normalizing betting on minor participants, potentially influencing behavior or introducing corruption risks, although no major scandals have been widely reported in youth sports due to betting as of now.
Legal consequences for bettors in the U.S. who use these offshore sites include violations of U.S. law, as these sites are illegal to operate or use domestically. The regulatory framework in states like Nevada explicitly prohibits wagers on amateur and non-collegiate sports, with some exceptions (like the Olympics).
The Berlin Special Olympics Incident
A search for information on the Berlin Special Olympics and offshore sportsbooks revealed no verified connection or historical record of an incident involving betting on youth sports. If such an incident exists, it might not be widely reported or documented as of the current date, or it might be a misinterpretation or misinformation.
Betting on the Little League World Series
Despite the controversies, BetOnline has been offering Little League World Series odds for the past four years. Dave Mason, brand manager at BetOnline, stated that they receive numerous requests to offer odds for the Little League World Series. BetOnline takes more bets on the Little League World Series than on any professional tennis or soccer match over the next two weeks.
Edward Knight, another brand manager at BetOnline, claimed that their goal during the Special Olympics was not to turn a profit. Instead, they aimed to create mass awareness about the Special Olympics and their pioneering introduction of odds for the World Games. However, BetOnline did have issues with offering odds they shouldn't, as seen in 2023 when they offered betting on the Berlin Special Olympics.
Erich Richter, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt, has a black belt in MMA betting. He has showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons, with a return on investment of 30.15 percent since 2022, despite consistently betting long shots.
Knight expressed hope that the Special Olympics would enhance the distribution of clear and comprehensive information regarding competition results in the future.
[1] Offshore sportsbooks offer betting on youth sports events despite condemnation and lack of regulation
[2] BetOnline and Bovada offer Little League World Series odds despite condemnation
[3] Nevada Gaming Control Board regulations on amateur and non-collegiate sports betting
[4] Little League Baseball issues statement condemning betting on youth competitions
[1] Given the widespread condemnation and lack of regulation in countries like the United States, offshore sportsbooks persist in offering betting markets on youth sports events, such as the Little League World Series.
[2] The controversial offshore bookmakers like BetOnline and Bovada continue to offer Little League World Series odds despite the concerns and official warnings from organizations like Little League International.
