Offshore Sportsbooks Draw Scrutiny Over Little League World Series Betting
Offshore gambling operators are offering wagers on the Little League World Series (LLWS), an annual youth baseball event featuring ten- to twelve-year-old participants, despite opposition from the youth sports organization and restrictions on regulated United States betting platforms.
What Happened
State-regulated sportsbooks and federally regulated prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket do not permit betting on the Little League World Series, although Polymarket previously listed bets on the tournament in 2024. Because offshore operators such as BetOnline Sports & Casino operate outside United States jurisdiction, they are not bound by U.S. laws and have made wagering markets available for the competition.
According to BetOnline Brand Manager Dave Mason in a company press release, the platform lists odds for the tournament due to significant user demand. Mason stated that customers bet twice as much money on the tournament in 2025 compared to 2024, adding that the platform expects to take more wagers on the LLWS over two weeks than on established professional sports competitions such as Major League Soccer, the WNBA, pro tennis, or golf. Mason also posted on social media platform X that a matchup between teams from South Korea and Canada attracted more wagers on the site than certain Major League Baseball games.
In response to wagering on youth games, Little League reiterated an official statement originally shared last year, reposting it on Wednesday as an active reminder against betting on young athletes.
Key Highlights
- State-regulated sportsbooks and federally regulated platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket prohibit Little League World Series wagering, though Polymarket carried LLWS markets in 2024.
- Offshore platform BetOnline operates outside U.S. laws and actively offers wagers on the international youth tournament.
- BetOnline reported that betting volume on the tournament doubled in 2025 relative to 2024.
- BetOnline claimed wagering volume on the two-week youth event would surpass betting on established competitions like the WNBA, pro tennis, golf, and Major League Soccer.
- Little League condemned the practice, stating that children should not have their games exploited for personal financial gain.
Why This Matters
The development highlights the divide between regulated domestic betting markets and unregulated offshore operators. While U.S.-regulated operators do not carry wagers on pre-teen competitions, offshore entities can offer markets directly tied to games played by ten- to twelve-year-olds. Little League affirmed that youth athletics should focus on teamwork, fundamentals, and integrity rather than participants’ performances being used for third-party commercial and financial speculation.
What to Watch Next
Observers will monitor whether regulatory bodies or youth sporting entities issue further actions or reminders as offshore sportsbooks continue expanding wagering markets into amateur and youth sports broadcasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is betting on the Little League World Series permitted on regulated U.S. platforms?
No. State-regulated sportsbooks and federally regulated prediction markets do not allow betting on the Little League World Series, though prediction platform Polymarket offered markets on the event in 2024.
Why can offshore platforms take bets on child athletes?
Offshore operators such as BetOnline are located outside the United States and do not adhere to U.S. state or federal sports gambling regulations.
What has Little League stated regarding gambling on its tournament?
Little League stated that the program is designed for children learning life lessons and teamwork, emphasizing that nobody should exploit the successes or failures of children playing the game for personal gain.
Source: Reporting based on information published by TechCrunch and Closing Line.