Gambling on the Little League World Series? Sports bettors have gone too far
The article criticizes the rise of sports betting on the Little League World Series, arguing that wagering on children's sports is ethically problematic. While regulated markets avoid these bets, offshore sportsbooks are capitalizing on the demand.
Why it matters
The piece raises ethical questions about the expansion of gambling markets into youth sports and the lack of regulatory control over offshore platforms.
Have we tried turning off society and turning it back on again? We need a complete cultural reset, because there are actually sports betting providers that let people gamble on Little League World Series (LLWS) outcomes.
For the uninitiated, the LLWS is an annually televised tournament where ten- to twelve-year-old baseball players from around the world face off. It’s a pretty wholesome event, though hopefully not too traumatizing for the kids who drop routine fly balls on a global broadcast that everyone they know is watching.
State-regulated sportsbooks and federally regulated prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket do not allow bettors to gamble on the LLWS (though Polymarket did offer LLWS bets in 2024). But offshore sportsbooks like BetOnline Sports & Casino don’t have to adhere to U.S. laws, so they can offer the opportunity to gamble on children.
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