Kris Craig / USA TODAY NETWORK
There are a number of signs that indicate you have a gambling problem that’s gotten out of control, and feeling the urge to bet on the Little League World Series is definitely a major indicator. There’s no way to legally do that in the United States, but the organization behind the event still had to issue a statement condemning that behavior after an offshore sportsbook started listing odds.
It’s been more than 75 years since the Little League World Series was held for the first time, and that annual gathering in Williamsport has become a beloved tradition that gives young players around the world the chance to compete for a title while playing for nothing but the love of the game.
At the risk of getting overly saccharine, that element makes the LLWS one of the purest sporting events in existence. It has become inevitably tainted by corporate sponsorships and the advertising that supports the tournament that’s aired on ESPN, but it ultimately revolves around a bunch of kids driven by unbridled passion who aren’t paid a single cent.
The notion of gambling on the LLWS is absurd to the point where I didn’t even consider that it was an option, but that’s apparently the case based on the statement organizers felt the need to share on Thursday.
Little League officially had to ask fans not to bet on the LLWS after a sportsbook offered action on the tournament
There are currently 38 states (along with Washington, D.C.) that have legalized sports betting, but none of the sportsbooks that operate within their borders will allow you to place bets on the Little League World Series due to laws that prevent any wagers involving youth sports.
As someone who went through a phase that involved way too many bets involving table tennis matches in Eastern Europe when I was in college, I’m throwing stones from inside a glass house by criticizing anyone who can’t resist the urge to throw down some money on some relatively niche sporting events.
With that said, I also think that makes me a bit of an expert in borderline degenerate gambling behaviors, and if you are in a place in life where you can’t stop yourself from betting on the Little League World Series, you might want to take a good, hard look in the mirror.
However, there is a Panama-based sportsbook that I’m not going to name given their penchant for publicity stunts designed to drum up attention for their offshore operation that decided to give bettors the chance to wager on the LLWS this year, and that seemingly served as the onus for the statement Little League International issued on Thursday night that condemned that practice.
We feel strongly that there is no place for betting on Little League games. pic.twitter.com/kzvuFXrQHC
— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 14, 2025
What a world.