Betting on the Little League World Series (LLWS) has become a hot topic in recent days, and one sportsbook is willing to stop the gambling in 2027. However, the proposal comes with a head-shaking counteroffer.
For the sixth consecutive year, BetOnline Sports & Casino is offering LLWS odds. As an offshore betting site, BetOnline can offer bets on the annual tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., that features players ranging from 10 to 12 years old.
As a note, the American Gaming Association has stated that betting on Little League or youth sports is illegal in the United States.
Additionally, Little League International has issued a statement saying that there is “no place” for betting on LLWS games. Also, Rep. Kevin Kiley of California, who chairs the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, said, “I think this is deeply troubling and perhaps it’s something that does merit further action by our committee.”
Counterproposal to betting on Little League World Series offered
In response to some of the backlash over the betting possibilities, BetOnline Brand Manager Dave Mason offered a proposal to end the LLWS betting.
“We understand why some people are uncomfortable with betting on kids, but if the discomfort is really about profiting off 12-year-olds, that conversation shouldn’t start and end with us,” Mason said in a statement. “Little League, ESPN and the tournament’s sponsors are cashing in every August…the difference is nobody’s asked them to share that revenue. So, here’s our offer: commit to paying the players and families, who comprise the core of this incredible tournament, and we’ll commit to taking Little League off our board in 2027.”
That’s a proposal that likely will be a non-starter for any kind of talks around reform, and it’s also likely that Mason and BetOnline know that. However, being able to offer this is seemingly a way that the sportsbook can take some of the heat off itself and put it on ESPN and other entities who are “cashing in every August.”
BetOnline has not defined a specific payment structure, but the company has suggested things such as family travel stipends, college savings accounts and NIL compensation should all be considered.
While those thoughts are great, questions come up about how the money would be delivered properly and corruption opportunities would be kept at a minimum.
While Americans are continuing to wrap their heads around college players being paid and the impact those payments are making on the NCAA landscape, offering payments to children who haven’t entered high school yet seems to be taking the thought of money-driven athletics to an extreme.
Where the possibilities of being able to bet on LLWS games or paying those athletes goes from here remains to be seen. However, it’s clear that a resolution must happen in some form to put the focus back on the games rather than off the field.