Little League International rails against offshore betting

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Little League International and several team managers have criticized the availability of offshore betting markets on the Little League World Series, according to a report by the Associated Press.

While regulated sportsbooks do not offer gambling on the competition, several offshore entities have been offering markets, with US team managers speaking out against gambling on minors.

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South Carolina Manager Dave Bogan said, “I’m not a fan. It’s just not appropriate, it feels dirty, quite honestly.”

The nonprofit organization has also released a statement condemning sports betting on youth games. “Little League is a trusted place where children are learning the fundamentals of the games and all the important life lessons that come with having fun, celebrating teamwork, and playing with integrity. No one should be exploiting the success and failures of children playing the game they love for their own personal gain,” it said.

Offshore operators BetOnline and Bovada are two examples of sportsbooks that offer daily bets on the World Series games. While both are active in the US, neither is based or licensed in the country, with Bovada receiving cease-and-desist orders from states like Florida in recent months.

Despite outspoken criticism of wagering on youth sports, the community impact director of the Aspen Institute initiative Project Play, Jon Solomon, has said that it was a “fairly common” experience.

Solomon added that this type of wagering can have a negative impact on players.

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