Offshore betting in the US market has come under increased scrutiny once again after
Little League World Series officials condemned gambling on matches featuring 10-12 year olds.
The 2025 edition of the event, featuring 20 children’s baseball teams, is currently taking place in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It has attracted widespread television coverage, but also some unwanted attention
“We feel strongly that there is no place for betting on Little League games or on any youth sports competition,” said the officials.
“No one should be exploiting the success and failures of children playing the game they love for their own personal gain.”
All 39 US states that have legalised sports wagering have regulations in place banning betting on children’s athletics. While licensed operators cannot – and have no desire to – offer Little League World Series betting lines, offshore websites such as BetOnline and Bovada do.
Previously, BetOnline had faced criticism for offering betting lines on the Special Olympics due to a combination of poor customer service, complaints over outcomes over bets and the ethical considerations of wagering on the games, which feature people with intellectual disabilities. It halted these markets in 2025.
The strength of offshore betting in the US
An American Gaming Association study published earlier this month showed illegal operators still account for nearly one-third (31.9%) of the total US gaming market. The report also revealed that one in ten sports bettors wagers only through illegal channels.
The pushback from a growing number of state regulatory bodies is ongoing and cease-and-desist letters have been sent to multiple unregulated websites.
As a result of the action, Bovada has now stopped accepting bets in more than a half-dozen states, including New York.
