Little League Baseball pleaded with fans Friday not to place bets on the kids’ World Series, saying there’s “no place” for that in youth athletics despite the growing accessibility of sports gambling.
The warning comes on the third day of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where teams composed of players ages 10-12 are competing to win it all.
“While Little League International continues to monitor the complexity and ever-evolving world of sports betting, we feel strongly that there is no place for betting on Little League games or on any youth sports competition,” the league said in a statement.
The tournament began with 20 teams — 10 from the U.S. and 10 international squads.
“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, and no one should be exploiting the success and failures of children playing the game they love for their own personal gain,” the league continued.
