Betting Guide for the 2024 / 2025 Little League World Series

5 minute read

When you think about serious online sports betting, it's highly unlikely that The Little League World Series (LLWS) comes to mind. It might surprise you to know that despite strict regulations against betting on children’s sports events like the LLWS in the US, some of the world's top offshore online sportsbooks actually offer serious betting odds for these kinds of sports. Let’s take a closer look at this complex topic and its intertwined legal and ethical considerations.

A portrait of a sports personality for little league betting regulations and potential risks.

About the Little League World Series

The LLWS is a renowned international kids' baseball tournament that is held annually in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It brings together 20 teams of young athletes from various parts of the world to compete in a series of games that end in a championship game between the two top teams. Many of the game’s players end up going on to play in the Major Baseball League. The games are broadcast on major sports networks, such as ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and they can also be streamed through the ESPN app, Hulu, and FuboTV.

Betting on the Little League World Series: A Unique Opportunity

Now that we’ve gone over the regulations surrounding the LLWS and the risks associated with betting on it, one might wonder why betting on such an event is considered appealing.

One of the key factors that make this league intriguing for sports bettors is its unpredictability compared to professional adult leagues. While hitting may not pose a significant challenge for these young players, other aspects like fielding and making accurate throws present more challenges, adding an extra element of uncertainty. This unpredictability increases the risk for bettors, but it also increases their potential winnings as well.

Here are A Few Other Reasons Why People Bet on this championship:

In the LLWS, even a routine grounder can turn into an unpredictable play.
With games lasting only six innings, the action is more fast-paced. This means that each and every pitch is crucial and potentially game-changing.
Discovering a standout pitcher before the odds adjust can provide a significant betting advantage, similar to finding an undervalued player in other sports.
The rules of the tournament ensure that all games are lively due to limits on pitches and required playtime for all. This ensures that the outcome of every game is uncertain until the very end
The rules also make it possible to overcome late-game deficits and this adds an extra layer of unpredictability.
The LLWS benefits from a swift, effective review process which reduces the impact of erroneous calls on game outcomes and, consequently, on bets.

Baseball Betting Tips: How To Make Good Little League World Series Picks

When betting on baseball, especially for the LLWS, there are three key guidelines to follow:

Prioritise Pitching: A strong pitcher can dominate the game by limiting the opposing team's scoring opportunities. It's not uncommon to see no-hitters or games with high strikeout counts in this setting, as the gap in skill level between a top pitcher and the majority of batters can be significant. This makes it challenging for teams to initiate rallies.
Bet on Contact Hitting: In the LLWS, supporting teams that have a knack for making contact with the ball can be a wise baseball betting strategy. Teams that avoid strikeouts exert pressure on young players to execute defensive plays under the most intense scrutiny they've yet faced. This increases the chances of defensive mistakes, thereby benefiting the batting team.
Fundamentals Are Key: The importance of basic skills cannot be overstated in amateur baseball. Teams that excel in maintaining low walk and error rates tend to perform better. Effective control of the game through solid fundamentals often translates into advancement through the tournament stages.

2023 Little League World Series Betting Overview

The 2023 edition marked the 76th anniversary of the event and culminated in an exciting championship match where a team from California emerged as the champions. They secured a narrow victory over Curaçao with a final score of 6-5. The game peaked when Louis Lappe hit a walk-off homer, leading California to a win.

Betting on the 2023 LLWS

The 20 teams listed below competed in this year's LLWS in Williamsport. For those interested in betting, we've included their 2023 baseball betting odds of winning their divisions to give an idea of the potential payouts.

Odds for the United States Division Teams

California's El Segundo: +150
Tennessee's Nolensville: +225
Nevada's Henderson: +550
North Dakota's Fargo: +700
Pennsylvania's Media: +750
Texas' Needville: +800
Washington's Northeast Seattle: +900
Maine's Gray New Gloucester: +1200
Rhode Island's Smithfield: +1600
Ohio's New Albany: +1800

International Division Odds

Curacao's Pabao: +175
Taiwanese Kuei-Shan and Japan's Musashi Fuchu: +300
Sydney's Hills from Australia: +500
Tijuana's Municipal de Tijuana from Mexico: +700
Venezuela's San Francisco: +900
Santiago de Veraguas' Activo 20-30 from Panama: +1100
Cuba's Bayamo: +1200
Brno's South Czech Republic from Europe-Africa: +2200
Saskatchewan's North Regina from Canada

Little League Baseball Betting Regulations

It is important for Sports bettors in the US to know that betting on the LLWS is not allowed on any legal regulated sportsbook in the United States. This is in line with the Pennsylvania Gaming expansion law passed in late 2017, which specifies permissible betting categories but excludes the LLWS and similar amateur and high school athletic events.

However, international betting sites like BetUS, Bovada, and BetOnline offer consumers the chance to wager on this popular baseball event. According to BetUS oddsmakers, there has been a significant increase in betting activity on the 2023 LLWS, though they failed to share precise data on the number of bets or the total amount wagered.

Now you may be wondering why betting on youth sports events like the LLWS is not allowed in a country like the US, where you can place a bet on almost anything that has an element of chance to it.

Here are a few reasons for these tough regulations on children’s sports events:

Protection of Minors: Betting on children's sports risks potential exploitation, and it can affect game integrity by creating incentives for cheating
Legal and Ethical Considerations: Gambling laws require participants to be at least 18 or 21, making betting on underage sports ethically and legally problematic.
Prevention of Gambling Problems: Banning bets on children's sports helps prevent early normalisation of gambling, reducing future gambling problems.
Focus on Positive Development: The main aim of children's sports is to promote physical activity, teamwork, and fun. Allowing betting on such events would shift the focus to winning bets over healthy development.

Risks of Using Offshore Sportsbooks for Little League Betting

When a US resident places bets on offshore sportsbooks, there are always a few major risks.

Here’s a look into these major risks:

Lack of Legal Recourse: Offshore sportsbooks fall outside U.S. law, leaving bettors without legal support for disputes over winnings or account issues.
Risk of Sudden Closure: Without strict regulatory oversight, these sportsbooks could unexpectedly shut down due to financial issues or legal challenges in their host countries.
Financial Security and Fraud: Transactions with offshore sportsbooks lack the security enforced by U.S. standards, and this puts bettors at higher risk of fraud and theft of personal financial information.
Fair Play Concerns: Unlike U.S.-regulated sportsbooks that must adhere to fair play rules, offshore sportsbooks may not ensure fair odds or transparent betting terms.

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Paul Richard is a professional sports betting and casino content writer with over three years of experience. He provides expert tips, strategies, and betting advice to help bettors succeed.