Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA) has asked U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to investigate offshore sportsbooks that accept wagers on the Little League World Series (LLWS), a youth baseball tournament featuring players aged 10 to 12.
Regulated U.S. sportsbooks and prediction markets do not offer betting on the event. BetOnline has accepted LLWS wagers for six consecutive years and promoted betting on this year’s tournament, which was won by Curaçao after defeating Nevada.
Kiley chairs the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education subcommittee on the House Committee on Education and Workforce. He said the activity could amount to the exploitation of children and asked the agencies to determine whether U.S. laws had been violated.
“The systematic exploitation of children is a genuine concern to myself and the members of my committee,” Kiley wrote to Blanche and Bessent on Sept. 4.
“I’m reaching out today to request an investigation by your respective agencies so we can put an end to this obvious abuse, and if laws were broken, to secure swift prosecution of the offending parties.”
BetOnline Reports Strong Demand
BetOnline said wagering on the LLWS doubled in 2025 compared with 2024. The operator also said betting activity on some tournament days exceeded that of professional sports events.
“We offer Little League World Series odds because there’s a massive demand for it,” BetOnline Brand Manager Dave Mason said. “Our customers request these odds every year, and we’ll take more bets on the LLWS over the next two weeks than on established markets such as the WNBA, Major League Soccer, pro tennis, or golf.”
This year, the site offered futures on the U.S. and international brackets, as well as a market on whether an American or international team would win the championship. BetOnline has also offered odds on other youth events, including Texas high school football games in 2024.
Mason said major high school football operations could generate significant business, adding that “offering odds at small limits is small time in comparison (to some other sports).”
Little League Reiterates Opposition
Little League International has opposed betting on games involving children. In a social media post this year, it said there was “no place for betting on Little League games and players or any youth sports competition.”
The organization said children should be able to learn the sport, teamwork and integrity without their performances being used for personal financial gain.
Kiley said offshore operators may be bypassing U.S. gaming laws and urged the Department of Justice to identify enforcement options or seek new legislation if existing authority is insufficient.
The request comes as states target unregulated gaming operators. Michigan sent cease-and-desist letters to 45 operators in April, following a 2025 action against 13 other offshore gaming sites.
