By: Greg Mitchell Lost amid all of the rapturous media coverage of the current Little League World Series is one disturbing fact no one seems to want to mention: professional gamblers and other adults are now wagering on these games.
In recent years, live and taped television coverage of Little League games has exploded, with ESPN airing several dozen regional and national matches this year -- a boon to betting.
Several online betting parlors even take wagers for Little League games.
One Web operation known as Pinnacle took bets yesterday, with odds listed as favoring the Saugus, Mass., team over Richmond, Texas. In betting parlance, Saugus was listed as "-2 +123" with Richmond at "+2 -135." Gamblers could also wager on runs scored, with Saugus at "over 5.5. -105" and Richmond at "under 5.5. -105."
Another site, Sportsbetting.com, which promised "all bets actioned even if postponed," had Saugus as a "-170" bet with its opponent at "+140." You could also lay a wager on the Japan vs. Mexico game.
It appeared that bets could be in any amount.
These are not the only online sites handling Little League bets. A users' forum at another site, ThePrescription.com, indicates that other sites also offer Little League gambling.
"ESPN has like five games today and I am looking for some action to take up some time," someone identified as "Wiz Kid" wrote on ThePrescription.com on Aug. 19.
Messages on that users' board include scouting reports on some of these teams of 11- and 12-year-olds. "Railbird" revealed that an Arizona team "didn't win many by four or more in these local sectional tournaments." He also, wrongly, picked Saudi Arabia to top Japan noting "Japan isn't that good and Saudi isn't that bad." Delaware faced "a coaching mismatch."
Armed with this information, "Wiz Kid" wrote back, "Let's make some money."
Later, "Railbird" rated one team's third starting pitcher as "real soft." Another user said he had "stuck 315 on the Mexico +305.".
When one game was shortened to four innings by the "mercy rule" (with one team ahead by more than 10 runs) two betters complained about the unfairness of it all, since they dropped money on it. "WizKid" said that since he didn't get a refund from one site, "I have to get out of there, everyone seems to be getting better deals other places."
A user named "Kimchee" wrote, "It sounds sick, BUT put something down on those Tokyo nips 'cause their [sic] gonna win the whole damn thing."
But "Stalker-Dude" had a decidedly different view: "My opinion is, you must be really hard up for action if you feel the need to bet on a Little League game. ... Betting on a LL game is the mark of a problem gambler in my opinion. I got 2 words for ya ...seek help."
"Wiz Kid" disagreed. "Throw a little on the games and have some fun," he urged.
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