Online Betting in Nigeria

Legality of sports betting in Nigeria

In 1977, the Gaming Machines Prohibition Act made slot machines illegal in the country. This was followed by Chapter 22 of the Criminal Code Act 1990, which redefined which types of gambling were legal or illegal in Nigeria.

The National Lottery Act of 2004 established the Nigerian lottery and an amendment to the law in 2007 separated lottery gambling from sports gambling, though both are allowed.

Nigerian gambling laws focus heavily on land-based gambling and sports betting. The main governing bodies are the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and the Lagos State Lottery Board. Together, both regulate pretty much all forms of gambling in Nigeria.

For a long time, international bookmakers were unregulated in Nigeria, but they were never prohibited. Nigerian punters were able to place sports bets at these sites, though they encountered some limitations such as the inability to deposit in Naira or having convenient banking options available.

Betting sites operating in Nigeria, should have a license from at least one of the Nigerian gambling jurisdictions. However, international betting sites with European licenses are tolerated in Nigeria and safe for players from Nigeria to use

What is different about sports betting in Nigeria

Football is the national sport in Nigeria, so it is the favourite sport for punters to bet on. A betting site catering to bettors from Nigeria will have excellent coverage of international football events, offering betting on African leagues as well.

Nigerians will bet on their own teams as well as on European and international leagues. Since Nigerians are avid football punters, a wide range of betting options on football markets is essential.

Further sports that are of interest to Nigerian punters are rugby, American Football and tennis.

Nigerians love in-play betting, so any sports betting site offering their products in Nigeria needs a great in-play betting portfolio. Live streaming is welcome, of course, though more of an added bonus than a necessity.

Of course, it is hugely beneficial if Nigerians are able to make deposits and withdrawals in Naira, using a convenient banking options of their choice. This includes mobile banking, of course.

Not all betting sites accept Naira, though, so alternatively USD will be a favoured option by Nigerian punters.

Best Nigerian Betting Sites

Considering how big the Nigerian sports betting industry is, plenty of online betting sites are available to punters from Nigeria to place their sports bets at. There are indeed several hundred sports betting sites to choose from, so we are aiming to narrow down the best sites.

Punters from Nigeria interested in sports betting, should check for the following aspects to determine how good a betting site is. These are also the aspects we are looking into in our in-depth reviews.

• Trustworthiness and licensing: Does the betting site have a good reputation? Do players like it here? Are withdrawals safe and secure? Is the operator licensed through a Nigerian regulator or at least international regulators?
• Bonuses and promotions: Do players from Nigeria get to use bonuses and promotions? Are the terms fair? What are the wagering requirements?
• Variety of markets and competitive odds: Are favourite Nigerian sports covered in the sportsbook? What are the odds like? Are they competitive?
• Banking: Which deposit and withdrawal options are available? Can I deposit using Naira? Are convenient banking options available?
• Customer service and usability of the site: How is the customer service? When is it available? Can I get the help I need? Is the sportsbook easy to use or confusing? How is the overall usability of the betting site?

Our reviews cover all these aspects, of course, though keep in mind that they are written for a general audience. Here we will feature the sites that accept players from Nigeria.

Which are the best betting sites in Nigeria?

• Betway

Betway is a reputable betting site that accepts players from Nigeria and deposits in Naira. Betway is excellent for in-play betting, though they don’t offer much in terms of live streaming. Betway is easy to use and a great option for new punters. And you can get a welcome bonus here that caters to players from Nigeria as well.

• Bet365

Bet365 is one of the best international bookmakers you will ever find. They have excellent live streaming options, great odds for football betting and a variety of promotions to use from. Their main let down at this time is the inability to deposit using Naira.

Betting Sites regulated in Nigeria

Betting sites that cater to punters from Nigeria and are regulated through the Nigerian authorities exist. For the longest time, there were no such sites, but since Nigeria is proving itself to be an important sports betting market, more and more sites emerge.

Two of them are:

• Bet9Ja

A Nigerian betting site that can easily compete with international betting sites. Has a very diverse sportsbook and highly competitive odds. Their main disadvantage as extremely strict bonus terms.

• NairaBet

NairaBet has excellent odds for players from Nigeria. Their customer service has a great reputation and regular customers can look forward to some great promotions here. They don’t have a welcome bonus, but the on-going promotions make up for that.