Nicknamed the “Giant of Africa”, Nigeria is the seventh-most populous country worldwide, and their love for sports is interwoven with their national identity. Whether you’re in Nigeria for a quick visit or a longer vacation, this guide will cover all you need to know about online sports betting in Nigeria and the best Nigerian betting sites.

  • Offer Nigerian naira currency
  • “Bet Maker” feature for same-game accumulator
  • Multiple promotions
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 2001
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 2001
18+ Min odds 3/1 (4.00), min 3 selections. Free bet valid for 7 days Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
  • Livestreaming feature for several sports
  • Plethora of deposit options available
  • 300% bonus of up to 145,600 NGN
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in
18+ Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
  • World’s leading bookmaker
  • Offer markets on the Nigerian Premier League
  • Fantastic live betting console
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 2000
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 2000
18+. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
  • Extensive selection of sports to bet on
  • Dedicated “Statistics & Live Scores” section
  • Fast markets
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in
18+ Please note: Betsson welcome offer not available for UK residents. This offer is only eligible to new customers who haven't used a sports welcome offer of Betsson before. Players will need to verify their age before being able to register an account. Bonus amount must be wagered 10x at a minimum odds of 1.50. System bets do not count towards wagering. Wagering requirements must be met within 30 days for bonus money to become real money. Bonus money which has not been converted to real money after 30 days will be forfeited. The minimum deposit for the sport welcome bonus is €10. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
  • Brilliant promotions for Nigerian punters
  • Wide variety of sports
  • Responsive customer support
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 1946
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 1946
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10  on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Debit card / Apple Pay payments only. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
  • 24/7 customer support
  • Mobile app for iOS and Android users
  • Bet £10 Get £10 + £10 Casino Bonus
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 1982
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 1982
18+ New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. £20 in FREE Bets (FB) as £10 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
  • Livestreaming on major sporting events
  • Prompt customer support
  • Detailed in-play live stats
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 1997
MAIN FEATURES
UK Gambling Commission
Live Stream
VIP Programm
Cash Out
Bet Builder
Support 24/7
Native App
Cryptocurrency
Established in 1997
18+ New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. No deposit required for NI customers. Call 08081699314 to claim. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad

At the time of writing, there are no laws in place that forbid online gambling in Nigeria. The lottery was legalised with the National Lottery Act in 2005, and gambling is defined by Chapter 22 of the Criminal Code Act enacted in 1990. All types of gambling in Nigeria are regulated by the National Lottery Commission.

There are laws in place to prevent “unlawful gaming” occurring, meaning that games that are completely dependent on luck, such as roulette, are illegal. Since sports betting is considered to involve an element of skill through research and knowledge, this is legal. Furthermore, these laws do not specifically address the legality of online gambling websites and as a result of this sports betting in Nigeria remains highly popular and practiced by many.

Online sports betting is immensely popular in Nigeria. A recent report estimated that about 60 million Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 40 were active sports bettors. As a result, Nigeria has become a prime market for several offshore sportsbooks. Nigerians can legally bet on these sportsbooks without the fear of prosecution since, as mentioned earlier, there are no gambling laws that prohibit online gambling domestically or via offshore sportsbooks.

Here are a few things you should look for while choosing a top sportsbook in Nigeria:

  • Quality Betting Odds: To get the best returns for your money.
  • A Generous Welcome Bonus: To boost your bankroll from the off.
  • Mobile App: To make playing on the go an easy task. Check our list of best football betting apps.
  • Range of Sports and Markets: To give you as many options as possible while placing your bets.
  • Security: To make sure your money is in safe hands (look for licensing from reputable jurisdiction, such as the UK Gambling Commission).
  • The Nigerian Naira: To avoid having to pay exchange rates while depositing money into your account.

Many Nigerian customers make use of traditional credit and debit card options such as VISA and Naira MasterCard, as well as bank transfer, and no fee is required to deposit. On some websites, such as NetBet, you’ll be able to deposit via Quickteller , a popular Nigerian electronic payment platform that allows you to send and receive money online. By using Quickteller, players avoid having to share their financial details with more than one website. This is especially useful for punters who are looking to create multiple betting accounts with different bookies.  Other commonly offered methods are ewallets PayPal, Skrill payment and Neteller.

Many offshore betting companies do not accept the Nigerian currency (naira) so you will have to deposit using another currency. It should also be noted that players in Nigeria do not pay taxes on any of their winnings.

Football is by far the most popular sport in Nigeria, with the national team – the Super Eagles – ranked as one of the most successful teams in African history. Numerous Nigerian players have made their names abroad, such as Bolton hero Jay-Jay Okocha and Premier League legend Nwankwo Kanu, and English Premier League betting is especially popular among Nigerian punters on the top football betting sites.

Basketball also holds a special place in Nigerians’ hearts, especially because of NBA Hall-of-Famer Hakeem Olajuwon’s meteoric to stardom. Their passion extends to boxing, and more specifically, Dambe Boxing – an ancient boxing style typically associated with Hausa people of West Africa.

Sportsbooks have reported a huge number of bets on rugby during the 2019 World Cup, and on major athletic tournaments.

In Nigerian law, games of chance/luck are illegal, while games of skill like sports betting are legal.

We recommend betting on NetBet, 1xbet or Betfair while in Nigeria.

The most widely used payment methods in Nigeria are debit and credit cards issued by Visa or naira Mastercard, bank transfer or electronic methods such as Quickteller, Skrill or Neteller.

No, there is no income tax on your winnings.

To say that the laws surrounding online gambling in Nigeria are unclear would be a massive understatement. Nigerian laws simply make no mention of online gambling, meaning there are no restrictions preventing players registering with offshore betting sites. This doesn’t imply you should create an account at any old place, though – always make sure that you’re investing your money into safe hands. 

Looking to bet somewhere new? Check out our detailed regulations guide to betting in different countries.

WRITTEN BY Matteo Ebejer
View all posts by Matteo Ebejer

Hi, I'm Matteo, a writer who's passionate about all things sports. The typical weekend for me revolves around being glued to all things football on TV, ruining my Fantasy Premier League team, and getting off my lazy butt for a run.

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