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.
- Is Online Betting Legal in Nigeria?
- How Popular is Online Sports Betting in Nigeria?
- How to Find a Top Nigerian Betting Site
- Best Betting Sites We Recommend for Betting in Nigeria
- Popular Payment Methods for Nigerian Customers
- Which Sports are Popular in Nigeria?
- Other Country Betting Guides - Click Each Flag To Learn More
- Best Nigerian Betting Sites FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
Is Online Betting Legal in Nigeria?
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.
How Popular is Online Sports Betting in Nigeria?
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.
How to Find a Top Nigerian Betting Site
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.
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#1
NetBet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ New customers only from 11.08.2021. £10 bet required to quality within 30 days of registration, Maximum £10 in Free Bets and up to 100 Free Spins. Free Bets valid for 3 days. Bet Responsibly. Terms and conditions apply. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#2
 1xBet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ Access to 1xbet is restricted for UK residents. New Customers only. 100% on first deposit up to €100. The minimum required deposit to activate the bonus is €1. Before making a deposit into their account, customers must agree to receive a sports betting bonus either on the ‘Account Settings’ page in the My Account section, or directly on the ‘Deposit’ page. This bonus is automatically credited to customers’ accounts once the first deposit has been made, provided that the account details have been completed in full and a phone number has been activated. Wager 5 times the bonus amount in accumulator bets. Each accumulator bet must contain 3 or more events. At least 3 of the events included in an accumulator must have odds of 1.40 or higher. The start dates of all of these events should not be later than the validity period of this offer. The bonus must be used within 30 days of registration. After 30 days the bonus and all winnings made on the bonus will be revoked. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#3
 Betfair
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
New customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly.Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#4
 bet365
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ - Offer for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#5
 888sport
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ Minimum deposit of £10 using deposit code 30F - A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 placed on any sports market - Minimum odds of 1/2 (1.5) - Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days - Free bet stakes not included in returns - Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days. To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager bonus amount x40 within 14 days. Wagering requirements vary by game. Deposit methods, Withdrawal restrictions and Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#6
Betsson
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#7
BetVictor
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £5 at odds 2.00+ within 7 days of registering, no cashout. Get 3x £10 Free Bets, set events at odds 2.00+. 7 day bonus expiry. Card payments only. T&Cs apply, see below. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly |
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#8
 BoyleSports
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
*New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile only. £20 in FREE Bets (FB) as £10 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). 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. 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. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#9
Vbet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
Only available to new, verified customers residing in the UK. Place a first ever Sportsbook bet – multi-bets of at least 3 legs; min. £2 stake; min. odds 3/10 (1.3) per leg (bets placed on horse racing and greyhounds excluded). Win and get back 50% of your stake – on top of your winnings – as a free sports bet up to £10. Get back 100% of your stake as a free sports bet up to £20 if you lose. Customers must place their first qualifying bet within 30 days of registration, after which the welcome offer will expire. Full T&Cs apply. 18+ Please gamble responsiblyFull T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#10
 Unibet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ begambleaware.org. 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. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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Popular Payment Methods for Nigerian Customers
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 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.
Which Sports are Popular in Nigeria?
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.
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.
Other Country Betting Guides - Click Each Flag To Learn More
Australia
Brazil
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
france
Finland
germany
Greece
Hungary
Hong Kong
India
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
SA
Ukraine
UK
USA
Best Nigerian Betting Sites FAQs
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In Nigerian law, games of chance/luck are illegal, while games of skill like sports betting are legal.
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We recommend betting on NetBet, 1xbet or Betfair while in Nigeria.
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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.
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No, there is no income tax on your winnings.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
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.
Hey, I'm Matteo, and I'm a writer that lives and breathes sports. The typical weekend for me revolves around (falsely) hoping Manchester United will make it back to the top, ruining my Fantasy Premier League team, and getting off my lazy butt for a run.
