Nigeria is one of Africa’s leading nations economically. It’s also by far the most populous, with more than 220 million people (double that of the second most populous country). With such a large population, it’s no surprise the country also has one of the largest sports betting markets on the African continent.
Thanks to the rise of online betting, Nigerians now have easy access to a wide variety of sports betting options without even leaving their homes. While brick-and-mortar sportsbooks and bookies still do a healthy amount of business, most punters now turn to the plethora of online sports betting options.
We’ve put together this comprehensive guide to show you the best online sports betting options in Nigeria, as well as provide you with all the essential information you need to know to get started.
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Sports betting sites in Nigeria
About online sports betting in Nigeria
Top Nigerian sports betting sites in 2024
Sports bettors in Nigeria have a number of excellent options for where to place their wagers. However, the finest online betting sites offer a full suite of services and features. We’ll be listing a few of the best betting sites in Nigeria.
1xBet
100% up to $1,000 for the 1st 3 deposits
In addition to a massive array of sports to bet on, 1xBet offers a wide variety of matches and events for each individual sport. Bettors can place their wagers before the game starts or during the game itself, and they can cash out at any time after the result. The plethora of betting options and high standard of service make 1xBet one of the most impressive Nigerian betting sites.
Features
- Generous welcome bonus
- Promotions for recurring users
- Live betting options
- Cashout feature
- Crypto-friendly
Bet9ja
100% up to $1,000 for the 1st 3 deposits
What sets the platform apart from so many others is its extensive tutorial library. New punters can learn all the basics of sports betting in Nigeria and brush up on their techniques with a wealth of educational resources. And for experienced bettors, Bet9ja’s diverse markets make it a top choice.
Features
- Casino and lottery options included
- Detailed tutorial library for beginners
- Lots of wagering options
- Dozens of sports, including football, basketball and tennis
- Generous first-time player bonus
- Fast and intuitive mobile and web-based apps
- Live stream feature
22bet
110% Up To ₦55,000
It offers a wide variety of markets and accepts various payment methods, including cryptocurrency. This sportsbook offers Nigerian punters a nearly ideal combination of a large selection of sports bets (particularly football) and good betting odds. We also rate its mobile app as one of the best for on-the-go betting.
Features
- Live betting option
- Welcome bonus
- Cashout option
- Exceptional mobile app
- Accepts cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals
- Large selection of sports markets with competitive odds
Parimatch
100% Up To ₦120,000
The platform offers several bonus offers to new and existing gamblers. So, Nigerian bettors will enjoy the welcome bonus and several cashback and free play promotions as they continue to bet with Parimatch. And compared to many other betting sites, its user interface is modern and straightforward. It even supports betting on third-party platforms like Telegram.
Features
- ACCA insurance
- Live streaming for popular sporting events
- Telegram betting
- Fast and reliable payment options
- Extensive sports and e-sports selection
BetKing
50% Money Back Up To ₦25,000
Few do bonuses and promotions as well as BetKing. Bettors can take advantage of a generous welcome bonus (like the “Bet and Get 600k” deal for new signups after Feb. 1, 2024). The platform also offers accumulator bonuses, cashback bonuses, and free bets. Plus, it has a smartphone app, so bettors can access their accounts on the go.
Features
- Competitive odds
- Sports betting with casino options
- Generous bonus opportunities
- Fast, secure payment processing.
- Live streaming of popular sporting events.
- Smartphone app
Placing a Bet at a Nigeria Betting Site
If you’re new to betting in Nigeria, there are a few things you should know before placing your first bet. Here’s our step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process.
Step 1: Register for an account.
Before you can place a wager, you need to create an account with your chosen sports betting website. The procedure for doing so is quick and easy. Just select a betting site from our list above and click the registration button to get started.
This will lead you to the betting site’s signup page, where you’ll be asked to provide some personal information. On most platforms, signing up for a gambling website takes at most three minutes. And it will be a guided process that takes you from one step to the next.
Step 2: Make a deposit.
After deciding on and signing up for a betting site, you have to fund your account with real money. You cannot wager on any betting site until you’ve done so.
Most bookmakers accept several different types of deposits, including ATM cards, internet banking, and Quickteller. Unless you use cryptocurrency (which only some betting sites support), you shouldn’t have to spend more than a few minutes on this.
Step 3: Claim your welcome bonus.
Bonuses for new players are becoming fairly standard at online bookmakers. When you create an account and deposit for the first time, they’ll give you free bets or a percentage of your deposit as a reward. For example, “100% up to ₦100,000” means the sportsbook will match 100% of your first deposit up to ₦100,000, effectively doubling your bankroll.
This is meant to entice new players to choose a particular betting site. The idea is that they’ll be more likely to stick around and continue betting with that platform by getting to try it out without the risk of losing their money on the first bet. After making your initial deposit and meeting the promotion’s wagering conditions, you’ll be able to claim your reward.
Step 4: Start betting.
Now that you’ve made it this far, you’re ready to roll. All that’s left to do is navigate to the sportsbook, select the event(s) you want to bet on, and click on the odds. If you want to bet on a wide variety of sports and games, you should choose a betting site that has a comprehensive sportsbook.
To place a bet, you must first decide how much money you are willing to risk, or what your “stake” will be. After entering that amount, the betting site will display your potential winnings if you get it right. You’ll then be asked to confirm your bet before it is officially placed. Once you confirm, your bet will be processed. Then, watch the event for the results!
For advice on how to bet like a pro, check out our betting tips section.
Betting markets
Nigerians can place bets on a wide variety of sports and game outcomes. Of course, you have the classic, popular sports like football and basketball. But you can also bet on more niche sports, like darts, badminton and esports.
Furthermore, many betting sites in Nigeria also offer live betting options, allowing you to place wagers as the game or event is happening. This adds an extra level of excitement and engagement to the betting experience.
Let’s take a look at the most popular betting markets in Nigeria:
Football betting
Football is by far the most popular sport worldwide, with just about every country having its own professional representation (plus many local amateur leagues). In Nigeria, the most popular football leagues to bet on are the Premier League and the Nigeria Professional Football League. The Champions League and the Europa League are also highly popular.
A football match’s or tournament’s halftime and end results are the most common outcomes for Nigerians to bet on. However, there are also many other football betting options, such as the number of goals scored, individual player performances and more.
Basketball betting
Basketball is another popular sport for Nigerian punters to bet on. The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Euroleague are the most popular leagues for basketball betting. However, Nigerians can also bet on games and tournaments from local leagues like the Nigeria Premier League and leagues around the world.
The most common basketball bets include the game’s final score, point spreads, and player performances. You can also bet on specific outcomes within a game, such as the number of three-pointers scored or the total number of rebounds. Some betting sites also offer live betting options for basketball games, which works by allowing you to bet on the game’s outcome as it progresses.
Tennis betting
Since tennis has no tie or draw outcome, wagering on tennis is slightly different from other types of sports betting. Tennis is played by singles (1v1) or doubles (2v2), and you can bet on individual matches or entire tournaments. Tennis matches that last three to five games. And each team’s goal is simple: score more points than their rivals.
The most common type of tennis betting is moneyline betting, which is simply betting on who will win the match. Spread betting (where you can bet on a player to win by a certain number of games) is another common way to bet on tennis matches.
If you’re more advanced, you could try to predict the exact score or sets won in a match for a potentially higher payout. First to a certain score, margins and handicaps are also betting options. Simply choose your game and market, decide how much to stake then place your wager.
Rugby betting
Rugby is a team-based, physical sport in which points players can score points in a variety of ways. The sport is most popular in the UK, but you can also bet on rugby games and tournaments held in other countries around the world.
Like most other sports, match betting is the most common way to wager on rugby games. Betting on the winner of a particular sporting event, or “match,” means laying odds on a single team. Due to rugby’s high-scoring nature, however, draws are quite uncommon. So the draw isn’t an option in all match betting markets.
In addition to straight money-line wagering, handicap betting (sometimes known as “spread betting”) is a major component of the rugby betting market. In handicap betting, one team is given a fictitious edge by adding or subtracting points. When one side is highly predicted to win, the handicap can be quite high, making it a more challenging (but potentially profitable) bet.
Boxing betting
Boxing is a widely enjoyed sport worldwide. But it’s hard to make accurate forecasts when competitors have similar levels of talent, especially in live boxing betting. There are hundreds of variables that could come into play on the day of the fight, making boxing one of the most unpredictable and exciting sports to bet on.
Since boxing matches are fewer and further between, you’ll have a smaller number of opportunities to actually place wagers compared to other sports. But this also means more time to research and analyze the fighters, which can increase your chances of making a successful bet.
In boxing betting, you have a multitude of different betting options: moneyline, over/under rounds, prop bets, method of victory (e.g., knockout) and more. You can also bet on specific outcomes within a fight, such as predicting the exact round in which a fighter will win.
MMA
MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is a wildly popular sport around the world, with more matches and tournaments happening each year compared to boxing. Like boxing, MMA is a combat sport with multiple fighting styles, making it difficult to predict the outcome of a match. It’s primarily run by the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), and the betting options are similar to those of boxing.
If you want to bet on a UFC fight with confidence, you’ll need to do some research and understand the fighting styles, strengths, and weaknesses of each fighter. You can also use live betting options during MMA matches to potentially increase your odds of a successful bet.
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Samuel Okunsolawo is an iGaming expert with over six years of experience in content writing. His passion for simplifying complex concepts makes his articles accessible and useful for beginners and experts alike. With a focus on sports betting trends and reliable betting sites, Samuel’s articles are an excellent resource for those seeking guidance and staying up to date in the world of iGaming.
Joshua is a skilled casino and sportsbook content writer with over 3 years of full-time writing experience. He has a unique perspective on sports betting due to his personal experience as a sports bettor, which allows him to provide high-quality content rich in real-world insights. Joshua has a passion for writing and sports betting, and he has established himself as a specialist in the field.
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