Best Nigerian Sports Betting Sites 2023

Online sports betting show no signs of hitting the reverse gear in Nigeria and will continue to get more and more popular in the country during 2021. Many online sports betting enthusiasts in Nigeria enjoy placing bets on major sporting events of the day to ramp up their excitement levels, and with some bonus offers, some players are fortunate enough to bag some serious cash. Latest research studies indicate that a significant number of Nigerians like to place online sports bets, and there’s a big market for betting sites in Nigeria to tap into, with both old and new operators seeking to enjoy a slice of the pie as well. Due to a rising interest in sports betting across Nigeria, the betting industry is now home to plenty of online bookmakers who offer a wide variety of choices. Nigerian bettors who are seeking to join a site and begin wagering might therefore be unsure of which sports betting site is ideal for them. There are both old and new betting sites and finding the best one to join can be a bit challenging. But not anymore. If you are here, count yourself lucky. We’ve made it our job to find only the best betting companies ideal for you in Nigeria. But first, get to understand a few things about online betting regulation in Nigeria.

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Online Betting in Nigeria – Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Nigeria?

After undertaking an extensive research on everything to do with sports betting laws in Nigeria, including speaking to legal experts across the country, we were able to establish that online sports betting is legal in Nigeria, and under the watch of several regulatory bodies. Any time you wish, you can engage in online sports betting at both local and international betting sites. When doing so, you run zero risk of facing any persecution from the state.

Is it Safe to Bet Online in Nigeria?

More often, bettors, especially those who are new to online sports betting in Nigeria, want to know whether it’s safe for them to engage in online betting. Are all sports betting sites legal and safe to gamble with in Nigeria? Betting online in Nigeria is safe as long as you are doing so at a site that’s licensed either by the Lagos State Lottery Board or by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission. If you find any online betting site with a license from any of these two bodies, then it means that they are safe and legit. Once you’ve confirmed that the bookmaker of your choice is registered on these platforms, you can go ahead and enjoy the world of sports betting.

How We Choose the Best Nigerian Betting Sites

Our reviews of Nigeria’sbest betting sites considers several important factors. Before we list betting sites here –whether local or international betting site -, we assess several important areas such as the following:

Safety/security

Online sports betting in Nigeria is under the watch of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, and the first thing we check to confirm is whether the betting sites operating in the country are regulated and licensed. Nigerian bettors will also be concerned on matters to do with their security when wagering online. The best Nigerian sites are those that take measures such as putting SSL encryption in place to protect their customers.

Range of sports available/betting markets

At all times, you should ensure that you play at sites with a huge range of sports and betting markets. That way, you’ll be able to increase your chances of winning, since you’ll be wagering at a sport or betting market that you clearly understand. When choosing a betting site, we only mention those sites that offer their customers an impressive range of sports.

Promotions

With competition being tough among online sports betting sites in Nigeria, promotions come in as one of the primary means that the bookmakers in the country use to differentiate themselves from each other. The most common way that these bookmakers attempt to snap up new players is by offering them attractive welcome bonuses. Free bets are mostly up for grabs for customers who sign up at top bookies in Nigeria. Existing customers aren’t also forgotten with many online betting sites in Nigeria offering them rewards such as free bets, reloads and cashback offers.

Attractive betting odds

Nigerian players would want to get as much profits as they can from their bets, and this means wagering at sites that offer high odds. When choosing a site to include in our list of top Nigerian betting sites, we look at how attractive their promotional offers are. Some bookies do well and offer high odds on tennis, while there are some who might be top of the tree when it comes to high football odds.

Live Streaming

Over the last few years, the world of onlinesports betting seems to have embraced live sports streaming in a significant way. With improved technology, players can now place live bets in addition to being able to follow a sporting action of their choice on a live stream too. Being in a position to watch your favorite team(s) or player(s) in action in high quality is a huge tick for online sportsbooks, and that’s another thing that we also consider.

Attentive customer support

As a Nigerian bettor, there might come a time when you’ll need to contact the support reps for assistance. If you find yourself in this position, then you should expect speedy responses. When choosing the best online betting sites, one of the most important areas we consider is the customer support department. Those bookies that we classify among the top betting sites must have in place a very effective customer support department.

Top 10 Betting Sites in Nigeria Right Now – Why choose these sites for betting?

If you were to count the number of online sports betting sites currently available in Nigeria, you’ll notice that there are plenty of them in business. Some betting sites are good at what they do while others are just in business to make profits. Our experts found the following 10 to be the best betting sites in Nigeria right now:

1xbet

1xbet Nigeria is a betting platform known across Nigeria for their massive range of betting markets. With more than 2 dozen banking methods, it doesn’t come as a surprise as to why this bookmaker is today home to many Nigerian players.

Excellent customer support
Plenty reliable banking methods
A diverse portfolio that includes live betting
Website appears slightly cluttered

Betway

Betway is undoubtedly among the top online betting brands across the globe, with their betting site Nigeria being one of the top options for online sports betting fans across the country as well. GT Bank and Paystack are among top local payment options that Nigerian players can use here.

More than 20 different sports available
A generous welcome bonus
Low betting margin
Withdrawal restrictions

Melbet

Having been in operation for around a decade, Melbet is one of the most experienced bookmakers across the online betting scene. Their Nigerian arm is one of the biggest brands in the country. This betting site offers a collection of more than 40 sports with players being able to wager from their decent mobile betting app.

High odds and professional support
Various payment methods
Large variation of sports betting markets
Limited withdrawals via e-wallets

22bet

With more than 30 different sporting events to wager on, Nigerian bettors are sure to find a good wager by choosing to be part of 22bet. Even though they are still fresh across the betting industry in Nigeria, nevertheless, they appear to tick all the right boxes in everything to do with sports betting. They are one of the best sports betting sites currently in Nigeria.

A generous welcome bonus
24/7 customer service
Good markets for the major sporting events
Lack of many e-wallets for payments

Bet9ja

Founded all the way back in 2013, Bet9ja is right up there with some of the most popular online betting websites doing business in Nigeria. As one of the oldest bookmakers in Nigeria, bettors are assured of their safety at Bet9ja.

One of the most trusted and the best online betting sites licensed in Nigeria
Locally-owned
A decent coverage of Nigeria’s Women’s Football League
A few bonus offers

Betking

Betking is a wonderful place to begin wagering as it ranks among the top 10 online betting sites in Nigeria. They offer decent betting odds, an impressive range of betting markets, and one of the largestselection of live betting events. In short, they are good for sports betting.

Plenty of betting markets
Several bet types to choose from
A decent welcome bonus
Absence of live streaming

Sportybet

Opening for business in 2013, Sportybet quickly moved to establish itself as a top online bookmaker in Nigeria. The site is smooth and straightforward to use, and pleasantly appealing to Nigerian bettors in great measure.

Live streaming functionality
Round the clock customer support
Attractive enrolment offer
Proliferation of advertising boards on the site

Merrybet

Merrybet is among one of the biggest and the most popular online playing site in Nigeria. Even though the main offering here is football, you can be sure to find a wide range of other sports and leagues to punt on here.

Exciting promos including cashback on lost wagers
The sportsbook features a user friendly betting interface
Optimized for play on tablets, PCs and smartphones
Website color scheme and design could be better

Bet365

No list of top 10 Nigerian betting sites would be complete without the inclusion of Bet365, which happens to be one of the largestonline betting companies in the world. Though based in the UK, many sports fans in Nigeria will immediately recognize this brand for its close association with Stoke City.

More than 35 different sports on offer
Availability of live streaming function
A decent live betting section
No SMS betting service available in this Nigerian betting site

Nairabet

Nairabet is a highly reputable and licensed online betting site in Nigeria. Having gone live back in 2021, this bookmaker comes in as highly experienced and a decent place to wager on sporting events. It features among the best sports betting sites in Nigeria.

Well-established bookie with 24/7 customer support
They feature a wide range of sports betting markets
Decent ongoing promotions for existing customers
Mostly football dominated

Top Nigerian Betting Sites: A Comparative Look

Sportsbook	Best for	Mobile App	Live Betting
1xbet	Best for a range of betting markets	Yes	Yes
Betway	Best for football betting	Yes	Yes
Melbet	Best betting odds	Yes	Yes
22bet	Best for a wide range of payment options	Yes	Yes
Bet9ja	Best for live betting	Yes	Yes
Betking	Best for attentive customer support	Yes	Yes
Sportybet	Best for promotional offers	Yes	Yes
Merrybet	Best new betting site	Yes	Yes
Bet365	Best for live streaming	Yes	Yes
Nairabet	Best for free bets	Yes	Yes

Signing Up to Nigerian Betting Sites: How Fast is the Sign up Process?

Signing up to Nigerian bookmakers is a quick process that you can complete in just under 2 minutes! It gets even better since the sign process at all Nigerian betting sites follows almost the same procedure. So, how do you go about registering your Nigerian sports betting account? Here’s how to go about it:

Step 1

Log in to the website of your favorite bookmaker. You need to find a Nigerian betting company that meets all your needs.
Step 2

Click on the ‘Register Here’ icon. After login in to the betting website of your preferred bookie, go ahead and click on this icon to go to the next step.
Step 3

Enter your personal details such as your name, username, password, email address and phone number.
Step 4

Click the ‘Join Now’ button and you are done!

Popular Payment Methods for Nigerian Customers

Nigerian bettors will be pleased to learn of several safe and secure payment methods that they can use to fund their accounts. A good number of top online sports betting sites in Nigeria support local payment methods such as GT Bank and Paystack, as well as payments via debit/credit cards, Diamond Bank, accepted e-wallets, and EFT (Bank Transfer).

Exclusive Bonus Offers from Nigeria's Top Betting Sites

As briefly mentioned earlier, many Nigerian bookmakers mostly rely on welcome bonus offers to attract new clientele. However, top betting sites in Nigeria go beyond the welcome bonus offers to offer exclusive bonus offers. Some of them include cashback bonuses, reload bonus offers, refer-a-friend bonus, enhanced odds and free bets.

Sports to Wagering in Nigeria – Which are the most popular sports to bet on in NG?

Nigerians love sports and bettors in the country are at an advantaged position since they can easily access plenty of good betting sites that accept Nigerian players. Even though most of them seem almost the same, examined closely, you’ll notice that each operator has its own unique aspects. Betting on sports in Nigeria is highly popular, and for that reason, bookmakers try to include as many options as possible. However, some sports are much more popular than others are. The following some of the most popular sports to bet on in Nigeria:

Football

The first option in our list of popular sports Nigerian bettors prefer to wager on won’t surprise many. Nigeria is a country known for their football prowess in Africa, which is why the sport is common for online sports bettors in the country. Some of the best Nigerian betting sites offer a decent coverage of both local and international football such as the Premier League and plenty of others inthe African continent as well.

Tennis

Wagering on tennis is another lucrative form of betting that plenty of Nigerian bettors are waking to the reality of trying it out. Tennis offers gambling enthusiasts in Nigeria a chance of placing their wagers on multiple betting markets and therefore stand a chance of winning some real money.

Basketball

Basketball, especially the NBA comes in as one of those trendy sports in many countries, Nigeria included. Lately, wagering on basketball seems to be on the rise in Nigeria with many Nigerian sports betting sites accepting basketball bets almost daily. Betting on basketball allows players in Nigeria to try out lucrative live betting options that are common in basketball.

American sports

American sports are largely popular and get a decent coverage at almost every other bookmaking site, those that accept Nigerian bettors being some of them. Apart from betting on local sports, Nigerian bettors also place bets on offshore events, American sports being one of them. You’ll find a sizeable number of Nigerian bettors placing bets on American sports such as American football, baseball, ice hockey, basketball, and football.

Horse Racing

Wagering on horses seems to be on the rise globally and picking up pace in Nigeria. Even though football is king in Nigeria in terms of betting, lately, there seems to be a growing number of betting websites and online betting fans who find interest in horse race betting.

eSports

In Nigeria, wagering on eSports seems to be growing fast, if not faster than the sport itself. With all the top Nigerian betting sites now going ahead to offer their customers a wide range of eSports markets, the future of eSports betting in Nigeria looks bright. Common eSports that you can find at top Nigerian betting sites include League of Legends, Dota 2, Overwatch and CS: GO.

Fantasy Sports Betting

Real-money fantasy sports sites are lately growing in popularity in Nigeria, especially in the last couple of years. The most popular sports in the globe are widely present in DFS sites in Nigeria too. Even though the biggest section is dedicated to football –no surprise there-, other sports that you can come across here include basketball, hockey, rugby and baseball.

Different Types of Sports Bets

One of the most interesting things about sports betting in Nigeria is that there are plenty of ways to wager on a given sporting event. Here, you just don’t have to wager on a team that will win the match. You can place bets on the margin of victory, the total number of goals to be scored as well as plenty of other bet types. While there are plenty of bet types to choose from, some of the top betting sites in Nigeria offer different types of bets such as the Moneyline, Point Spread, Totals (Over/Under), Parlays, Teasers, Props, and Futures among others.

Top in-play betting sites

Live betting has transformed the online sports betting industry significantly. Now, it’s possible to place bets after an event has started. Unlike before where the fun stopped when the games had commenced, such isn’t the case today. Now, almost every other sports betting site allows their customers to place live bets. In Nigeria, live betting is common among top online betting sites in the country such as Bet365, 1xbet, Betway, Bet9ja and Nairabet.

Betting Apps &Mobile Betting Sites – Which one is the best for you?

Gambling while on the move plays an important role for many online sportsbooks in Nigeria. Unlike a few decades back, today, many bettors have the privilege of owning smartphones, something that makes betting while on the move easy. In a bid aimed at ensuring that they don’t lose their customers, online sports betting sites now have their native mobile apps, along with a decent mobile website for players on the go.

But which one is ideal for gambling? Would you rather wager from the mobile site or via the app? While both of them have their share of merits and demerits, betting through mobile sites tend to have more fans. But why, you may ask. First, players can access their favorite site from any mobile browser. Additionally, the mobile site doesn’t care about the mobile version of your OS. Also, mobile sites usually offer exactly the same sports betting markets as the desktop site, and using a mobile site is highly convenient, especially for new players.

Choosing an Online Sports Betting Site

Finding ideal Nigerian betting sites can be a difficult task if you don’t know where to look or what to consider. But if you are here, you have no reason to worry. Below are some of the factors that you need to consider when choosing an ideal Nigerian bookie.

Legal, Licensed & Safe

There’s nothing riskier than gambling at an unlicensed bookmaker. If something goes wrong (such as failing to release your huge wins), you’ll have no one to blame. Always ensure that you wager at licensed sportsbooks only.

Sign Up Offers

The betting sites that you choose to sign up with should offer decent sign up offers to get your online sports betting up to a flying start. Again, these sign up offers shouldn’t come with difficult terms and conditions that would make it hard for you to enjoy them.

Nigerian Payment Methods

As a bettor, you need to be able to choose from a plethora of payment methods and use the one that you find safe and convenient. When looking for a betting site to register with in Nigeria, make sure that among other things, they offer an impressive range of Nigerian payment options for your convenience.

Design & Usability

How easy is it for you to navigate the site of your bookmaker? If you find that navigation is hard and finding what you want isn’t a breeze, you may want to head somewhere else. Top betting companies Nigeria are those whose websites are easy and quick to use.

Sports & Betting Markets

A limited number of available betting markets mean that your winnings will also be limited in some way. Go for betting companies or any other betting platforms that offer plenty of sports (both major and fringe sports) and betting markets, both local and international.

Highest Sports Betting Odds in Nigeria

Odds determine the amount of your winnings should your bet go ahead and win. When choosing an online sports betting site in Nigeria, as much as possible, go for those that offer decent odds since with such decent odds, you stand a chance of increasing your bankroll with winning bets.

Great Customer Service

Should you run into any problems with your account or anything else, you’d require some form of assistance. Again, you may want to go with sites that offer great customer service. Their support reps must be prompt, kind, friendly and professional in their engagements with customers.

Best online bookmakers in Nigeria — Which are the best sportsbooks in Nigeria 2023?

Online sports betting is a popular pastime for many sports fans in Nigeria. Not only is football a show in Nigeria, but it is also widely embraced and has produced some of the iconic football legends such as Jay-Jay Okocha, and Nwankwo Kanu, among others. With the football fanfare across the country, there has risen a new trend that has become the talk of the town — online sports betting. In recent past Nigeria has experienced an Influx of online betting sites, some are local bookies while others are offshore. While the competition is good in terms of improving the quality of offering to players, it has become hectic for Nigeria players to choose the best online betting site. This shouldn’t be a problem anymore to bettors since our experts did the hard work on your behalf and thoroughly analyzed the best bookmakers in Nigeria. Grab yourself some Egusi soup and let’s dive in. Shall we?

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Nigeria?

First, it is important to understand the legal environment regarding Nigerian sports betting. Many Nigerian bettors are interested to know whether it is betting legal in Nigeria. Gladly, betting is absolutely legal provided thanks to the National Lottery Act of 2005. The Nigeria betting industry is regulated at the federal level and state level. The National Lottery Regulatory Commission enforces the law at the federal level while at the state level; there are state lotteries boards that issue licenses. Therefore, it is absolutely legal to bet in Nigeria.

Regarding betting using the services of offshore bookmakers is a burning question among many Nigerian sports bettors. The earlier regulations apply too, and Nigerian players can bet using offshore bookies without breaking the law. However, you will not be protected by Nigerian laws in case of any fault from the bookmakers’ side. It is a bettor’s responsibility to ensure that the bookies are licensed by reputable regulators in their jurisdiction.

How We Rate and Review Nigerian Bookies

Finding the best betting websites in Nigeria isn’t a walk in the park. As earlier mentioned, Nigeria is a hotbed for online betting sites, both local and offshore. Therefore, it requires caution in settling for a sportsbook which you could count on reliability, safety, fast payout among many other things. Here is our criterion which we use in ranking the sportsbooks.

License

Top of the list is the license. This is a non-negotiable consideration as dealing with unlicensed operators has always had a bad ending. Either a player loses their money, unfair bonus terms, delayed withdrawals, or the site becomes unavailable. No player would like to have such an experience, that’s why the sites listed here are all carefully vetted and verified as licensed.

Markets

The more betting markets the greater the betting options for the player. A bookie that provides players with a wide range sports to bet on even on betting apps is highly embraced. Luckily, the betting site Nigeria list provided here has almost every market that Nigerian bettors would be looking for, be it the most popular sports, exotic sports, or novelty markets such as politics bets.

Odds

Let’s speak the truth — everyone likes high odds. It is a no-brainer— the higher the odds, the higher the expected payout. While all sites look equal, not all sites have the same odds, and that’s why our experts spend so much time finding bookies with high odds. Here you’ll find sites with the best odds compared to the rest.

Payment Methods

Top betting sites embrace a wide range of payment methods for the convenience purpose of players. This would be by availing options such as mobile wallets, debit/credit cards, eWallets, ATM deposits, and cryptocurrencies. Deposit and withdrawal speeds are also important as players prefer sites with fast payment speeds. The minimum deposit is equally important as players wouldn’t be interested in betting sites with high deposit limits.

In-play Betting

In-play betting also known as live betting is an attraction for many bettors. While previously it wasn’t common, nowadays, plenty of bookies adopt it for a wide range of sports. In-Play betting allows players to bet on ongoing games, so should you miss placing a pre-match bet, you still have a chance to bet on it while the match is ongoing. With live betting, players are able to even get higher odds on certain bet outcomes. The option is available mostly available in popular sports and competitions.