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

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.

Live Streaming

Thanks to high mobile penetration and affordable internet mobile data, Nigerian players are able to watch live games on their betting sites portal. While this looks like an attractive offering, not all sites provide this great option. Luckily, a majority of the sites provided here have live streaming options for certain sports. So you no longer have to visit video halls to watch live Premier League matches or tennis tournaments.

Customer Service

Bad customer support is a deal-breaker for many players. Slow response time is also another thing that new customers may find unimpressive. With sports betting customer support response time is of the essence and should you stumble on a problem and take a long time to have it resolved it may mean a lost winning chance. Good customer service goes a long way in leading to referrals to friends and nice feedback on online forums.

Platform

A betting platform should be easy to navigate especially for new players. This will make it easy for new players when registering betting accounts, making deposits, finding betting markets, and much more. The top sites in Nigeria have a friendly interface for their mobile betting sites or android and iOS applications.

Top 10 Nigerian Bookmakers

1xbet

Established in 2011, 1xBet is among the most popular betting sites in Nigeria. New players get a sign-up bonus of up to ₦ 100,000.

Betway

Betway is a locally registered bookie that offers a wide range of betting services to Nigerian bettors. Better yet, the bookie accepts Nigerian Naira.

Melbet

Melbet is an offshore bookie registered in Curaçao and caters to several African countries including Nigeria. It has an easy-to-use interface, plenty of betting markets, and a native mobile app.

22bet

Trading under the brand name 22bet, 22bet is locally owned by Arcadia Hospitality Limited. The bookie has a wide repertoire of betting markets, local payment methods and of course, accepts Naira.

Bet9ja

This site hands down is one of the best local bookies in Nigeria. The gaming site is widely known and has betting shops spread out in Nigeria.

Betking

Owned and operated by SV Gaming Limited, BetKing caters to a wide range of Nigerian bettors. It is one of the fastest-growing bookmakers since it was established in 2017.

Sportybet

Popularly known for its share slip feature, SportyBet is a reputable brand in Nigeria. The site is highly secure, easy to use interface, and player chat room.

Merrybet

Trading under the name Merry Bet Gold Limited, Merrybet is a locally owned bookie established in 2013. The site is licensed by the Lagos State Lotteries Board.

Bet365

Bet365 is a popular betting site in Nigeria although operating as an offshore betting site. Nigerian players are able to open an account with bet365, deposit, and withdraw.

Nairabet

Nairabet is one of the trailblazers of online betting in Nigeria. It is locally-owned and operates under a Lagos State Lotteries Board license.

Nigerian Bookies Comparison Table