The Best Betting Sites in Nigeria

Over the past five years or so, online betting in Nigeria has experienced something of a boon. Online sports betting has been commonly found on the internet for most countries in the Americas, Europe and many parts of Asia for almost 20 years now, but the same cannot be said for Nigeria. Thankfully, that is all changing.

Since 2014 sports betting in Nigeria has really taken off. Sports bettors in the country typically bet around NGN 5 billion per day (which is just over $25 million). Football betting has always been popular in the country, and now that wagering interest has spread to other activities. Internet betting is on the increase as well, with two out of every five Nigerians now having access to the internet, and one in two Nigerians possessing a mobile phone.

Sports betting in Nigeria is perfectly legal. Online and mobile sports books have to possess proper licensing in Nigeria to operate, and licensing is only granted by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

WAMAS will explore the best ways for people in Nigeria to get ahead with their sports betting online and via mobile phones.

The Best Betting Companies in Nigeria 2020

(1) Bet9ja Mobile

Mobile sports betting Is important to sports bettors in Nigeria as the majority of sports betting is done via a mobile phone. Bet9ja are not only the sponsors of the Nigerian National League, they are the best online sports book in the country for mobile betting. They offer an array of payment methods, plus a 100 percent welcome bonus up to a maximum of NGN 100,000.

(2) Nairabet

Nairabet are one of the longest-running online sports books in Nigeria, and one of the most successful too. They take mobile betting very seriously, and they make it extremely easy to bet using your mobile, even if your mobile only has SMS betting. They also offer a ‘first bet bonus’ in which you can claim back the full amount of your first bet in real cash during certain stages of the promotion.

(3) Merrybet

Merrybet is the complete sports-betting solution for all people in Nigeria. You can bet here if you have a PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone or calls/SMS-only mobile phone. The emphasis at this colourful site is on football, but you’ll find coverage of other sports that are popular in Nigeria including tennis, basketball and motorsports. Merrybet is also one of the few sports books in Nigeria that is forward-thinking enough to allow betting on eSports.

(4) 1xBet Nigeria

1xBet is one of the biggest online sports betting companies in the world and has been in operation since 1997 as a real-world sports book and since 2011 as an online one. It is one of the first global sports betting markets to explore the needs and desires of sports bettors in African, including people In Nigeria. 1XBet’s online sports book is one of the best designs of any sports book that can be found anywhere, and the company supports mobile and SMS bet placement too.

(5) Lionsbet

When you mention LionsBet sports bettors in Nigeria roar their approval. This company offers sports betting facilities to people in Zambia too, and while not as ‘snazzy looking’ as other leading sports betting sites, Lionsbet does what it needs to do very efficiently and effectively. The site offers newbies no less than three deposit bonuses, which can be accumulated to amass a potential bonus total of NGN 300,000.

[6] Betway Nigeria

Like 1xBet, Betway is a global gambling company that has begun in recent years to explore new markets, including markets in Africa. You can get the best from your sports betting experience by using the Betway Nigeria portal, and you’ll find more sports covered than any other sports book site available to people in the country. Betway also has a very good reputation for plenty of decent bonuses with favourable terms and conditions.

[7] Spin Sports

This sports book has emerged in recent times as one of the best sports books in Europe and is now beginning to offer its wares to sports bettors in Nigeria too. While not specifically designed with sports bettors in Nigeria in mind, the fact that people in Nigeria are now able to access this all-encompassing site is a great boon. It offers mobile betting too, but SMS and phone betting options are sadly not available.

[8] SureBet247

This brilliant site is something of a rarity in Nigeria as it offers an online casino alongside its sports betting options. You can earn a bonus on the casino and the sports book too. It’s certainly a decent one for the sports book – use the promo code SWB100 and you receive a 100 percent bonus boost up to NGN 25,000.

The Best Bonus Offers

People all over the world are accustomed to bonus offers when they sign up for an account with a new sports book, and people in Nigeria and becoming used to the idea as well. Regulation about bonus offers is not as strict in Nigeria as it is in other African countries (such as Kenya) meaning that new users of sports books can really cash in and obtain some bonus goodness. Here are some of the most beneficial bonuses that are available for fans of sports betting in Nigeria.

(1) Lionsbet

Lionsbet has one of the best signup bonus offers available anywhere. You can earn an NGN 100,000 bonus on your first deposit at the site, an NGN 100,000 bonus on your second deposit at the side and – you’ve guessed it – an NGN 100,000 bonus on your third deposit at the site. Your first bonus is a 100 percent bonus, your second a 50 percent bonus and your third a 25 percent bonus.

All bonus cash can only be used on accumulator bets with at least five bets at total odds of 1.5 or more. What’s more, your bonus cash needs to be rolled over seven times in total before you are able to cash out.

(2) Bet9ja Mobile

Not only has Bet9ja one of the best mobile wagering platforms in Nigeria, it also has one of the best promotions too. Like the Lionsbet bonus, this is a 100 percent bonus up to a maximum of NGN 100,000. Unlike the Lionsbet bonus though, you do not have to wager your bonus on accumulators.

You can withdraw your bonus cash (and any winnings) as soon as you have wagered the value of your bonus ten times over. For example, if you deposit NGN 4,000 and receive an NGN 4,000 bonus, then you will need to make NGN 40,000 in wagers in total before you can cash out. Note that all qualifying wagers need to be on events with odds of at least 3.0

(3) Nairabet

Nairabet takes a different approach to its welcome deal than both Lionsbet and Bet9ja. During the times when the promotion is available, if your first bet during the promotional period is an accumulator with at least four selections with minimum combined odds of 1.20, then you will receive a bonus that matches the total value of your stake, up to a maximum of NGN 50,000.

Be aware though that this is a bonus bet and as such, you cannot withdraw your stake if you use it and win, but you can withdraw winnings. Note that you can only use your bonus bet in full – you cannot split it over other bets.

The Best Betting Sites with Phone or SMS Betting

The majority of sports bettors in Nigeria will want to place bets using phone or SMS betting. Not everyone has access to a smartphone, and not everyone can access the internet. The easiest way to place a bet with a sports book is via phone or SMS betting, and the majority of sites accept phone or SMS betting as an option.

For example, at Nairabet you can place bets via phone. Just call one of the customer care numbers for the site – 0700 NAIRABET (070 024 72238). You will be put in touch with a Nariabet customer care operative. Tell the operator your Nairabet username, but not your password as this is not required. You will then have to answer a verification question to prove that you have proper access to the account you are requesting. This could be, for example, the last bet you made, or your current account balance.

Once you are verified you will be able to tell the operator the bet you wish to place. The operator will read the bet back to you before it is placed to make sure that it is the correct bet. Only once you have agreed will the bet be placed.

Other sites, such as SupaBets, will allow SMS betting. You will need to find a guide at the online site in order to understand how to place an SMS bet. You simply construct your bet as an SMS message, outlining the event ID of the match you want to bet upon, the type of bet you are placing, the predicted outcome and the amount you want to wager. Once your bet has been accepted you will receive a confirmation SMS in return confirming your success.

How to Get Money into your Sports Betting Account

There are usually several ways in which you can get money into your sports betting account with a sports book that offers services to people in Nigeria.

Banks deposits

Most sports books in Nigeria accept payments from all the leading banks in the country, including First Bank, FCMB, Sterling Bank, Union Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Eco Bank, Access Bank and Fidelity Bank. Just visit your bank and obtain a deposit slip and transfer money to your sports bookmaking sure you indicate your sports book account details.

Online via a Bank ATM card

You can deposit online via a sports book site using any bank ATM card. Fill in how much you want to transfer then input your card type, number, expiry date and PIN. Click ‘Confirm’ to transfer the money.

Authorised agent

Some sports books have authorised agents. You can visit find your nearest agent by visiting the sports books’ site. You can hand your payment and sports book username to the agent, who will then facilitate the transfer of money to your sports book account.

Quickteller

You can add money to your sports book account by using the ‘Quickteller’ services via any ATM. You can use the option ‘Fund Wallet’ and ‘Others’. Your sports book will provide a code that you can input in order to transfer money to your sports book account. You can also use Quickteller directly online.

USSD Code

A USSD Code allows you to send money via a text message. Each site will have specific instructions on how you can transfer money from your bank to your sports book account via a USSD code.

GTB Internet Banking

You can use internet banking to fund your sports betting online. Your sports book will be able to provide you with a GTB Customer ID. Via the GTB portal go to ‘Internet Payments’ and ‘Make New Payment’. Enter your Customer ID and the amount you want to deposit, and then press ‘Pay’.

Paystack

To pay using Paystack, head to the Paystack payment services gateway online and choose the ‘Pay with Card’ option. Enter your bank card number, your expiry date, your CVV number and the payment details for your sports book account. Click on ‘Pay’ when all is okay.

Conclusion

We at WAMAS are here to help you. We are the number #1 resource for sports betting in Nigeria, with reviews of all the leading sports betting sites, details of the best bonus offers and how-to guides aimed to show you how to get the most out of your sports betting. We update our site often, so keep checking for the latest news, views and offers!

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