Africa is a sports-crazy continent, and the African market is unique, making the market especially attractive to sports betting operators. Nigerians, in particular, have a great interest in soccer, so they are a perfect target group for operators who offer soccer betting. While there are plenty of Nigerian sports bettors on overseas gambling sites, there are not yet many operators offering legal digital sports betting in Nigeria.
Is it legal in Nigeria to be involved in any sports bets? Is there a particular age restriction? Can you bet on sports outside of Nigeria? This article will bring up some information revealed earlier, with information that you need to be kept informed at all times.
What sports can you bet on?
BettingGuide.com lists all the best online sportsbooks that offer you a wide range of markets on all major sporting events. You can bet on football, basketball, tennis, rugby, cricket, boxing, and handball, to name just a few. You can also wager on more obscure events like eSports and motorsports.
Where can you bet in Nigeria?
Nigeria is a massive country, and not everyone wants to get caught up in the whirlwind of illegal betting. There are more legal opportunities than you could ever imagine. Here are some places you can bet:
- Online: YES, you can bet online in Nigeria. Since it’s the most popular method, many bookies have online betting platforms that cost per month, week or day. You’ll even find live streaming of your favorite games and sports matches.
- Legally physical shops: Yes, there are physical shops where you can place bets on sports such as football or basketball. You need to be wary, though, since they will probably ask for a deposit before you start placing bets and might also demand that you sign an agreement confirming your willingness to pay any penalties if it turns out you were wrong about your outcome wagers. However, the biggest advantage is that these betting shops are located all over the country, so finding one shouldn’t be too much of a challenge.
- Agents: Of course, there is another option that eliminates all risk from their side and gives them total control but comes with its own set of limitations—you’ll need to book through them (see below).
Why is it important to go through a regulated Sports betting site?
It is important to go through regulated Sports betting sites because it is safe and secure. These regulated sports betting sites are licensed and regulated by a government authority such as the Lagos State Lotteries, which means they must follow set rules and regulations. They must have all their procedures in place, such as having an effective database of players, proper methods of handling payments and withdrawals, and effective ways of resolving player complaints.
If the site does not comply with these rules or fails to address player complaints effectively, the governing body can revoke its license, which would lead to its closure or massive fines for the site. This means that you will be protected from any malpractices that may occur on non-regulated sites.
How to identify legal Sports betting sites
With the growing popularity of sports betting in Nigeria and worldwide, it is important to know where you can go to bet on sports without getting into trouble. In Nigeria, many sites offer services like this. The government regulates some while some are not.
The best way to find out which ones are legal and safe for you to use is by looking at their reputation. If they have a good reputation among other players, then chances are they will provide quality service too!
These include: Safety & security measures; Legal license ; Regulation ; Bonuses ; Registration process ; Payment methods (e.g., credit card/bank transfer) etc.
How to get started with betting?
Pick the right sportsbook for you
It’s a good idea to research different online bookmakers and see which one offers the best odds on your favorite sports. Many sportsbooks provide betting opportunities in Nigeria, but unfortunately, not all are legitimate and fair because they may be fake or operate illegally. To avoid this, we recommend that you check our list of recommended bookies, where we have already listed the most reliable online bookmakers with a valid license in Nigeria.
Choose your preferred payment method
Most online bookmakers accept e-wallet payments, such as Skrill, Neteller, and WebMoney, but also other options such as Paytm and Bitcoin might be available. Some operators even allow you to make deposits using certain mobile money services (like M-Pesa).
However, if none of these payment methods are available for Nigerian bettors. In that case, it is still possible to use international banking systems like Visa or Mastercard to deposit funds into your account at an online betting site.
Make sure that you can deposit or withdraw money with Naira
If you choose an online bookmaker which accepts bets from bettors in Nigeria, you will most likely be able to deposit and withdraw money using Nigerian Naira (NGN). If not, then look for a USD-friendly operator instead since it is easy enough to exchange any currency into US dollars when needed at very competitive rates (especially via crypto exchanges).
Learn the basics of sports betting
Betting on sports is very easy in Nigeria. Sports betting is also popular because of the sheer number of people who follow different types of sports. Luckily, there are many kinds of sports betting to take advantage of.
You’ll need to understand the different kinds of odds you can bet on: fractional odds, decimal odds, American odds, and Asian handicap. You’ll also need to learn the basic terms used by online bookmakers when placing bets: Handicaps (HC), Over/Under (OU), Draw No Bet (DNB), Straight up (SU), Moneyline (ML), Double Chance (DC).
You can do more to boost your chances of winning a bet than just choosing multiple outcomes for a single match: Combining Odds and Dividing Payouts, Combining Match Outcomes, Arbitrage; Hedge Betting; Risk-Free Betting; Setting Limits and Goals.
Finally, you shouldn’t forget some basic elements when looking for an online bookmaker. Reputable bookmakers with good customer reviews are better than new ones that haven’t been tested yet. Making sure that your preferred payment method is accepted will make it easier to deposit money into your account and withdraw winnings from your account. Some bookmakers offer promotions or bonuses to attract new players, but they aren’t always helpful or worthwhile since they might have complicated terms or conditions attached.
Choose a sports betting site and open your account
To place sports bets online, you first need to open an account with a licensed sportsbook. This is done by clicking the sign-up link above and filling out a simple form. After registering, you will be able to browse through the different markets and bets available.
Betting sites are regulated by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, which has strict requirements for operators. The first thing to do when choosing an operator is to check that it has approval from this body – this means that your money is safe and that any disputes will be arbitrated fairly. Some of these sites have been known to have lengthy delays or no payout at all, so stay away from them!
Most betting sites support Nigerian Naira as a currency and other popular currencies such as USD and GBP. To make withdrawals easier and more convenient, choose a site that supports your preferred method of payment, i.e.,
- If you use Bitcoin, then go with Betfair or Betway.
- If you use Skrill, then go with bet9ja or Surebet247
It’s a Wrap
If you love betting on sports, you already know that it is so much more than just putting your money on the line and hoping for the best. You have to consider your reasons for betting on sports, consider where to bet on sports, how to pay for betting, how much to bet, and a whole bunch of other things. At least you’re now informed on how to bet on sports legally in Nigeria.
