This article is designed for all Nigerian sports fans who intend to place some lucrative bets with reputable and trustworthy bookmakers. Here, MightyTips explains everything you need to know about the current state of the sports betting market in Nigeria, the subtleties of the country’s gambling and betting legislation, and breaks down the most popular options among Nigerian betting platforms.

The African sports betting scene is known for being rich with major offshore bookmakers that offer their services on the continent. People from Nigeria are also welcome to pick and register their accounts with a popular international sportsbook to place their bets with. But how do you find a reliable and 100% secure website? Take a look at our list of top six betting sites in Nigeria and be sure that every entry is a completely safe option for your bets.

1. 22Bet

22Bet is surely one of the most popular betting websites not only in Nigeria but all over the world. Established in 2017, 22Bet has been operating in the market for over 5 years, offering more than 50,000 monthly sports events to wager on. 22Bet can ensure a rounded sports betting experience with such universal features as Edit Bet and Quick Bet, full and partial cash-out, official Android and iOS apps, and payment methods that support crypto. For these reasons, we rank 22Bet as the best betting site in Nigeria in 2024.

2. BC.GAME

Founded back in 2017, BC.GAME is a multilingual sports betting platform licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority. The range of available sports markets at BC.GAME varies from the most popular games to niche options. In the bookie’s Sports section, punters can come across such rare markets as snooker, water polo, floorball, curling, lacrosse, and Indy racing. BC.GAME has a reputation as a bookmaker that is primarily focused on wagering with cryptocurrencies – particularly Bitcoin. So if you’re used to wagering using crypto, this is your perfect choice.

3. Parimatch

Parimatch is one of the most experienced bookmakers in Eastern Europe that has quickly spread across all the other continents of the globe. The website was established back in 1996 and went online in 2000. Currently, Parimatch can offer sports betting markets for football, basketball, boxing, cricket, ice hockey, rugby, volleyball, and a number of niche options as well. The in-play betting section at Parimatch features a Live Streaming option that allows you to get to the heart of the action right away whenever you’re wagering on ongoing sports events. And with the availability of fast withdrawal methods, you can request a withdrawal of your winnings whenever you want and wait for it to be processed within the next 24 hours.

4. Melbet

Melbet is an experienced sportsbook established back in 2012 that meets all the industry’s key standards. Loyal customers of Melbet leave mostly positive reviews of this betting platform, pointing out the simplicity of its user interface, a vast selection of live markets to bet on, strong odds, and hassle-free withdrawals. Apart from this, Melbet includes such convenient betting features as Quick Bet, Full Cashout, and live streaming with Multiview. This is why we consider MelBet one of the best betting sites in Nigeria.

5. 1xBet

If you’re looking for an experienced and time-tested bookmaker with a good share of positive reviews from bettors, then 1xBet is the ultimate choice. The company has been on the market since 2007 and went online in 2011. To this day, it has been updating its selection of available markets and, currently, 1xBet offers over 50 sports to bet on and thousands of daily pre-match and in-play events.

6. MyStake

MyStake is a wagering platform that entered the market in 2019 and has its headquarters in Sydney, Australia. The bookmaker mainly focuses on eSports betting, although there is a decent selection of classic markets as well. What makes MyStake stand out is the fact that it has not one but two separate welcome offers for all newcomers. The first one deals solely with e-sports bets so, if you intend to place some wagers on the most popular games, MyStake is certainly a decent choice.

In order to provide an adequate and well-rounded review of the best sports wagering websites in Nigeria for readers, we thoroughly check every platform according to a number of crucial factors. In order to meet all the needs of punters, a decent sportsbook must meet our criteria.

1. Competitive betting odds

   Odds are the very first factor we pay attention to while reviewing a new sports betting platform. A lot of bookmakers operating in Nigeria offer relatively strong numbers both on single events and major leagues and tournaments. But given that betting with illegal platforms is still a major issue in Nigeria, many fraudulent websites use higher odds as an opportunity to lure customers in. You should be aware of this: even if betting on higher odds is always tempting, your safety comes first. It’s better to settle on a betting website with lower odds numbers but the guaranteed security of all customers.

2. Mobile compatibility

   Mobile wagering is a good example of a current trend in the sports betting industry. While conducting our research, we look for sportsbooks that can offer their official applications for Android and iOS devices. Such a form of betting will become even more popular in the future as the pace of life increases. Isn’t it great to have an entire platform of lucrative sports bets on your mobile phone?

3. Available payment options

   You can’t start wagering on sports unless you have a completely secure and trustworthy payment method up your sleeve. Nigerian punters resort to various payment options when it comes to deposits and withdrawals on betting websites: while some prefer to stick to their debit or credit cards, others are used to faster and more convenient ways, like e-wallets or crypto. Still, anyone who wishes to deposit some cash or request a withdrawal of their winnings must be sure that their sportsbook will offer only secure and legit payment options.

4. Welcome bonuses and promotions

   Once you register with a new sports wagering site, you’re most likely to be met with a storm of bonuses and promotions trying to encourage you to place your first wager as fast as possible. Nevertheless, not all of these promos are actually good and can play out in your favour. This is why we thoroughly review every decent bonus offer introduced by a sportsbook and the wagering requirements attached.

5. Depth of betting markets

   Did you know that choosing a fitting betting market makes up half of the success when it comes to wagering on sports? The choices available on most platforms are classic, featuring common betting markets for popular sports types and events. Still, we’re aiming at special bet types, such as Accumulator bets or Player Props, which can make your betting experience even more profitable and fun.

6. Customer support

   This is another crucial entry on our list. All legit Nigerian betting sites are required to provide customer support and dispute resolution services. Customer support is what makes a responsive bookmaker platform that cares about its users, their safety and comfort. As soon as any questions spring up in the course of betting, a customer should have enough channels of communication to contact the bookie quickly and effortlessly. The most common list of support channels includes 24/7 Live Chat, an email address, and a phone number. However, the existence of the bookmaker’s social media accounts is another advantage in our focus.

7. Licensing and reputation

   Whenever a bookie is said to have a good reputation on the market, it must be supported by facts. We check the legitimacy of every operating license issued to bookmaker’s websites. Plus, apart from this, we also take a look at the bookie’s local licenses and additional means through which customer safety is ensured.

Mobile-friendly sportsbooks are frequent choices among Nigerian punters. It’s important to have a chance to place some wagers on your favourite sports even without access to your laptop. Luckily, plenty of modern bookmakers offer their official Android and iOS apps to users. Let’s break down the most widespread options.

Having the possibility to bet on live matches on your hands is surely a perk. Many Nigerian punters have a passion for in-play betting as it’s an exciting activity that often leads to mind-boggling winnings. And even though the odds on live games are usually higher (and some platforms even offer regular odds boosts), live betting can also be risky from time to time. Be sure that you know the game and its rules well and prepare yourself for drastic changes in the odds or the match result over the course of the game. While betting on your favourite sports live is surely exciting, don’t rush into placing your wager once you spot the highest odds. Instead, observe and wait for the right moment to leap. That is when you’re sure that the team you intend to bet on is most likely to win.

Here are some of the most popular sports for live betting in Nigeria:

• Football
• Cricket
• Boxing
• Rugby
• eSports

Whether you're looking for a football betting site or intend to bet on some niche events, why not give a chance to a fledgling bookmaker? We’re going to acquaint you with a couple of brand-new sportsbooks operating in Nigeria. You can be sure that, despite their novelty, these are legit bookmakers with relevant licenses and top-tier means of customer security.

What are the most common markets preferred by Nigerian sports bettors? In order to answer this question, we reviewed some of the leading betting platforms in the country and evaluated the odds displayed for various markets and sporting events. Even though football remains the leading sport in terms of the number of annual bets, there are some other exciting sports widely loved by Nigerian punters.

To get started with bookmaker operators in Nigeria and place your first bet, you have to register your account and agree to the bookie's terms and conditions first and foremost. But what comes after that? Follow our detailed tutorial step-by-step to find out how exactly you can wager on sports safely and efficiently.

1. Complete the registration process and enter your account details to log in
2. Go to the Sports or Live page of your bookmaker and look for a match to bet on
3. Pick a suitable betting market and check the odds
4. Click on the outcome you wish to place your stake on
5. After your wager appears in the Bet Slip, enter the stake amount and confirm your bet
6. Wait for your winnings

The bonuses betting websites in Nigeria feature a wide range of exclusive promotions for sports bettors. In cases when you need to boost your luck or win back a certain percentage of money on your losing bet, bonus offers from your bookmaker will be of benefit. Take a look at the array of bonuses most frequently offered to punters in Nigeria.

Deposit bonuses

Deposit bonuses usually consist of extra cash that you are rewarded for your first sports bet on the website. Quite often, you can keep getting bonuses for your second, third, fourth, and sometimes even fifth deposits. Notice that, although deposit bonuses are generous, there are also some strict wagering requirements for them, so we advise that you study them in advance.

Welcome offers

A welcome package is a good way to start your betting journey with a Nigerian bookmaker. Everyone who enters a sports betting site for the first time and creates a personal account is eligible for a welcome gift. These packages usually involve extra cash on your first deposit or even free bets. Before you can claim your sign-up offer though, you have to meet the bookie’s wagering requirements and complete a rollover of your bonus amount on selected sports events with predefined odds.

Free bets

Free bets are excellent bonus offers that allow you to get a taste of wagering with a particular bookmaker and place some stakes without spending actual cash. Free bets are usually available for a selected number of sports types and events.

Cashback

When you only start wagering on sports, you may come across a number of losses. This is the point when cashback steps in to save your bankroll. With such individual offers as cricket cashback, football cashback, tennis cashback and other types of this promotion, you get a chance to win back a predefined amount of cash from your fruitless wagers.

VIP offers

Hundreds of betting sites in Nigeria can offer decent VIP membership programs to their customers. If you intend to stay with your preferred bookie for a long time, it would be wise to partake in a VIP loyalty program – if there is one. These bonuses consist of levels and each new promotion gives out more and more generous rewards, available only to VIP customers.

When it comes to choosing a payment option to top up their betting account, Nigerian punters differ in their preferences. While some stick to classic bank transfers and debit or credit bank cards, others choose faster deposit and withdrawal methods, like digital wallets or cryptocurrencies. Let’s take a brief look at the most popular deposit methods in Nigeria.

• Bet with Skrill in Nigeria: Skrill is one of the leading digital wallets, currently operating in 131 countries of the world. With Skrill, you get an opportunity to create multiple wallets in 40 currencies offered by the platform. You can top up your Skrill account via bank card, bank transfer, or one of the suggested payment channels in advance and later use it as a convenient depositing and withdrawing method on a sports betting website.
• Bet with Neteller in Nigeria: Neteller is another widely preferred payment method among Nigerian punters. A lot of sportsbooks operating in the country allow for faster transactions when it comes to this payment option, in particular for withdrawals. While the payment process with Neteller is relatively simple and requires only the receiver’s email, this e-wallet is still considered top-tier in terms of user security and privacy.
• Bet with PayPal in Nigeria: Among other widespread deposit options on Nigerian betting sites, PayPal is the one that stands out in terms of security and overall simplicity. All you have to do in order to start depositing cash with PayPal is connect your bank account to your PayPal profile and just use your email and password later on to complete fast and effortless transactions on sports betting sites.
• Bet with MasterCard in Nigeria: MasterCard is a classic banking method for sports betting websites and is a perfect option for punters who neither have any e-wallet accounts nor want to create them. The process of depositing funds with MasterCard is simple and straightforward: it uses only your bank card information to process the payment. Deposits with MasterCard on sports betting platforms are usually charge-free and take no more than several minutes to be processed. Plus, there are no third parties involved in your transactions with MasterCard, so you should have no worries about this method’s security.

Criminal Code Act

The Criminal Code Act is the main jurisdiction that controls and regulates all gambling and betting activities in Nigeria. Various forms of gambling were legalised not too long ago, in the late 1990s, with Chapter 22, section 236 of the Criminal Code Act. The primary purpose of this legislation was to generate tax revenues on gambling facilities in the country. However, this also kicked off the advent and relatively fast spread of gambling in Nigeria. To this day, the most popular forms of gambling among local citizens have been slot machines, lotteries and, of course, online sports betting.

However, the legalisation of gambling in Nigeria also had a number of harmful consequences. The main problem circulating across the country right now is illegal gambling, in particular betting on football matches – and this is spreading alarmingly fast. The local authorities do little to spread awareness concerning the negative consequences of gambling with illegal platforms, even though it causes a significant outflow of yearly tax revenues.

National Lottery Act 2005

The National Lottery Act of 2005 officially legalised The National Lottery in Nigeria, and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission became the main regulatory body of all forms of gambling in the country. The main principles of this legislation pointed out the difference between games of skill and games of chance. The games of chance thus became illegal in Nigeria and, to this day, Nigerian citizens are prohibited from partaking in roulette, dice games, and card games that are not based on skill. However, the legal forms of gambling include land-based casino facilities, the National Lottery, and sports betting.

The very first legislation concerning gambling and sports betting in Nigeria dates back to the late 1990s when the Chapter partly legalising these activities was added to the country’s Criminal Code. Games of chance are still prohibited at a governmental level in Nigeria, whilst games of skill, including sports betting, are allowed and regulated. These days, Nigeria has a thriving betting industry with a wide variety of betting sites available to Nigerian players. These sites offer a variety of betting options, including sports betting, casino games, and virtual sports. Along with land-based gambling shops and remote gambling, betting activities are quickly getting popular among millions of local punters.

Even though online betting is considered legal in the country, all Nigerian betting sites are subject to strict regulations, including anti-money laundering laws and responsible gambling policies. This is an important step as gambling and betting with illegal platforms is still a major issue among Nigerian punters.

Here are some notable facts about the gambling and sports betting scene in Nigeria:

1. Nigeria is the third largest market for online gambling in Africa, with a total market size of $37 million in 2019.
2. The number of online gambling users in Nigeria has grown by more than 50% since 2017, reaching an estimated 2.5 million in 2019.
3. The most popular sports for online betting in Nigeria are football, basketball, cricket, boxing.
4. More than 70% of online gambling users in Nigeria are male.

Nowadays, Nigeria is home to more than 100 online betting sites, with the majority of them being sports betting sites. According to recent statistics, more than 50% of the country’s adult population engages in gambling and sports wagering activities on a regular basis. Offshore gambling and betting platforms are of particular interest among Nigerian sports fans, as they can offer a greater selection of sports markets to bet on, competitive odds, and a vast selection of bonuses and promotions designed exclusively for bettors.