Sports Betting

Sports betting has never been as convenient or as accessible as it is today in Nigeria. With the transition from betting kiosks to online betting sites, you can enjoy betting on your favourite matches from anywhere and at any time. 

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About Sports Betting in Nigeria

Sports betting Nigeria

Sports betting in Nigeria is both legal and very popular, especially among the younger, fast-growing, internet-using community.

Right from the registration of Nigeria’s first online sportsbook in 2007, sports betting has grown exponentially in the country and been embraced by sports fans and gamblers all over the country. Before online betting was a thing in the country, you had to physically go to a kiosk to place a bet. Now, you can bet on sports from anywhere with the convenience of internet betting and online sportsbooks.

Over a third of Nigeria’s population, about 60 million people, are spending around N1.8 billion on sports betting daily.

Even though it is possible to bet on the Nigerian Professional Football League, a lot of Nigerians actually love betting on European leagues such as the EPL and La Liga which have some of the biggest football matches in the world.

Other than football, you can also bet on a variety of sports using reliable and easy betting platforms available today. Some of the popular spots for betting include basketball, volleyball, virtual games, and many more.

While there is no way to ensure you’ll win every bet, smart gamblers can make informed choices by doing proper research before placing their bets.

How to Bet on Sports Online

Sports betting refers to betting on the outcome of a sports match and is a huge industry all over the world. With online platforms, betting on sports has never been easier and the industry is booming in Nigeria!

Even though sports betting in shops and kiosks are still popular here, online platforms have opened up the market to a lot more people and have proven to be a much more convenient experience when it comes to betting on your favourite matches.

As the number of cellphone users increased in Nigeria along with easy access to the Internet, many online betting sites have popped up to capture the growing market and provide an easy way for Nigerians to bet on their favourite sports. All you need to do is click some buttons and you’re ready to face the action!

What Are Odds?

Odds are used by online betting sites to denote the most likely outcome of the game. For example, 50/50 odds means that there is an equal chance of both teams winning the game. The higher the odds, the lower are the chances of winning the bet but at the same time, they also provide higher returns for bettors. For example, if you bet with the odds of 20/80, you only have a 20% chance of winning the bet but if you do win, you’ll get a 4x return on your money!

Understanding the odds and when to bet on what odds are crucial if you want to be a successful gambler and win big in the long-term.

Consider the Odds

Every sportsbook has slightly different odds and it is important to consider the different odds provided by the different online betting sites to ensure you get the betting options that are best for you.

The reason why different sportsbooks have different odds is due to the fact that they follow different models when calculating the odds. This is why it is a good idea to check the odds provided on the game at different sportsbooks so you can bet with odds that will give you the best potential returns!

Odds can also fluctuate from time to time, even during the middle of the match. The odds are set by the online betting site so they can make a profit against millions of gamblers. Learning how odds work and how to find the best odds for your bets is one of the major foundations of a successful sports betting strategy.

Make Sure of the Rules

Before you make even a single bet, it is important for you to understand the rules that govern the online betting site you wager on. A poor understanding of the rules can make you lose money and can also cause you to miss out on the extra value provided by the bonuses and promotional offers.

To ensure that you don’t miss anything, all wagering requirements of the different sportsbooks have been covered in the reviews you’ll find on this site!

Set up a Budget

You should never gamble with money that you cannot afford to lose. This is why it is recommended to set up a budget that is only for betting on sports. Having a dedicated budget prevents you from taking losses that you cannot afford!

Mobile betting

Sports betting on mobileBetting on sports (especially football) is really popular in Nigeria and with online betting sites, you can get in on the action regardless of where you are!

All mobile sportsbooks in Nigeria have to be licensed through the National Lottery Regulatory Commission that regulates gambling in the country. This means that all sportsbooks that hold a license in the country are completely legal. Other than just local Nigerian sportsbooks, you can also enjoy access to betting on international sportsbooks that operate here with a license.

It’s very easy to get started with online betting in Nigeria. All you need are three simple steps:

  • Go to your favourite online betting site.
  • Make an account.
  • Make your first deposit.

And you’re ready to start betting on sports from the convenience of your home! No more do you have to go to kiosks like you had to in the old days, all you need is an internet connection!

By using the links provided here at Informationng.com you can be sure not to miss out on any potential welcome bonuses.

You can find a number of online betting sites in Nigeria such as Betway, 22Bet, NetBet, and BetBonanza that allow you to get instant access to sportsbooks from any device and some even allow you to stream matches and bet on them in real-time!

Who is allowed to bet online?

The legal age for gambling is 18 and according to Section 34 of the National Lottery Act, it is an offence for anybody to allow a child below the legal age to participate in gambling.

An offender can get a hefty fine of 20,000 naira or a prison sentence of three years for tendering unlawful gambling under the National Lottery Act.

Is it safe to bet online?

Gamblers can be suspicious of betting online due to the fear of electronic fraud that used to be rampant. However, with proper licensed online betting sites, you can rest assured that your money will be safe!

Even though most of the big international online sportsbooks accept Nigerian gamblers, Naira as a currency is not accepted everywhere. Some online sportsbooks require you to convert your balance into a different currency to place a bet, for example, Betfair and Bet365. Some online sportsbooks that support Naira are 22Bet, NetBet, and Betway.

To make things even more secure, you can use safe payment options such as e-wallets and prepaid solutions too on most online betting sites in Nigeria.

How do welcome bonuses work?

Best betting bonuses in Nigeria

Welcome bonuses are given to new bettors on most online betting sites, usually in the form of free bets or as a bonus amount added to increase the first deposit. These bonuses are great if you want to increase your bankroll and get a head start when it comes to betting on these sites.

When it comes to welcome bonuses, it is important to understand that almost every bonus comes up with some restrictions and wager requirements. These requirements ensure that bettors have to win up to a certain limit before they can withdraw the bonus amounts.

Below are some of the most common bonuses you will come across:

Matching Bonus

A matching bonus is a bonus amount that is added to a new player’s deposit and the amount is matched to the deposit up to a certain limit. For example, if the matching bonus offered by the site is 100% and you deposit ₦10 000, then you would have ₦ 20 000 as your balance. Similarly, if the bonus offered is 200% and you deposit ₦10 000, you would have ₦30 000 in your balance.

Matching bonuses are very common and are a great way to get a good start!

Free Play Bonus

Free play bonuses are bonuses that are offered at online casinos and sportsbooks that you can get without even putting up a deposit! However, Free Play bonuses are usually not transferable to cash and most of them have a time-based restriction.

However, some casinos allow you to keep a certain amount above the original bonus as winnings in your balance which can then be transferred into cash! Free Play bonuses are great for getting a taste of an online sportsbook.

No Deposit Bonus

Lastly, No Deposit bonuses are offered to players who register through affiliate sites, although some casinos and sportsbooks offer these bonuses through direct signups too! 

No Deposit bonuses are basically a welcome gift from the sportsbook to the new players and they are also often referred to as free bets.

What is the Difference Between a No Deposit Bonus and a Free Play Bonus?

A No Deposit bonus gives the bettor extra free money as part of their balance. However, this bonus cannot be withdrawn and there are a number of wagering requirements that are usually attached to most No Deposit bonuses.

The main difference between a Free play bonus and a No Deposit bonus is that a Free Play bonus allows the player to place free bets while in the case of a No Deposit Bonus, the player gets credits that can be used for betting on games. Reading the terms and conditions of an online sportsbook helps you understand what the exact wagering requirements are when it comes to bonuses.

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Most Common Types of Sports Bets

There are a number of different types of sports bets that are offered on most online betting sites in Nigeria. In order to get the best returns on your bets, it is better to be aware of the different types of bets that you can make and find the ones that will give you the best returns.

1×2

1 x 2, or three-way betting is one of the most common types of bets found on most online sportsbooks. 1 x 2 allows you to bet on three different outcomes – a home win (1), an away win (2), and a draw (x).

Here’s an example to understand this type of bet better – let’s say we’re betting on a match between Team A and Team B. In a game between them, Team A would be represented as 1 (let’s assume the odds offered are 1.45) and Team B would be represented as 2 (let’s assume the odds of this are 8.73). Lastly, let’s assume a draw between them (x) to be priced at 4.72.

Let’s say you have ₦100 as stake. If you bet on 1, or a win for Team A, you’ll get a return of 145 (100 x 1.45). If you bet on 2, or a win for Team B, you’ll get 873 (100 x 8.73). Lastly, if you bet on x or a draw, you’ll get a return of 472 (100 x 4.72).

Both Teams to Score

Both Teams to Score (or BTTS) is a type of bet that seems very simple on the surface but it requires a lot of analysis if you want to consistently win these types of bets.

A BTTS bet, as the name implies, is betting on the outcome that both the teams will score at least 1 goal. It is also possible to bet on the outcome that none of the teams will score a goal in the entire match.

The odds for a BTTS bet will vary depending on which outcome you’re betting on – either both teams scoring goals or none of them scoring a single goal in the match.

Over/Under 2.5

Over / Under 2.5 is one of the most commonly found types of bets for football matches. The idea is that you bet on whether the match will have less than 2 goals or more than 3 goals in total, regardless of the side scoring them.

You don’t have to predict the exact score to win this bet and since you’re betting for more than 2.5 goals or less than 2.5 goals, you can’t win the bet if there is a 1-1 draw at the end of the game.

Live betting

Live betting, also known as in-play betting, allows you to bet on a game that has already started. For live betting, there is not really a need to understand a lot of statistics and allows bettors to bet right on the action that is unfolding in front of them live! You can also change your bets while the game keeps going on!

The odds of the game are constantly changing depending on what is happening in the game by algorithms and gamblers can constantly be on the lookout for excellent betting opportunities that provide great returns on their stake.

Some popular in-play bets include betting on who the next goalscorer will be, which team will score next, and what the final number of goals will be at the end of the game.

Virtual Sports

A lot of online betting sites only allow you to bet on “real” sports and neglect virtual sports which are basically virtual games that are random but fair. Even though anything can happen in virtual sports, most bettors like the idea that you only have to bet on 1 out of 15 possible outcomes which effectively gives you better odds overall.

Virtual sports betting is great for bettors who like fast-paced action and the thrill of betting on games that can’t be ruined by the human element such as bad behaviour from individual players, changing weather conditions, or wrong decisions by the referee!

Handicap

In some football matches, there is a very clear favourite between the two teams. In these situations, a handicap is often applied to level the playing field and offer more attractive odds.

When you’re making a handicapped bet, you’re betting that the team with the handicap will overcome the handicap and win. Here’s an example that makes it simple to understand –

Let’s say Manchester United is playing against Swansea and Manchester United are clearly the favourite to win the game. This is why a handicap may be applied to Manchester United. In this case, the odds will be listed as follows: 

Manchester United (-1) @ 7.45

Draw (-1) @ 2.35

Swansea (+1) @ 4.35

This means that if you bet on Manchester United, they’ll have to win by more than just 1 goal in order to beat the handicap placed on them. If Manchester United win the game 1-0 then you will not win the bet. The same applies to Swansea but in reverse, if you bet on them to win and the match ends 1-0 in their favour, you will win the bet due to the handicap. 

Essentially, you can think of a handicapped bet as betting on a match which already has an established score before the match even begins.

Final result

Lastly, betting on the final result of any game is one of the most classic types of bet in sports betting and also one of the simplest types of bets. When you’re betting on the final results of the game, you have to predict who’ll be the winner of the match. It is as simple as that.

Sports Betting Strategies

Like all forms of gambling and casino activities, you can create strategies for sports betting that can help you win consistently over the long-term.

Do note that there is always an element of luck involved in betting and gambling which makes it so appealing for bettors as it creates the sensation of thrill. Long-term gamblers like to make informed bets using statistics and models to ensure they don’t let their emotions get in the way of winning it big. Of course, even the most seasoned gamblers are prone to betting on impulse from time to time!

Payment Methods for Deposits and Withdrawals

The most reputable sports betting sites in Nigeria offer bettors multiple payment and withdrawal options for their convenience. Bettors are encouraged to select a payment and withdrawal option that suits their needs and their pockets.

Cards

The most common process for funding online accounts in Nigeria is by credit or debit cards. It is a fast, convenient and easy way and doesn’t involve standing in bank queues.

      • Customers must have a valid, funded Naira Master Card, Interswitch Verve or Visa.
      • Log in to your online sportsbook and go to cashier or Banking page
      • Open Payment or Deposit from the menu
      • Select Pay with ATM card and enter the preferred amount to your sportsbook account, submit and fill out the required information including the PIN before submitting this last information.
      • You will be directed to a page supplying you with a status update by which you will know if your transaction was successful
      • Your sportsbook will show whether the deposit is done, and your balance is ready for use

E-Wallet

You will need a Paycom account, your unique sportsbook player ID, internet access or a mobile phone to fund your online sportsbook account through you E-wallet account. There is no fee and it’s fast and simple.

      • Login is through My Paysite with the password and phone number you signed up with, select ‘send money’ option from the menu and select your sportsbook
      • Next is entering your unique player ID and the sum you wish to deposit
      • Make sure all your details are correct, enter your PIN and choose ‘Send Money’
      • You will receive an online receipt if the transaction is successful and your deposit should be reflected in your Nigerian sportsbook account.

Mobile phone

Known also as mobile money, paying by phone is quick and easy and all you need is your mobile phone.

      • You will need your sportsbooks ID as well as the special code given to the sportsbook by the bank
      • The SIM should be the same you gave to the bank for payment alerts
      • Type the USSD code in with the special code, the sum you intend to pay as well as your unique sportsbook ID
      • The transaction is completed after you gave the secret bank PIN code and pressed send
      • Log in to your online account to confirm.

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