Nigeria

Sports betting has been prevalent in Nigeria for decades, with soccer being the primary sport Nigerians love to watch and bet on. However, before the 2000s, sports bettors in the country had to visit physical betting infrastructures to place their wagers legally.

In the late 1990s, online gaming started affecting the market, and the country's legal landscape changed to incorporate regulation of the iGaming space. A Criminal Code Act was established in 1990, sanitizing the gambling market, which led to a more organized betting landscape and more officially legalized gambling opportunities.

In 2005, The Nigerian government wanted to make the gambling space safe for players, and it did so by establishing The National Lottery Regulatory Commission to regulate and oversee sportsbooks' activities while generating revenue. The country's online sports betting and gambling field broadened even further after the 2022 legislative update, which made it possible for offshore-licensed betting operators to legally provide their services to Nigerians remotely.

Currently, all forms of online, mobile, and in-person betting are allowed in the country, so Nigerian bettors certainly have plenty of wagering markets to choose from.

Sports betting & gambling news and updates from Nigeria

• November 11, 2024: The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) launches "Responsible Gaming Week" to promote awareness of gambling risks and protect minors from addiction. Over 60 buses in Lagos now display messages emphasizing responsible gaming, aiming to educate and engage the public.

• October 14, 2024: Sports betting company PariPesa appoints Nigerian football star Obafemi Martins as its brand ambassador to boost its market presence. Martins has played for top clubs like Inter Milan and Newcastle and is celebrated in Nigeria for his contributions to national team successes in major tournaments.

• October 7, 2024: Michael Eja, Director-General of the Cross River State Lottery Gaming Agency, remarks that 60 million Nigerians bet daily, with the gaming industry generating N500-N600 billion annually. In addition, according to Eja, Africa’s betting market is now valued at $1 billion, with Lagos contributing $243 million in revenue in 2023.

• October 4, 2024: Nigeria’s Federal Government issues the “Withholding Tax Regulations, 2024,” affecting gaming and lottery winnings. Effective January 1, 2025, with retroactive notice from September 30, winnings from lotteries, gaming, and reality shows will be taxed at 5% for residents and 15% for non-residents.

• June 11, 2024: Betking Nigeria announces a partnership with fintech company Paga, allowing sportsbook platform users to fund their accounts with Paga payments.

• May 20, 2024: The LSLGA names a total of 26 sports betting and online gambling operators, which it says are operating illegally in Lagos State without proper licenses. The list of such gambling platforms includes some brands that were cleared as "legal operators" just a while back in October 2023.

Nigerian gambling enthusiasts have access to several different online sportsbooks and casino sites, all of which can legally offer various wagering opportunities. As it is, the Nigerian gambling law allows players to engage in several forms of gambling, ranging from sports betting and iGaming to horse racing, pools, and poker. With three premier physical casinos, one in Abuja and two in Lagos, bettors will enjoy slots and table games.

Moreover, the state has licensed several lottery operators since the Lottery Act was introduced in 2005. The revenue generated from lottery proceeds is directed toward developing national sports and other government functions. Although most forms of gambling are legal in the country, card games, roulette, and dice spinning tops are still deemed illegal.

According to the EceryMatrix's Slot Trumps Player Behaviour Report, published and presented by igamingbusiness.com (IGB) on April 16, 2024, among the top 20 casino slot games in Nigeria, the average bet size is €0.14 ($0.15). In comparison, the same figure is €0.52 ($0.55) in Germany and €1.04 ($1.10) in Brazil.