Best Betting Sites in Nigeria (2021)

Quickly compare the best Nigerian betting sites in our list above and our exclusive Nigerian Naira sign up bonuses. All of the betting sites in our list are legal, licensed and safe for players from Nigeria, and most are domestic (located in Nigeria) while some are well known international brands such as Betway, MELbet and 1xBet.

How We Choose the Best Nigerian Betting Sites

Of course, our best Nigerian betting sites list is just our opinion, but you can be sure that each site is legal, licenced and safe for online betting from Nigeria. But, how did we pick out the best?

To start, we look at each betting site and cover six key areas which we believe make the best sports betting sites including high odds, customer support, safety, welcome bonuses and much more.

Legal, Licensed & Safe

All of the sports betting sites on BettingGuide hold valid Nigerian gambling licenses with the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), or the Lagos State Lotteries Board (LSLB). We do not recommend gambling on betting sites that do not hold valid Nigerian gambling licenses to protect yourself and your money.

If you choose to join International betting sites, we recommend bookies that hold reputable gambling licenses from respected authorities such as the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).

Sign Up Offers

The best Nigerian betting sites will have great welcome bonuses and free bets to attract new customers. We believe it is worthwhile trying each of the betting sites on our list, and those who want to snag a bargain will want to make sure they sign up to a site that offers excellent promotions.

All of the best Nigerian betting sites offer high-value new customer sign up offers to attract new players. It is important to take full advantage of these signup offers, as you can only claim them once (on each bookie), and they almost always offer more value than any other promotion available.

Some punters even sign up to almost every legal bookie available to take advantage of these fantastic free bet offers. But, not all signup bonuses offer good value, and it is important to learn how to spot the best and avoid the worst.

Firstly, look at the wagering requirements on the bonus, to see how much you need to wager the amount to unlock the funds for withdrawal. The best bonuses come with no wagering requirements, but some, require you to wager the bonus 10x the amount, or even more on casino bonuses.

Secondly, check to see what restrictions there are on the bonus, whether you need to deposit using a certain payment method, or if the bonus can only be used on a certain sport, market, etc.

Lastly, it is important to check if you need to enter a bonus code, and what the minimum deposit and bet amount are to qualify for the offer. Not all bonuses have these conditions, but it is crucial to check so you do not miss out on claiming the offer.

Nigerian Payment Methods

We check each betting site in our list to make sure they offer a wide range of depositing and withdrawal methods for players from Nigeria, and to make sure they do not charge for either deposits or withdrawals.

Example payment methods:

• Interswitch card deposits
• Quickteller
• Online bank transfers
• ATM deposits
• GT Bank
• Verve

To withdraw money from Nigerian betting sites, you will need to do an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) directly to the bank account of your choice. It is one of the only options that are available on most gambling sites in Nigeria, but it is simple and easy to do. All you need to do is enter your banking details and enter the amount you want to withdraw, and you should receive your money within 3 working days.

Design & Usability

The design and usability are crucial for Nigerian players as you need clean, fast and user-friendly sites for both new mobiles, old mobiles and other desktops.

The betting sites in our list offer options for all devices including old mobile sites, betting apps for new mobiles (smartphones), a mobile optimised site, and a desktop site.

We test the mobile betting apps, and mobile optimised betting websites to see which bookies offer the best mobile betting experience. Compare which Nigerian betting sites offer betting apps on Android and iOS below, and the results of our tests on our best betting apps in Nigeria page.

Sports & Betting Markets

To feature on our list of the best Nigerian betting sites, each operator will need to offer a wide range of sports and betting markets covering events from all around the world, especially for top sports such as football.

Most sports betting sites have similar markets. But those who have different sports to bet on are likely to be reviewed favourably compared to those who focus on a limited number of sports.

Tied into the above is the depth of betting markets that are available. For the biggest sporting events, it is now not uncommon for there to be hundreds of different bets to pick from.

Quickly compare the top 10 sports betting sites in our list above, with the number of sports available, the average number of betting markets, and whether the bookie offers free live streaming and a cash-out feature.

Betway Nigeria is our number one pick for sports betting, with 30+ sports, free live streams, full and partial cashouts, high betting odds, and hundreds of betting markets.

Highest Sports Betting Odds in Nigeria

If you are new to online betting in Nigeria, please check our betting odds guide before joining a betting site. If you are planning to regularly place bets, we recommend picking one of the sites below with the lowest betting margins. Even if the difference is small, it will make add up in the long run.

But how do we calculate which betting sites offer the highest betting odds on average? Well, you can compare the betting margins for each bookie below, for both live and pre-match markets on cricket, football and horse racing bets.

If you did not know, the betting margin is essentially how much a bookie "charges" you to place a bet. Simply put, the lower the betting margin, the higher the odds.

Below is a list of the average betting margins (our independent tests) for each Nigerian bookie and there is a big difference from the best to the worst. MELbet Nigeria currently has the lowest margins in our tests and Betway Nigeria currently has the worst (highest) margins.

Nigerian Betting Sites With the Best Betting Margins

1. MELbet Nigeria margins - 2.26%
2. Konfambet margins - 2.52%
3. Nairabet margins - 2.67%
4. LionsBet margins - 3.52%
5. Betwinner Nigeria margins - 4.57%
6. Betbonanza margins - 4.67%
7. 22Bet Nigeria margins - 5.41%
8. 1xBet Nigeria margins - 5.63%
9. bet9ja margins - 5.86%
10. Wazobet margins - 5.96%
11. Betway Nigeria margins - 7.10%

Customer Support

Lastly, we check the customer support options and try to contact the support to solve a common issue such as verifying your account. The best Nigerian betting sites will offer 24/7 customer support with a variety of contact methods including a live chat, email, free phone number, social media support and more.

Unfortunately, this is not the case across all online betting sites in Nigeria, but our top betting sites all offer top-tier, 24/7 customer support with several contact methods.

Top 10 Nigerian Betting Sites (2021)

As our experts review all of the Nigerian betting sites looking at the points above, we then compare and pick our top 10 favourite Nigerian betting sites for (2021). Of course, this list is subjective, but we hope it helps you choose the right sports betting site for YOU!

Also, we believe it is important to note that bet365 is one of the best betting sites available for Nigerian players, but, it does not make our list as it does not accept Nigerian Naira, and players will need to deposit and withdraw in another currency. For this reason, we recommend joining other Nigerian betting sites to ensure safe, quick and easy deposits/withdrawals in Nigerian Naira.

#1 Best Betting Site in Nigeria - Betway Nigeria

Betway is a trusted international bookmaker that has a whole betting product for players from Nigeria. You can gamble using the Betway Nigeria website, or betting apps for Android and iOS users. Betway Nigeria holds valid gambling licenses to legally accept players from Nigeria and Nigerian Naira using several different payment methods.

Players will find famously high betting odds across the sportsbook and particularly high odds on soccer. Also, Betway offers a complete gambling product including sports betting, casino, live casino, fantasy betting, lucky numbers, betgames, esports, and jackpots.

Highlights:

• Highest betting odds in Nigeria
• Safe, trusted and legal operator
• 24/7 customer support
• Generous welcome offer
• 4 to Score promotion to win up to NGN 3,500,000!
• Betway Win Boost - Boost your acca winnings by up to 250%!
• 25 online slots, table games, and video poker

#2 Best Betting Site in Nigeria - Melbet Nigeria

MELbet is an international gambling site that was founded in 2012, but the Nigerian site was launched just a few years ago. Melbet has a dedicated Nigerian gambling site and it is legal and licensed by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission & the Oyo State Gaming Board in Nigeria.

Despite being an international brand, Melbet Nigeria has built a fantastic sports betting site for Nigerian players and accepts a wide range of local payment methods including Interswitch, Paystack, Visa and Mastercard. On top of this, you will find 30+ sports, the highest betting odds (in our independent tests), free live streams and 100's of betting markets.

Highlights:

• Highest betting odds in our tests
• Free live streaming
• Over 1000 betting markets on popular sporting events
• Massive sign up bonus for Nigerian players
• Unique promotions & bonuses for new and existing players
• Free mobile betting app and site but no lite version
• 24/7 support
• Fast withdrawals
• Loyalty program for active players

#3 Best Betting Site in Nigeria - Bet9ja

Bet9ja needs little introduction for most players from Nigeria, as the most popular sports betting site in the whole country. Bet9ja has been dominating in Nigeria for quite some time now, as they come in at a close second for the best betting site available.

But, Bet9ja does not have as many sports, betting markets, and lower betting odds than Betway. Still, Bet9ja is a fantastic option for its unique features such as Super9ja, Soccer Zoom, massive jackpots, Firebets, and live streaming.

Highlights:

• 15 sports and 100's of betting markets
• Free live streaming
• Soccer Zoom (Virtual soccer section)
• Super9ja - Predict 6 Game (₦10,000,000 Jackpot soccer game)
• User-friendly betting app and mobile site
• Bet9ja Soccer FireBets
• Up to 170% bonus to your winning betting slip with a minimum of 5 selections

#4 Best Nigerian Betting Site - Nairabet

Nairabet was one of the first African bookmakers to operate in Nigeria after first launching back in 2009. It is one of the most trusted Nigerian betting sites to choose from, and still offers one of the best sports betting products for Nigerian players with high odds, 100's of markets and 20+ sports.

But, Nairabet does not always have a signup bonus for new customers, but they can still offer great value with the 3rd highest betting odds in our tests.

Highlights:

• Over 700 markets for popular football matches
• High odds
• Great sportsbook and casino
• A safe, legal, and trusted operator with 10+ years of experience
• Fantastic mobile options
• Wide range of payment methods
• Free blog with tips and match previews
• Top tier customer service

#5 Best Betting Site in Nigeria - 22Bet Nigeria

22Bet is another international gambling brand that launched its Nigerian website in 2017. 22Bet ng is safe, legal and licensed by the Oyo State Gaming Board and the Anambra State Gaming Company in Nigeria.

As for the 22bet Nigeria products, Nigerian's will find one of the best online gambling sites for both sports and casino games. As for the sports, you will find well over 30 different sports and 1000's of betting markets covering the vast majority of sporting events around the world.

You will also find a great virtual sports product, live betting section and competitive betting odds. However, it would be good if 22Bet accepted more Nigerian payment methods as they currently only offer Verve, Visa, Mastercard and ALAT by Wema internet banking.

Highlights:

• 1000's of betting markets
• Competitive betting odds
• Sports, casino, jackpot, games, esports, tv games and more
• Betting apps for Android and iOS
• 24/7 live chat support
• Fast withdrawals

#6 Best Sports Betting Site in Nigeria - 1xBet ng

1xBet is a global gambling giant with its presence seen in most legal markets across the world. The 1xBet.ng site is legal and licensed by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission of the Republic of Nigeria making it safe and legal for Nigerian players.

As for 1xBet ng, players from Nigeria will get access to a dedicated Nigerian gambling site that covers 40+ sports, 1000's of markets, and competitive betting odds.

Highlights:

• Massive selection of sporting events
• 24/7 support
• Legal and licenced Nigerian site
• Live streams
• Sports, casino, esports, virtuals, live casino and more
• Wide range of Nigerian payment methods
• Large online betting pools (toto section)
• Great mobile betting options

#7 Best Nigerian Betting Site - BetBonanza

BetBonanza is an online betting site in Nigeria that first launched in 2014, and now has one of the best Nigerian sports betting sites available. The brand is licensed by the Lagos State Lotteries Board and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, providing a safe, legal and secure gambling site for all Nigerian players.

As for the product itself, you will find 20+ sports, 500+ betting markets (on popular matches) and the 6th best betting odds in our tests. You can also get one of the best sign up bonuses for Nigerian players including a 100% matched bonus up to 100,000 Naira, but also up to 10 free bets on your second and third deposit.

Highlights:

• Great Nigerian brand
• High betting odds
• Great range of Nigerian payment methods
• Fantastic customer service
• A free blog with tips and match previews
• Promotions for new and existing customers
• Decent casino
• "Bonanza Ballz" large jackpot bingo games

#8 Best Betting Site in Nigeria - Betwinner ng

Betwinner is the last international betting site to make our best-betting sites list, and they have a dedicated Nigerian site that is secure and licensed by the NLRC. Betwinner has been in the industry since 2007 and provides one of the most competitive sports betting products out there. You will find over 40 sports, 1000's betting markets, a bet constructor for custom bets, and even a betting exchange.

But, there are only several Nigerian payment methods to choose from, and we would like to see higher odds and free live streaming to compete with the bookies higher on our list.

Highlights:

• Custom bets
• Betting exchange
• 1000+ betting markets on popular matches
• Player betting options
• Asian markets
• Mobile betting apps for Android and iOS

#9 Best Betting Site in Nigeria - LionsBet

LionsBet is another great Nigerian betting site, and it is clear it was built with Nigerians in mind with a desktop site, light phone site, and smartphone site/apps. Lions Bet is also safe, secure and licensed by the Lagos State Lotteries Board and offers a wide variety of Nigerian payment methods for quick and easy deposits/withdrawals.

Highlights:

• Legal Nigerian gambling site
• Old and new mobile options
• Wide range of promotions for existing customers
• 20+ sports
• 100+ betting markets but could do with more
• Great customer support options

#10 Best Nigerian Betting Site - Wazobet

Wazobet is one of the newest Nigerian betting sites only launching in 2020, but it is a safe and licensed gambling site with a valid licence from the Lagos State Lottery Board.

Despite being such a new brand in the industry, Wazobet already offers a great sports betting product and casino and live casino options. There are 20+ sports, plenty of betting options to choose from and a wide range of payment methods.

Highlights:

• Free betting tips
• Great range of promotions
• Large welcome bonus
• Asian betting markets
• Solid virtual betting section

We do not recommend joining any new betting sites if they are not on our list above, as they might be illegal operators, and you could break Nigerian gambling laws by betting on the site.

Why Join New Nigerian Betting Sites?

What are the positives of joining a new Nigerian betting site when you can play on safe, trusted and reputable sites such as Bet9ja, and Nairabet?

To start, new betting sites always offer free bets and welcome bonuses for new players to take advantage of. You can only claim one new welcome bonus per betting site, but they can provide great value if you use them correctly.

Secondly, a lot of new betting sites in Nigeria offer higher odds than the established brands to attract new players. In fact, two new betting sites (Konfam Bet & MELBet) currently offer the highest betting odds in our independent tests.

Lastly, new betting sites in Nigeria tend to launch with innovative new products to stand out from the crowd. For example, when Betway Nigeria first launched, their focus was on creating one of the best mobile-friendly apps and sites in Nigeria, and they currently rank at #1 for the best betting app in our tests.

Downsides of Joining New Betting Sites

However, there are some potential downsides to joining new betting sites that we should mention. To start, as some of the operators are so new, it is hard to know if they can be trusted. Now, we only list legal and licensed operators, but they can still treat customers poorly and it is difficult to know until players report these issues.

Secondly, some new betting sites in Nigeria can not offer top-tier features such as free live streaming, bet builder (custom bets), free bet clubs and other unique features that only the biggest betting sites can offer. If you want to best features, we recommend checking out our list of the best Nigerian betting sites to get free live streams, unique promotions and the most betting markets.

Lastly, some new bookies sign up offers may appear to be generous, but they can come with poor terms and conditions, or in rare cases, even refuse to give you the bonus. This rarely happens on established betting sites, but the chances are you have already claimed the welcome bonus of those sites.

How to Choose a New Betting Site

We have a list of new Nigerian betting sites that we believe are worth joining, but of course, our list is subjective. However, this is how we review and test each site to pick out the best.

Licensing and Safety

Firstly, we check to see if the new bookie has a valid Nigerian gambling licence, and list each licence in our operator reviews. We will never list a betting site that does not hold a Nigerian gambling licence, and we do not recommend joining any sites that do not show you their licence information somewhere (usually the footer) on their website.

As for safety, we check the website's security to ensure they use high-end software which will encrypt all data to and from the website so no one can steal your valuable information.

Sign Up Offers

Then, we check to see how good the welcome bonus is for new customers. Unfortunately, some bonuses can come with difficult terms and conditions which make it extremely difficult to turn the bonus into real money.

But, our partnerships with online betting sites allows us to offer exclusive free bets and bonuses including no deposit free bets & other high-value welcome offers.

Nigerian Payment Methods

As we are starting to see a lot of new Nigerian betting sites, we check to see which payment methods they accept and whether or not they charge for deposits or withdrawals. Check out our individual operator reviews for more information on each betting site.