Sports Betting And Its Legalities In Nigeria: Everything You Need To Know Before Placing A Bet

Is sports betting legal in Nigeria?

The ins and outs of the law when it comes to sports betting in Nigeria.

Gambling and sports betting are incredibly popular activities in Nigeria. A major factor behind the growth of sports betting is the immense popularity of soccer in the country. Whether it’s betting on sports at Dolphins Football Club or enjoying your favorite casino games, gambling is an extremely popular pastime in Nigeria.

However, there are some pitfalls, rules and regulations that you should be aware of, especially when it comes to gambling. It is always best to do your research beforehand when it comes to placing bets online or in person.

Gambling Laws in Nigeria

As in many other countries, a nation’s gambling laws can vary and be confusing. This is mainly due to the growth of the internet and the difficulty of regulating such a huge platform globally. Nigerian gambling and gambling are divided into different categories that are considered legal and illegal.

Typically, games that rely heavily on luck and chance are considered illegal.

Illegal Games:

• roulette
• Dice
• Card games for the inexperienced

Nigerian law states that gambling is illegal if only luck is involved in the game. That being said, there are no legal provisions preventing Nigerian nationals from playing these games online. The only real exception is that slot-based games are heavily regulated by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

Legal games

• Land-based casinos
• National Lottery
• sports betting

These types of games are all considered legal under Nigerian law and have most likely retained their legal status due to the fact that a certain level of skill is required to play.

The general rule is that all legal forms of gambling in Nigeria are easily accessible to 18 year olds and there are no explicit regulations against Nigerian citizens using offshore services to gamble online or abroad.

Currency and Nigerian Gambling

Many countries use currencies as a form of control and regulation, especially when it comes to gambling laws. Often countries ban online gambling outright or restrict transactions to the country’s local currency. This is not the case in Nigeria.

There are no limits for Nigerian citizens making foreign transactions and gambling when it comes to online gambling. Local brick and mortar casinos will of course use the local currency and have their own banking systems to exchange money. Meanwhile, Nigerians can place bets online with any currency they have without any restrictions.

Nigerian Lottery Commission

The governing body of the Nigerian gambling industry is the Nigerian Lottery Commission established by the National Lottery Act of 2005. The document lays out the regulations for establishing the Lottery Commission as well as all legal forms of gambling in Nigeria.

There are also several forms of gambling that are specifically prohibited in the 1990 Penal Code, so there aren’t any one definitive document covering all gambling laws of Nigeria.

What players need to know

Once you understand the laws of this pastime, the obvious next step is to place a good bet on your favorite game. But before that, you need to know where to find the best Nigerian sportsbook. Remember that you need to be sensible and choosy when choosing the right provider as not all operators are licensed and regulated so it is always wise to play it safe.

When placing bets at reputable establishments or brick-and-mortar casinos in Nigeria, players should have no issues with local laws and regulations. However, online gaming is a different story. There are no laws specifically prohibiting online gambling, but that also means there is no player protection from the Nigerian Gambling Commission or the government.

Tips for finding legitimate online games in Nigeria

There are a few general rules when it comes to finding a reputable online gaming site, especially for Nigerian citizens. There is nothing worse than losing money at a shady gambling site.

Proper Licensing

Always look at the website credentials before depositing funds into your online wallets. All reputable gambling sites are backed by one or more gambling regulatory commissions. Unless they proudly display their licenses and agreements, chances are you’re wagering a lot more than you think when you play at their site.

Reputable software providers

Another strong indication of a reputable online gaming site is the software used on the gaming platform. The software that runs online gambling sites is incredibly important when looking for your next online casino.

The software should be secure, allow easy payments and transfers, and offer games that you really enjoy. Look for some of the bigger names in the iGaming software industry like Microgaming or Evolution Gaming.

You can also check out some of the well-known licensed gambling companies in Nigeria for reputable gambling services.

• Africa Betting Company Nigeria Ltd
• KC Gaming Ltd
• AlphaGram West Africa Ltd
• Sporty Internet Limited
• Promoserve Inter Links Ltd