Let me
pose a question to you. If you were to pick a bookmaker, which bookmakers do
you think is most popular and loved by Nigeria?
Betting
companies in Nigeria have come a long way and they have come to stay.
Some
have come and gone, while others are waxing stronger.
Betting in Nigeria before the 90s was not very popular but change is the only thing constant in life.
The
introduction of the internet touched every part of
our lives, including gambling and betting. Sports
betting crept quietly into the gambling arena and took us all by storm.
Football
unifies everybody in the world, especially
in a multi-cultural country like Nigeria.
Sports betting has, however, succeeded in taking the love for
the game to another level.
There were some bookmarkers that started out great but for some reason are no longer in the scene. Others started later, however, today, have become the people’s favorite.
There are a good number of the favorite bookmakers in Nigeria but this list will focus on the top 5 favorites in the country.
Top Online Bookmakers in Nigeria According to SimilarWeb Data
- Bet9ja – Estimated Monthly Visitors: 80.9M
- Betking – Estimated Monthly Visitors: 10.3M
- Betpawa – Estimated Monthly Visitors: 4.80M
- Nairabet – Estimated Monthly Visitors: 4.60M
- Merrybet – Estimated Monthly Visitors: 3.4M
1.Bet9ja (www.bet9ja.com)
This bookmaker can be regarded as the primus inter pares (First among equals) of all betting companies in Nigeria. Their outlets can be seen in almost every street in the country.
Bet9ja is owned by Mr Kunle Soname who also doubles as the chairman. Bet9ja was created in 2013 and is registered with the Lagos state lottery board.
Their online platform is commendable and they have lots of markets that bettors can take advantage of. With Bet9ja, you can stake with a minimum of 100 Naira and can win up to 45 million Naira.
Bet9ja is the most popular Nigeria bookmaker and it has stood the test of time in been reliable and trustworthy.
Bet9ja introduced the cash-out feature, firstly to online bettors to make them cash out an appropriate amount of money before their accumulations end, at the beginning of this year.
Bet9ja has also introduced the cash-out option to shops and outlets all over the country, where you can opt out of accumulations before it ends while minimizing your loss and profits.
Bet9ja football virtual platform is also the best in the country. It is registered under the name KC gaming limited, Nigeria.
Merits of Bet9ja
- It
has lots of stores and offline outlets all over the country.
- It
is very regular with payment and has not been known to owe customers.
- Agents
of bet9ja have something to smile for has the collect 40% on virtual games and
30-35 % on board games
- Fantastic
customer service
- You
can play singles on Bet9ja
Demerits of Bet9ja
- It
has very low and pathetic odds
- Its
bonus is not encouraging
- It
has limited markets compared t other Nigerian bookmakers
2. Merrybet (www.merrybet.com)
Merrybet Company is also one of the big betting companies in the world and they have come a long way to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in the country. A big minus for Merrybet is its lack of expansion capabilities, however, they can be reliable to do business with because of some of their mouth-watering offers.
This betting company was founded by Mr Opeyemi Fashakin, a business mogul.
You can place bets with them with just 100 Naira and win up to 50 million Naira, however, their online soccer virtual can be played with just 50 Naira.
Merrybet parades an avalanche of markets that can be exploited with appropriate research
Merits of Merrybet
- It has very good online platforms
- Merrybet has very good odds to bet on
- Payment of winnings in Merrybetarevery fast up
to 30mins to 2hrs
- Friendly customer service
Demerits of Merrybet
- There are little or no visible stores and
outlets of merrybet, thereby limiting its customers.
- Merrybet has failed to put more markets on its
platform
- The bonuses Merrybet gives its customers on
accumulations is low
- You can’t play singles
on Merrybet.
3. Nairabet (www.nairabet.com)
Nairabet betting company is owned by Otunba Akin Alabi, a House of Representative-Elect in Oyo state.
This bookmaker is one of the first bookmakers in the country, birth in 2000.
It is a very trustworthy bookmaker with a strong financial base. It has kept its name in gold and continue to give customers their expectations.
If you register as a new customer, Nairabet gives 100% bonuses of all funds credited.
The minimum amount that you can bet on is 100 naira and you can win 49 million Naira.
They are registered under the National lottery board commission.
One thing that makes Nairabetis known for is the “One ticket cut” option, where if all your winnings are green except one, you will still be paid. However, this option is subjected to certain terms and conditions.
Merits of Nairabet
- Very good odds
- Nairabet has included more markets on its
platform
- You can play “one game cut” ticket (subjected to
terms and conditions)
- Fast payment
Demerits of Nairabet
- Virtually no
outlets for customers
- Very unfriendly customer service
- No promos to encourage bettors
- Dull online platform
4.Betking (www.betking.com)
Betking bookie is among the newest betting companies to enter the gambling market in the country.
Despite its newness, this company has overtaken some oldies it met in the market. In fact, in terms of patronization from customers, it is second only to Bet9ja in the country now.
It was founded by Mr Adekunle Adeniji. The amount of offline outlets of Betking in the country is increasing at an astonishing rate. What makes bettors like Betking, you might ask?
The bonus is huge – very huge, you get 200% bonuses on all accumulated games. It also has various markets that have not been introduced in the country before.
Even some older bookmakers are forced to introduce some options to be able to compete favourably with Betking.
Some of their unique markets include, Substitution to score, the total number of goals in a league for the week, total numbers of red cards to be collected in a league for the week, Match flow and Goalkeeper to score. Who can beat that?
Merits of Betking
- Betking has a very online platform that is customer
friendly
- The markets available on Betking are huge and very encouraging. Even other betting companies are forced to introduced some more
markets on their platforms because betking
introduced it.
- If one
ticket soils your ticket, you can still be paid if you follow the necessary instructions.
- The bonus
you get on Betking is huge, I mean Huge!
- Betking
has one of the biggest odds in Africa, not just Nigeria.
- Apart from bet9ja,
the number of betking outlets in
the country is increasing by the day.
- Wonderful customer service
- Payment is prompt and on-time
Demerits of Betking
- Its virtual soccer platform is awful.
5. Betpawa (www.betpawa.ng)
Betpawa betting company is an International company that has its tentacles throughout Africa.
It gives100% bonuses on first funds credited into the account, very good odds and very fast cashouts.
What makes Betpawa unique is that you can stake with a minimum of 1 naira, yes you heard me right one naira and can win up to 25 million Naira.
This bookmaker has turned betting to a new and easy level in Nigeria. Why not try them out.
Merits of Betpawa
- You can bet with as low as 1 naira
- You can deposit into your account with airtime
(MTN).
- Funds withdrawal is very fast
Demerits of Betpawa
- Funds deposit
is a bit of hassle.
- Odds are
too low
- No
visible outlets anywhere in the country.
There you have it.
My top 5 bookmakers in Nigeria and why Nigerians love or hate them. Now over to you, which of these bookmakers have you used and why do you love or hate them?
