Safest Betting Sites - Most Trusted Bookies in Nigeria 2024

We know how hard it is to find a betting site that makes you feel secure while betting in Nigeria.

We’ve compiled several of the best and safest betting sites in Nigeria to ensure you can bet without any worries. We’ve done extensive research to ensure the sites can provide fun and security, so read on to find our top recommendations for Nigerian punters. 

If you’re betting in Nigeria, then Nairabet is the safest choice. This provider has a license from the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and is specifically set-up to provide betting services to Nigeria. This local understanding extends to their secure payment providers, which can transact in Naira. We particularly like their super generous welcome bonus.

Licenses: 
National Lottery Regulatory Commission

Excluded Countries: All except Nigeria

Payment Methods: Paystack, Flutterwave, Xpress Pay, Scroud, OPay, Palmpay, etc.

Bonus: Get up to ₦22,000 in Free Bets

Terms and Conditions: Claim up to ₦2,000 in free bets per day for first 11 days

Support: FAQ, Phone, Email

Rating: Odds 4.6 Promotions 4.9 Mobile 4.5 Other 4.5

Pros 

• Exclusive to Nigeria
• Local license
• Great payment service

Cons

• No live chat is available
• Mobile service could be better

Bet9ja is our next choice thanks to its extensive payment options. This makes transactions easy, fast, and safe, regardless of the provider you choose. Their license from the Lagos State Lotteries Board means they’re safe and legal to use too.

Licenses: 
Lagos State Lotteries Board

Excluded Countries: All except Nigeria

Payment Methods: 9Japay, Astropay, CoralPay, Budpay, Embassy Card, FCMB, FETS, First Bank of Nigeria, First Money, Flutterwave, QuickTeller, Korapay, Monnify, Opay, Optimus Bank, Palmpay, Pocketapp, Providus Bank, Shagopay, Squad Card, Wema Bank, Zenith Mobile

Bonus: 170% bonus on multiple bets

Terms and Conditions: 5 leg bets receive a 5% bonus. Additional 5% for every leg of the bet up to 170%

Support: FAQ, Phone, Email, Social Media

Rating: Odds 4.8 Promotions 4.5 Mobile 4.9 Other 4.4

Pros 

• Huge choice of payment providers
• Locally licensed
• Nigeria-exclusive site

Cons

• Bonus terms aren’t easy to find
• No live chat is available

Although most betting sites are compatible with mobile device browsers, apps allow a smoother experience. With a compact and user-friendly app, bettors can quickly monitor live matches and place bets on the go.

All of our chosen sportsbooks offer apps for iOS and Android devices. Most are available via Google Play and the App Store, so you can quickly install them on your device. 

When we compare sportsbook options in Nigeria, this is the criteria that we look at:

• Sports collection and betting options: Each online sportsbook has a different sports collection. We check the number of markets available to Nigerian customers to ensure they cater to a wide range of bettors.
• Payment methods: We check how many payment options are offered and consider each method's security, and whether they are easily accessible from Nigeria. 
• User-friendly sites: A sportsbook with a user-friendly site helps bettors of all levels navigate around easily, enhancing the overall experience. 
• Customer support quality: When a sportsbook provides the best customer support service, like 24/7 live chat, bettors can conveniently find help if they encounter a problem. 
• Bonuses and promotions: We like to see regular bonuses so bettors can always get something extra while betting on their favorite sport. 
• Security system: We make sure to check the site’s security system to ensure it can protect every bettor’s personal information, including whether it uses SSL and firewalls. 
• Responsible Gambling: We prefer to choose a site that supports responsible gambling and as such provides multiple tools to help bettors gamble responsibly. 

Although we’re here to help you find safe betting websites, you might want to know how to judge a sportsbook's reliability. Here are some aspects to consider when checking if a betting site is legit.

Operating License

A legitimate sportsbook ensures you can see its operating license on its website. The information is usually in fine print at the bottom of the sportsbook's homepage and will make it clear they are legally allowed to operate in Nigeria.

If you can’t find it, try reading the terms and conditions. Every reputable sportsbook should also put their license information there. 

Check the Offers

One of the best ways a sportsbook entices new bettors is through bonuses. However, when a bonus seems too good to be true, it’s best to take a step back and evaluate the offer. For example, a site may offer a substantial deposit match bonus but only give you a week to meet extremely high (eg. 60x) wagering requirements.

Responsive Customer Support

A reputable sportsbook will ensure that every bettor can address their concerns smoothly. Customer support must be responsive and able to give clear solutions. Look for around-the-clock live chat, comprehensive FAQs and, ideally, multiple ways to get hold of support.

Good Reviews and Reputation

There’s no better proof than other bettors’ experiences. As well as reading our expert reviews, we recommend checking to see what other bettors are saying about a site. If a sportsbook has social media, how active are they on there, and do they respond to comments? If so, they’re probably worth a look.

Scam sites aim to make you believe they’re reliable enough that you deposit money. But when you come to withdraw your money, it’ll never arrive.

Another risk of betting on an unsafe site is that it may leak your personal information. You may receive unsolicited emails and calls that trick you into giving them more details, like your financial or other private data.

Betting on safe Nigerian betting sites like the ones we review ensures the best betting experience. You’ll receive fair treatment, including finding competitive odds. The site will also be able to protect your data and won’t share it with third parties on your behalf, or if it does, it will make this clear in its privacy policy. 

1. Read the fine print: Analyze the betting site’s homepage and gather all the information you can. Then, read the terms and conditions and privacy policy to understand the sportsbook better. 
2. See what other bettors say: Check review sites and find genuine reviews of the sportsbook. If you find several unresolved complaints, especially if many bettors complain about the same problem, it might be best not to sign up with the site. 
3. Compare your options: When you compare several sportsbooks, you’ll find irregularities that might appear to be a red flag. For example, you’ll see exaggerated offers that don’t line up with other sites, or wagering requirements that don’t make sense. 

Well-known payment methods have a high-security system, but the best payment option relies entirely on your preferences. 
However, e-wallets can be a safer option as they don’t require you to share your financial information with third-party sites. You usually only need to share your email when doing transactions, so your data is safe.

Otherwise, traditional payment methods like Visa and MasterCard are your best options, as they both have very robust security measures in place, like two-factor authentication.

KYC stands for Know Your Customer, referring to a procedure that online gambling sites use to confirm users' identities. Reputable sportsbooks request several documents to verify your identity to not just make sure you are who you say you are, but that you’re legally allowed to bet on that site.

This procedure is usually followed when a bettor requests a withdrawal. The sportsbook wants to ensure that the person requesting a withdrawal is the rightful owner of the betting account, and is a common process on reliable gambling sites.

1. Gather evidence: Take screenshots, bank statements, and other relevant information to support your claim. 
2. Contact the sportsbook: Directly confront the site regarding the situation and ask for a refund. 
3. Reach out to regulatory bodies: If your case still isn’t resolved, try contacting the sportsbook's regulatory body/bodies with your evidence. 
4. Legal action: You can take the matter into legal action if your sportsbook still can’t resolve the problem. 
5. Publicity: To exert more pressure on your bookmaker, you can share your story online. Still, you must be sure it is a scam and not an honest mistake (for example, if the site is known to take a while to process withdrawals). 

All sports are equally safe to bet on. If you want to bet on your favorite sport safely, you must find a reliable sportsbook who can protect your data and treat you fairly. If you’re playing on a reliable site, all the sports you find there are safe to bet on.

The safest betting strategy is always to gamble responsibly. First, you must be able to evaluate your gambling habits and take necessary precautions to ensure you can be responsible for your decisions. Set limits if required so you can always have a safety net.

Always manage your expectations, even if you’ve bet using your knowledge. Betting is still dominated by chance, which we can’t 100% accurately predict. Don’t ever think you’ll always win, and be too confident that you’re making unwise decisions.

Our recommended sites, and other reputable ones, typically have these kinds of offers available:

• Welcome bonuses: When you sign up and deposit for the first time, a sportsbook usually rewards you with a welcome bonus that you can only claim once on your first deposit. 
• Cashback offers: Most cashback offers are a percentage of money back when you lose your bet. The cashback can be in the form of real money or free bet credits. 
• Free bet promos: A free bet promotion gives you a free credit to bet on sports. 
• Promotions: Sportsbook provides regular promotions like reload bonuses and risk-free bets for bettors. Promotions vary by site, however. 

Betting is never a way to earn money that can replace your monthly wage. When betting, you must remember to treat the activity as recreational entertainment.

Betting can become addictive; if you don’t constantly remind yourself to be responsible, it’s easy to lose yourself. Set some limits when you’re betting, such as a strict bankroll, to avoid getting carried away and stop before you spend more than you can afford. 

We know that it can be taxing to spend time researching to find the safest betting site. We hope that our list helps you find the best place that can make you feel secure while you bet. Still, you can also use some of our tips above to judge a sportsbook; check out our recommendations.

Know that betting is fun, but staying safe while betting can be more fun in the long run. We’ve extensively researched to ensure you can bet safely on our chosen sites. So, give them a try and have a safe betting experience!