Best Betting Apps in Nigeria

Sports betting in Nigeria has been on the rise in recent years. From fans cheering on international stars like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman to placing bets on their favorite teams and players, betting has really become a common pastime in the country.

This has also led to quite a number of sportsbooks popping up with amazing markets, competitive odds, and lots of great promotions. However, if there’s one thing Nigerians truly love, it is a good betting app. These apps allow them access betting options wherever they are, complete deposits and withdrawals instantly with popular mobile money options like Opay, and even enjoy exclusive app bonuses.

We understand just how great it is to place bets on sports wagering apps, and that’s why we’ve researched and uncovered the top 5 best betting apps in Nigeria.

Here are five of the best betting apps in Nigeria and their available welcome bonus for new players.

1. Bet9ja –
2. 1xBet – 300% first deposit bonus up to ₦600,000
3. Melbet – 300% welcome bonus up to ₦180,000
4. BetWinner – 100% first deposit bonus up to ₦100,000
5. Betano – 50% match bonus up to ₦200,000

Bet9ja

Bet9ja is one of the biggest Nigerian sportsbooks and pioneers in the mobile betting space. The bookmaker launched in 2013 with a license from the Lagos State Lotteries Board (LSLB). At first, it only operated physical betting shops around the country, but introduced secure online betting sites and mobile applications quickly after.

Today, it holds licenses in different Nigerian states, and the mobile app offers players a host of features and promotions to keep them engaged. You have the Multiple Builder that lets you quickly build a bet slip based on the number of games you want to bet on and the odds you’re targeting. There’s also the Rebet feature that allows you to reload open selections on your bet slip quickly.

Bet9ja even rewards you for using the Android and iOS apps to bet on the big leagues, as you stand a chance to win up to ₦100,000 every weekend. This is in addition to other exciting promos like the Monday Cashback up to ₦100,000 and the Loyalty Program.

Another standout Bet9ja mobile app feature is the Cut 1, where you can still claim winnings on your multibet if a single game fails. You can use this while betting on any of the 20+ sports and thousands of daily live events. The app is also home to dozens of live broadcasts from several football, tennis, and esports events. However, you need to make a deposit to unlock these live events on the app.

1xBet

1xBet is a major international sportsbook and a common name in the Nigerian betting scene. It entered the country in 2020 with a National Lottery Regulatory Commission license, which it is currently in the process of renewing.

As a new player on the app, you get a 300% first deposit bonus up to ₦600,000, which is one of the highest in the country. There are also cashback and weekly deposit promotions. However, where 1xbet stands out is its range of sports offerings. There are at least 30 available sports, including major ones like football, basketball, and tennis. The football collection features over 100 leagues, with the Nigerian Professional League covered in detail.

They also boasts some of the best payout rates in the country, with margins as low as 2% on popular Premier League, Champions League, and NBA events. So, you basically get more value for your bets at 1xbet, along with a host of mobile money and e-wallet options to ensure secure and convenient payments. It’s also one of the few top-rated bookmaker apps that lets you deposit and withdraw using cryptocurrency, with over 40 tokens supported.

The 1xBet is available on both Android and iOS devices, and unlike with Bet9ja, you don’t have to make a deposit or even create an account to enjoy the dozens of daily live broadcasts on the app.

Melbet

Nigeria is home to several reputable bookmakers, and Melbet is one of them. The bookmaker holds a license from both the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and the Lagos State Lotteries Board (LSLB), so players have nothing to worry about when betting on the Android or iOS app.

With Melbet, you can even place bets via Telegram on your mobile device and still claim the 300% welcome bonus up to ₦180,000 in the process. Other promotions you can enjoy include multibet cashback up to 20%, multibet win bonus up to 30%, and a lucky Friday reward.

One other feature of the Melbet platform that truly stands out is the ability to place bets even when you don’t have mobile data. This option is only available for GLO mobile network users and is an excellent way to enjoy pre-match and live betting options when you’re low on data.

You’ll find odds on over 40 sports, plus countless other e-sports and virtual sports betting options. The apps are available on both the Google Play Store and the App Store.

BetWinner

Betwinner entered the Nigerian market in 2019 with a National Lottery Regulatory Commission license. However, it didn’t start its operations until the following year when it obtained a license from the Lagos State Lotteries Board (LSLB). It has since become a top name in the country and also boasts a license from the Oyo State Gaming Board, making it one of the best legal sports betting apps.

With just ₦400, you can start out at Betwinner and claim the 100% first deposit bonus up to ₦100,000. You also get a 100% reload offer every Thursday, a 10% accumulator of the day bonus, and a sports cashback reward.

The app also comes with exciting features like cashout, nil-nil draw, bet builder, multi-live, and a statistics/results page.

Even better, Betwinner lets you bet on almost anything. From the top leagues in popular sports like football and basketball to pro wrestling, entertainment shows, mobile games like Subway Surfers, and even the weather. You even enjoy payout rates above 95% on the mainstream events.

Betano

Betano is one of the more recent sportsbooks in Nigeria, having only launched in 2023 with a license from the National Lottery Regulatory Commission. In no time, it has risen to become one of the best bookmakers in the country, and this is mainly down to its excellent mobile application.

The mobile app features an exceptional design and theme, with pages that load really fast. It also comes with features like a bet builder that offers up to ₦7,500,000 in cash, instant cashouts, and quick notifications and alerts about your bet slips and upcoming games. It’s easily one of the best online sports betting apps in the country.

A 50% match bonus up to ₦200,000 is the welcome offer, but you can also claim a ₦2000 free bet without depositing. Over 20 sports are available on the app, but the highlight of the show is the quality odds with payout rates as high as 97%. You also have multiple sports specials like the 2 Goals Ahead (football), 5 Runs Ahead (baseball), 20 Points Ahead (American football), 3 Goals Ahead (ice hockey), and more.

If you want to enjoy betting on football in Nigeria, you need a reliable and user-friendly app with competitive odds and high payout rates. It doesn’t matter if you’re wagering on the English Premier League (EPL), UEFA Champions League, Nigerian Professional League or other international tournaments; you need the best markets and odds to get the best value for your bets. We’ve researched and found the best football betting apps in the country.

• 22bet
• 1xBet
• Melbet
• BetWinner
• betano
• Afropari
• Bet9ja
• SportyBet
• Betway
• Betking

Football prediction apps

For Nigerian football bettors looking to make smarter wagers, having the right prediction and betting app can be the difference between landing consistent wins and frustrating losses. The best football prediction apps combine real-time stats, expert analysis, and detailed forecasts to help you make better decisions for your wagers. However, always remember that forecasts and tips can’t always be accurate, even on the best betting apps for predictions. So, it’s important that you bet responsibly.

When it comes to placing bets on sports events, there’s no better place to do it than on a mobile app. Fortunately, the best betting apps in Nigeria have a really easy download and installation process, regardless of your mobile device.

First off, you need to be at least 18, which is the legal gambling age, before you can install a betting app and create an account. Once that’s set, the only other requirement is a compatible smartphone and internet connection. The download process is a bit different for iOS and Android devices, so we’ve decided to create separate guides for you. Let’s take a look at how to download a betting app on both devices.

Guide to download betting apps for Android

All the bookmakers on our list have betting apps for Android devices, which is really great for fans of mobile betting. Even better, these apps barely consume data and don’t take up much space. But enough of the talking, if you want to download one of our betting apps on your phone, there are two ways to go about it.

First off, you can open the Google Play Store, enter the app’s name in the search bar, and click Download when it pops up. However, it’s no secret that users don’t use the Play Store, and if you’re one of them, follow these steps.

• Open the bookmaker’s website on your phone and navigate to the Mobile App page on their site. You can usually find a link at the bottom of the homepage.
• On the app page, look for the Android icon and the download button that is close to it. Hit the button to download the file to your phone.
• After the download has been completed, which should only take a few minutes, go to your browser’s download section and tap the file to install. You might need to visit the Security or Privacy section on your phone Settings menu to allow installation from unknown apps.
• Now head back to the app and click install.
• Open the app, and you’re good to go!

Guide to download betting apps for iOS

If you’re an iPhone or iPad user, there’s truly only way you can download a sports betting iOS app, and that’s through the App Store. So, open the app on your device and search for the respective bookmaker. Then click Get and wait a few minutes till you see Open before launching the app.

You’ll need to be on iOS 12 or higher to access most of the best apps for sports betting on our list. However, certain football betting applications like the SportyBet and 1xBet iPhone apps require iOS 14 or higher.

As a Nigerian, you probably come across multiple sportsbooks and their apps every day, and it can be hard to choose the best one for your betting needs. To make things easier for you, we’ve highlighted several key factors you should always consider when making a decision on the best betting apps in Nigeria.

• iOS/Android Compatibility – You never know when you might need to use an iPhone or Android, and you don’t want to go through the registration process on another platform just because your bookmaker doesn’t have an app on your device. When choosing a sportsbook, go for those with apps on both the Google Play Store and App Store, so whichever phone you’re using, you can enjoy your betting seamlessly.
• User-friendly Interface – The entire point of betting on mobile apps is convenience and being able to place bets on your preferred markets and odds with ease. You can’t achieve this if the app is difficult to use. Choose apps with simple themes and clear menus for quick navigation.
• Live Betting and Cashout Features – With live betting, you get to wager on events that are still in play, and top betting apps should offer live odds on a wide range of events, both the popular and lesser-known ones. Players should also be able to collect a part of their winnings or at least their stake using the cash out option.
• Available Markets – From the basics like match results, total goals, handicaps, and accumulators to more serious markets like player props and correct scores, the app should offer a wide variety of betting options across all sports.
• Payment Methods – Whether it's account funding or withdrawing winnings, you shouldn’t have to stress to complete payments on mobile betting platforms. Not when we have quick and reliable methods like Opay, Paystack, Quickteller, and Palmpay readily available.
• Bonus Offers – Make sure to compare welcome bonuses and recurring promotions for regular punters. Don’t just look at the amount or bonus percentage; analyze the promo T&C to ensure it has fair wagering requirements, a lengthy validity period, and more.

For Nigerian sports bettors, Android betting apps are some of the best around as they pack all the essential featureswithout hogging your phone’s storage or slowing things down. Most of the best football betting apps on Android take up less space than a couple of videos, usually under 50MB, so you won’t have to sacrifice your gallery or other apps just to enjoy seamless betting.

Also, it doesn’t matter if you’re using a Tecno device or a Samsung; these apps are designed to consume less data, which is a big plus when you’re tracking live odds and placing bets on the go. You can also enjoy features like split-screen mode that allows you to check on one side while placing your bets on the other.

While on the app, you still get access to thousands of sports betting markets and options like cashout, advance bet, bet builder, and more. Best of all, these apps stay reliable even on slower connections, so you never miss any of the action.

Nigerian punters seeking premium betting experiences should consider going for iOS betting apps. Since all betting apps must pass Apple’s strict review process before appearing in the App Store, you can trust that your chosen bookmaker meets high standards for safety and fair play. This means you’ll hardly come across a shady iOS betting app.

You also get an added layer of safety with Face ID login, plus you don’t have to struggle to remember passwords anymore. Placing bets on the app is also really smooth, with quick navigation and fast-loading pages. Even the live streams tend to load better.

What really makes iOS apps shine is how perfectly they sync with the bookmaker’s website. You can start placing bets on your PC and later finish it up on your iPhone or iPad. Everything will stay the same as details are updated across devices. If you want comfort and reliability, then iOS apps are ideal for you.

Even after downloading your preferred betting app, you first need to create an account before you can start placing bets and enjoying other features. Once again, the process of how to register on betting apps is really straightforward and easy to complete quickly by following these simple steps.

1. Open the app and hit the Register or Sign Up button
2. Select a Registration method between Email, Phone, or Social Media
3. The phone option is the most popular and typically involves you entering your mobile number and choosing a password. You will need to verify the number before you can start using the account.
4. The social media is the quickest as you only have to link your Google, Facebook, Telegram, or X account to the bookmaker’s site, and this can be done in just a few clicks.
5. The email option takes the most time, as you have to enter your email address, phone number, date of birth, and address.
6. Once you’ve settled on a sign-up method to use, follow the simple steps and click Register to finish the process.
7. Now, head to the deposit page and fund your account using one of the payment methods.
8. Once the deposit has been confirmed, visit the Sports section and choose an event.
9. Click on any odd of your choice to add it to your bet slip and then enter the stake amount and click Place Bet.

If you’re registering on betting sites that gives welcome bonus offers, make sure to accept the promo on the sign-up page. It’s usually on a box on the screen, and you just have to check it.

These days, it’s harder to find bookmakers who don't offer a welcome bonus than those who do. Welcome bonuses have become the standard for attracting new players in the highly competitive Nigerian sports betting market, and you should always take them seriously when looking for a sportsbook.

Most betting sites in Nigeria with welcome bonuses usually offer them as deposit match rewards, where the bookmaker matches a percentage of your first deposit (typically ranging from 100% to 500%). But while a 200% bonus might appear more attractive than a 100% bonus, the actual value of the bonus lies in its terms and conditions.

For one, the bonus amount, which is the highest you can claim from the offer, is very important. Equally necessary is the wagering requirement, which determines how many times you must bet the bonus before withdrawing. This can range from 3x to 10x.

Also, make sure to check how long the balance is valid for and the eligible betting markets, as some bookmakers exclude certain sports. The minimum odds requirement and betting limit are also important factors to consider.

Betting sites with welcome bonuses like Betano can also offer no deposit free bets, where you get to place free wagers without even making a deposit. If you win, you get the full winnings with the free bet stake deducted.

Before you can start placing bets on any betting app in Nigeria, you first need to fund your account. With lots of payment options available in the country, you must make sure you use the safest option to avoid losing your money or waiting days for a deposit to be confirmed. It should also be a convenient option that lets you complete transactions with relative ease and zero costs.

Fortunately, there are multiple deposit methods that fit this description, and they include:

• Opay: By far one of the most popular payment options in the country, and for good reason. In addition to being able to fund your account in less than a minute, you also get rewarded cashbacks anytime you deposit using Opay. Transactions are also processed safely, and you never get charged. Plus, you can fund your account with as low as ₦100.
• Card Deposit: Debit cards are safe and reliable, with Verve, Mastercard, and Visa the only available options in Nigeria. You can also expect instant deposits using the card, but you’ll most likely be charged by the card provider. However, you get to enjoy higher deposit limits than many other e-wallet and mobile money options.
• Internet banking and bank transfer: You should be able to transfer from over a dozen Nigerian banks to your betting app account on our listed bookmakers. This option is not the fastest but easily the safest. You will also be charged by your bank in most cases, though the deposit limits are higher.
• USSD: Every local Nigerian bank has a unique USSD code that lets you complete transactions like funding your betting account in under two minutes. You get charged by the bank ₦6.98 for every successful transaction and can’t really deposit large amounts using this method.
• ATM deposit: You can go to any ATM with your debit card and send money to your betting account. In most cases, you’ll need to deposit at least ₦1000, but you get to enjoy really high deposit limits. Most bookmakers will also charge you for using this method, and this is in addition to standard ATM fees.
• Betting shop deposit: You can walk into any Bet9ja or Betking shop, give the cashier your betting ID and some cash, and your account will be funded in minutes at zero cost.

Now that we’ve explored the different payment methods you can use to deposit on Nigerian betting apps. Let’s explore the simple steps to follow:

1. Open the betting app and log in to your account
2. Click on the Deposit icon at the top of the screen or find it on the My Account page
3. Choose one of the payment methods we listed above and enter the amount you want to deposit
4. You will be taken to a third-party page to enter your card details or provided with an account number to transfer the deposit too.
5. Complete the payment and click Confirm.
6. The deposit will reflect in your account in a few minutes.

Another convenient way is to copy your betting ID and complete the payment directly on Opay or local bank app.

Withdrawing your winnings from a betting app in Nigeria should be fast, secure, and convenient, and you can enjoy all these on our listed apps. However, you must know that most bookmakers only offer bank transfer as a withdrawal option, and the name on the account number must match that on your betting profile.

Single transactions between ₦10 and ₦9,999,999 are mostly allowed, and you should get your funds credited in a few minutes, though it can be longer for large withdrawals. Here’s how you can withdraw funds from betting apps in Nigeria.

1. Open the app on your device and hit the Profile icon to go to the My Account Page.
2. Locate and click the Withdraw option and select bank transfer from the list.
3. Choose a bank and enter your account number, and make sure it matches your profile before entering the amount.
4. Confirm the details and click Withdraw, the funds will appear in your account in a few minutes.