The Nigerian online sports betting landscape is becoming more and more interesting, with new operators entering the arena while others working on stepping up their game. In this review, we compare the best online bookmakers for you to see how each one scores against key areas, such as the welcome bonus and more. You will find a summary of the results in the table below.
What are the best online bookmakers in Nigeria?
Take a look at the ranked bookmakers in the table. Pick your favourite one.
| Bookmakers | Bonus | Sportsbook | App | Odds | Grade⭐ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4.75/5 |
 |
4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4,38/5 |
 |
4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4,25/5 |
 |
5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | 4,1/5 |
 |
3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3,8/5 |
 |
4/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3,8/5 |
How we picked our best online bookmakers in Nigeria
To be able to determine which of all Nigeria operators are on the top line, we analysed several criteria and tested a wide array of services. In the end, we have concluded that Bet9ja, 1xbet, Betway, and Surebet247 are among the best online bookmakers in the country, if not the ones at the highest step of the ladder.
Of course, you do not need to select any of these operators if you think that your interests will best be served with another bookie. However, you can definitely benefit from our selection!
Best welcome bonus: Bet9ja
Bet9ja offers a 100% welcome bonus up to NGN 100,000 while 1xbet welcomes new players with a 300% bonus up to NGN 189,280.
1xbet, on the other hand, hosts several interesting offers but not a new player bonus. Betway comes forward with a 100% first-deposit bonus up to NGN 100,000 . 1xbet runs several promos at the moment of this writing, but no specific welcome bonus.
Clearly, Bet9ja has the most generous welcome bonus and rightfully deserves a place in the best online bookmakers list. You can find out more about this new player’s offer by visiting our dedicated Bet9ja bonus code page.
Best sportsbook: Betway 
Bet9ja provides an extensive selection of sports betting markets with a primary focus on football while claiming to offer up to 10,000 betting options on a daily basis, including handicap betting options, combo bets and more. For every event, there are about 500 selections to choose from, and you may also watch multiple (up to four) matches at the same time.
bet9ja competes with a total of 18 different sports, including less mainstream events and games from all over the world. Then, there is Betway’s 12,000 markets and its impressive coverage of esports and esports betting products.
And, lastly, SureBet247 has 1,300 betting markets for football alone and focuses on mainstream sports, such as football, basketball, and tennis while leaving out horse racing and several other sports. In terms of their sports betting markets, Betway is definitely one of the best online bookmakers out there for its 12,000+ markets.
Best mobile app: SureBet247
Starting with bet9ja, it features a fully functional mobile site that allows all owners of portable devices to access the operator’s functions, services, and offers via 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, and LTE, as long as they have a late model device. That’s more or less the case with SureBet247 too.
1xbet comes forward with a responsive mobile site and a dedicated Android app that also runs on TV boxes and offers a wide array of betting games, options, and features such as HQ live streaming and live betting. As for Betway, it has a user-friendly mobile site and a dedicated Android app that uses less data and loads much faster than the desktop sibling while also offering the same functionalities of the web site.
Finally, SureBet247 provides the most complete mobile experience. Indeed, it offers both a mobile site and an app that can be downloaded by Android and iOS users. Players can enjoy everything from in-play sports bets and virtual football to daily betting tips and access to free prediction sources.
On top of that, the operator offers a Full and Lite version of its mobile platform, to cater to the needs of users with new or old devices or those with a poor internet connection. Both versions offer nearly all the sports markets and other functions of the desktop version, except for the lite version that lacks the virtual sports and casino games. All that combined crowns SureBet247 as one of the best online bookmakers offering the most complete mobile experiences.
Best odds: Bet9ja 
1xbet offers a 97% payout, which is beyond great, and an excellent range of sports, Asian handicaps, alternative markets, and special bets.
The total book percentages for the top leagues are very competitive at SureBet247, with the 1X2 odds in the English Premier League compiling a total of around 103% while the odds in the lesser-known events and competitions work out to approx. 105%, which is still reasonable.
The landscape is pretty much the same with Bet9ja, whose betting margins on the major English games and leagues sit at about 104%, with competitions like the Europa League and the Championship pushing it further up to 108-109%. As for other sports like rugby and ice hockey, the betting margins range between 113-114%.
Compared to other operators, Betway is rather average, with English Premier League odds locked near the 103% neighbourhood while NBA moneylines are a tad more competitive at about 105%.
For more than market average odds, SureBet247 is probably the best option that also gives punters to increase their odds with the OddsBoost feature. However, they are not consistent across all markets.
A sports betting example
Betting, for example, 100 Naira on the victory of Arsenal against Southampton on Betway, you will win 148 Naira with a 1.48 odd.
The same bet with SureBet247 would earn you 147.61 Naira with 1.47 odd while Bet9ja’s 1.50 odd will let you win 150 Naira.
Bet9ja offers slightly more competitive odds across major football leagues. This is another reason why it is considered one of the best online bookmakers in Nigeria.
Best online bookmakers in Nigeria – F.A.Q
Tracking down the best online bookmakers is a long process. Along the way, questions arise. Below are some of the most commonly asked ones.
What do I need to register on an online betting site?
Generally speaking, you will need to fulfil the following requirements if you want to sign up to one of the best bookmakers out there:
- Be of legal age for online gambling (in most countries, you must be 18 years old, at least, to join such websites while other countries’ regulations require older ages).
- Have a personal bank account.
- Reside in the country the bookmaker operates (not the restricted regions).
- Have a stable internet connection.
How do I register with an online bookmaker?
If you meet the qualifying requirements to join one, then you need to follow the registration process. You will be required to provide some personal details, such as your name, address, email address, phone number, and more. Sometimes, you may also be asked to verify your account too.
Is it safe to do deposits and withdrawals in online bookmakers?
It all depends on which operator you chose to register with. Those with a proper licence from a legit regulatory body will also apply high-security measures to ensure safe deposits and withdrawals for their customers. For that reason, it is best to consider one of the best online bookmakers reviewed here.
Can I set a betting limit?
If you have registered with a reputable operator, then you will definitely be provided with the option to set betting limits.
