Nigeria
Since the online casino industry began to take off in europe, the us, and asia, it has also arrived in nigeria. Gambling at land-based casinos and playing the lottery have been popular pastimes in nigeria for some time now, which has contributed to the rise of online casinos in 2013. Sports betting is especially beloved by locals here, to the point where every online site specializes in this category. It all started back in 1977 when land-based gambling was all the rage globally. And even though only three land-based casinos have been established since then, nigerian online casinos are primarily based offshore. Currently, nigeria is ranked at the top for revenue generated from gambling, with south africa and kenya coming in close behind.
The national lottery regulatory commission of nigeria enforces and regulates the gambling laws of the country. Local residents are also allowed to gamble in casinos that are licensed by the malta gaming authority, ukgc, and other similar organizations. In 2019, it was estimated that nigerian online gambling generated revenue of around $90 million. Although this is lower than south africa’s revenue from online gambling, it is expected to increase in the coming years. As mentioned earlier, sports betting is very popular in nigeria. Soccer fans can bet on the nigeria premier league, which is a popular event. The nigeria football federation (nff) oversees all professional and amateur playing time by offering the best parlays.
While you can find a great variety of games at nigerian casinos, the locals here seem to prefer european and scandinavian events when it comes to betting. That said, you can still find excellent odds on us markets if you look around. In terms of game diversity, nigerian casinos won’t leave you disappointed. In addition to a wide selection of slots games, you can also find plenty of table games like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, sic-bo, keno, craps, and more. Even poker has a sizable following here. When choosing a nigerian casino to play at, you can follow the same process you would use for any other casino in the world. Rest assured that all the options on our list are trustworthy and reliable.
A History of Gambling in Nigeria
Before the new millennium, the most popular form of gambling in nigeria was through betting pools, lotteries and slots. Although various gambling authorities, laws and policies were already in place (including the casino taxation act of 1965, the lagos state lotto authority, and a lotteries and pools betting law), gambling was largely unregulated. The gaming machines (prohibition) act of 1977 even made it illegal to import or own gaming machines (slots) in nigeria, with the sole exception of licensed casinos.
The late 1990s saw a change in the gambling landscape of nigeria, with the passing of new policies and laws to better govern and regulate gambling. These included the constitution of the federal republic of nigeria (1999), taxes and levies act (1998), casino and gaming law of lagos state (2004), and the national lottery regulatory commission (2007). These new laws and polices also paved the way for the privatization of certain gambling sectors in the nation. In addition, as internet and mobile technology has become more widely available in nigeria, so has online and mobile gaming. The result is that post 2000, gambling in the nation is split into 5 categories which are (from biggest to smallest) betting, lottery, promotions, slots and pools.
Safety and Security Check
Confirming that the online casino operator is licensed and regulated by the relevant enforcement body should always be your primary concern. The national lottery regulatory commission is responsible for issuing gaming licenses in nigeria on behalf of the federal government. In order to be legitimate for local players, casino sites in nigeria must hold a licence from the lagos state government and have a permit from the national government of nigeria. Online operators should meet all requirements, have all documents, and pay the specified application fee. Most reputable online casino sites use the latest security measures and protocols, such as 128-bit or 256-bit encryption technology, to increase security and protect players’ personal data. Additionally, many of the best nigerian casino sites have imposed responsible gambling practices to minimise the risk of gambling addictions and help in case of any such problems. Online casinos work closely with some of the biggest organisations, helping fight the battle with gambling addictions. Some of the most popular of these organisations include gamcare, gamblers anonymous, and the international betting integrity association. There are also certain measures players themselves or the online casino operator could set up to limit exposure to gambling and eliminate the threat of addictions. Setting deposit limits, self-excluding, or taking a break from gambling are just a few viable options.
