Sports
Sports Betting is on the Rise in Nigeria: Some Exciting Takeaways
Sports betting has taken Nigeria by storm! And it’s hard to ignore its incredible growth in recent years. Betting was only legalised in Nigeria in 2005 under the National Lottery Act 2005. The late 2000s witnessed a game-changing rise of online sports betting in African countries. Now, you can find countless Nigerian betting sites operating nationwide, and guess what? Around 60 million Nigerians are actively placing their bets. That is an incredible one-third of the population getting in on the action!
Despite being Africa’s second-largest online gambling market, some experts believe it won’t take long before Nigeria surpasses South Africa. What’s driving this sports betting frenzy? These include a significant and vibrant population, technological advancements, economic challenges, and a more liberal mindset among Nigerians. The Nigerian betting companies are just getting started, constantly coming up with exciting new ideas to keep up with the skyrocketing demand. I think it’s, therefore, safe to say that sports betting is on a winning streak in Nigeria and will continue to expand.
The size of the sports betting market in Nigeria
The sports betting market in Nigeria is undeniably vast and robust. Research reveals that an astounding 60 million individuals aged between 18 and 40 actively participate in sports betting in the country. These Nigerian bettors collectively spend approximately $15 daily on wagering activities. In 2020 alone, the country’s betting industry surpassed the $2 billion milestone. The young Nigerian betting market is estimated to contribute a staggering $5.5 million to the sector daily.
The impact of the sports betting industry in Nigeria is genuinely remarkable. Realising the incredible possibilities, a National Sports Industry Policy has predicted that Nigeria’s sports online betting sector could bring in a whopping $4.7 billion yearly revenue. The forecasts for the future of Nigerian betting are that it could also create an impressive 10 million job opportunities. It is also expected to contribute 1.5-3% to Nigeria’s GDP over the next ten years.
The industry’s expansion can be primarily attributed to Nigeria’s profound love for football, which is also deeply ingrained in its culture. An example of this remarkable growth is issuing over 100 betting licenses to Nigerian betting sites. These are issued by regulatory authorities like the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and the Lagos State Lotteries Board (LSLB).
What sports do Nigerians like to bet on?
Sports hold a special place in the hearts of Nigerians, and their passion extends to placing bets on their favourite team or player. Unsurprisingly, football sits proudly at the top of the list. Football has a massive presence in the world of sports and is also one of the most bet-on sports globally and in Nigeria. The Nigerian national team has a storied history of competing in international tournaments. Many exceptionally talented Nigerian players proudly showcase their skills in some of the top European clubs. Soccer’s immense success and popularity in Nigeria have paved the way for many betting markets. Nigerian bettors can bet on many markets besides the winner. There are markets for top goalscorers, first goal time, how many goals, and so much more.
However, sports betting in Nigeria isn’t limited to football alone. Nigerians also enjoy and bet on various sports, including basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, tennis, and athletics. These sports have their own dedicated fan bases in the country. Although less popular than soccer, they still attract substantial betting activity.
Rise in betting on international soccer
Soccer holds a special place in the hearts of Nigerians. And they have wholeheartedly embraced the opportunity to watch soccer matches and bet on their favourite teams and tournaments.
One of the key factors contributing to the popularity of betting on international soccer is the deep-rooted love Nigerians have for the sport. Soccer is more than just a game; it’s a passion that brings people together and ignites a sense of unity and excitement. With the rise and ease of use of African online betting platforms, Nigerians can now easily place bets online.
International soccer tournaments like the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, and English Premier League captivate and delight the attention of Nigerian fans. These tournaments showcase the skills and talents of the world’s best players. Nigerian bettors eagerly analyse the matches, team performances, and player form to make predictions. The emergence of online sportsbooks has expanded the betting options available to Nigerians.
As Nigeria’s passion for international soccer continues to grow, so does the presence of the betting industry. Sportsbooks are continuously evolving to meet the needs of Nigerian bettors, offering promotions, competitive odds, and user-friendly platforms. This puts Nigerian players in a favourable position. As the various bookmakers are vying for new customers, Nigerian players can carefully select bookmakers with the best odds or even the welcome bonus offered.
The prospect for job creation
Sports betting’s expansion in Nigeria is transforming the gambling landscape and creating numerous job opportunities across various sectors. Betting companies hire staff for customer service, marketing, software development, and accounting roles. The demand for services from businesses that support the industry, such as sports media outlets, payment processors, and IT service providers, is also increasing.
For those with sports and betting knowledge, self-employment options like starting betting blogs, websites, or consultancy businesses are also great opportunities to get in on the action. By 2025, a report by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry predicted the sports betting industry could create up to 1.5 million jobs in Nigeria. It will get driven by its growing popularity and the availability of online platforms, alongside supportive Nigerian government regulations.
This expansion of sports betting benefits the economy. It brings new opportunities for individuals seeking various roles, from customer service reps to software developers. As the industry grows, it’s likely to unlock even more job opportunities, contributing to positive Nigerian economic progress.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The deal between Arsenal Football Club and Emirates has been renewed, making it one of the longest-running and most recognisable partnerships in world sport.
Both parties first came together as partners in 2006 and have since built one of football’s defining partnerships. Spanning the entire Emirates Stadium era, the relationship has evolved alongside the club – supporting Arsenal’s ambitions, strengthening both organisations’ global reach and creating new ways for supporters around the world to connect with Arsenal.
The latest deal will see Emirates continue as the Champions’ front-of-shirt, training kit and stadium naming rights partner through to 2033.
The renewal comes at a pivotal moment in the club’s history following its recent Premier League title. The new agreement will build on many of the flagship initiatives that have defined the partnership, including the Emirates Cup, which brings world-class football to Emirates Stadium each summer, and Global Gooners, which gives supporters from around the world the opportunity to experience Arsenal in North London for the first time.
The next chapter of the partnership will begin this weekend as Arsenal welcome Borussia Dortmund to North London for the Emirates Cup, with a programme of anniversary activity celebrating more than two decades of shared history while looking ahead to the next chapter still to be written. Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, will attend alongside Arsenal senior leadership as part of the celebrations.
Launching alongside the partnership renewal is a new cinematic film featuring Arsenal legend Per Mertesacker. Set inside an antique shop filled with objects from across the Emirates era, the film celebrates two decades of shared memories between Arsenal, Emirates and our supporters, reflecting on the history we’ve made together and the moments still to come.
“Winning the Premier League is an incredibly proud moment in our club’s history and one that belongs to everyone connected with Arsenal. Emirates has been an integral part of this success – standing alongside us throughout this journey and sharing in the defining moments, challenges and successes that have shaped our club over the past two decades,” the chief executive of Arsenal, Mr Richard Garlick, stated.
On his part, the President of Emirates Airline, Sir Tim Clark, said, “Over the last two decades, Emirates and Arsenal have built something that goes far beyond a traditional partnership, and one we are immensely proud of. We have grown alongside the club through changes of era and ambition, united by a shared goal of bringing people closer to what they love.
“In practice, that has meant reaching the millions who follow Arsenal across the Emirates network and beyond and creating experiences for them that neither of us could have done alone.”
Nigeria’s Super Falcons will look to secure their place in the quarter-finals when they face Egypt in their final Group C match on Wednesday at 9:00 pm at the ongoing WAFCON 2026 in Morocco.
The defending champions bounced back from their disappointing 3-2 defeat to Malawi with a crucial 1-0 victory over Zambia and will now be aiming to finish the group stage strongly. All the matches of the tournament air live on SuperSport via DStv and GOtv.
The final matchday of Group A saw hosts Morocco play out a goalless draw with Senegal, a result that was enough to send Morocco through to the quarter-finals in first position in their group. Algeria also secured their place in the knockout stages after a 2-0 victory over Kenya, bringing their group-stage campaign to a strong close.
Tuesday, Group B will conclude with Burkina Faso facing South Africa before Tanzania takes on Ivory Coast. South Africa and Ivory Coast played out a 2-2 draw in their previous match, while Burkina Faso bounced back from their opening defeat with a 2-1 victory over Tanzania. With the group still to be decided, the final results will determine which teams join the quarter-final line-up.
All eyes will then turn to Group C on Wednesday, where Egypt will face Nigeria, and Malawi will take on Zambia, with both matches kicking off at 9:00 pm. The Super Falcons will be hoping to build on their victory over Zambia and secure the result they need to advance to the knockout stages, while Egypt will be looking to end their campaign on a positive note after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Malawi in their previous game.
Nigeria’s final group match comes after a difficult start to their title defence. The Super Falcons were stunned 3-2 by Malawi in their opening game but responded with a 1-0 victory over Zambia to revive their campaign. The ten-time champions will now need to complete the job against Egypt as they look to keep their hopes of retaining the continental crown alive.
The final group-stage fixtures on Thursday will see Ghana take on Mali, and Cape Verde face Cameroon on Thursday, with both matches also scheduled for 9:00 pm. Ghana suffered a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in their previous outing, while Mali secured a 3-2 victory over Cape Verde. The final results will determine which teams progress to the knockout stages from Group D.
Matchday 3 Fixtures
Tuesday, August 4
Burkina Faso vs South Africa – 9:00 pm
Tanzania vs Ivory Coast – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, August 5
Egypt vs Nigeria – 9:00 pm
Malawi vs Zambia – 9:00 pm
Thursday, August 6
Cape Verde vs Cameroon – 9:00 pm
Mali vs Ghana – 9:00 pm
SuperSport Brings All the Live Action
Catch every match of WAFCON Morocco 2026 live on SS Football (Ch. 202, GOtv Ch. 61) and SS Football Plus (DStv Ch. 202) on DStv and GOtv. Fans can also stream every match live on DStv Stream from ₦6,000, with no decoder or dish required.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
At least for the next four seasons, DStv and GOtv subscribers are guaranteed access to all UEFA men’s club matches on SuperSport.
This is because CANAL+, the parent company of MultiChoice, which owns DStv and GOtv, has secured the exclusive broadcast rights to all UEFA men’s club competitions across Sub-Saharan Africa through 2031, ensuring SuperSport will continue to broadcast the UEFA Champions, Europa and Conference Leagues live to DStv and GOtv subscribers.
The four-season agreement, which begins with the 2027/28 campaign, covers more than 40 countries across the region and includes exclusive rights to the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
In English- and Portuguese-speaking Africa, SuperSport will continue as the exclusive broadcaster of UEFA club competitions, bringing the continent’s biggest European club matches to DStv and GOtv subscribers. The agreement also restores full UEFA Champions League coverage on CANAL+ Sport channels in French-speaking Africa, alongside the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
The rights deal further strengthens CANAL+’s sports portfolio, which already includes major football competitions such as the Premier League, LALIGA EA SPORTS, Ligue 1, the Betway Premiership and the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026.
The agreement ensures football fans across Sub-Saharan Africa will continue to enjoy live coverage of Europe’s premier club competitions on SuperSport when the new rights cycle begins in 2027.
“We are very proud of this new partnership, which gives us exclusive rights to all UEFA Men’s Club competitions across more than 40 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“For four seasons, until 2031, our subscribers will enjoy the thrill of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League’s biggest matches. Today, CANAL+ offers the most attractive sports line-up across Sub-Saharan Africa, and the acquisition of these rights is a perfect illustration of that.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to UC3 and to the teams at Relevent for once again placing their trust in CANAL+, following our recent agreements in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland and Austria,” the chief executive of CANAL+, Mr Maxime Saada, stated.
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