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.
Sports
Analysis Reveals Wilfried Zaha as Africa’s Most Handsome Athlete for 2024
By Dipo Olowookere
An analysis has shown that an Ivorian footballer, Wilfried Zaha, is the most handsome African sportsperson in 2024.
Zaha, who opted to play for Cote d’Ivoire after the Three Lions of England snubbed by him, currently plies his trade in Turkey for Galatasaray.
He moved to Turkey from England, where he played for Crystal Palace, and was one of the stars of the football outfit.
In research conducted by Bettors, Zaha topped the list as the most attractive African male athlete of 2024, closely followed by Odion Ighalo, a former Nigerian striker, and Akani Simbine, a South African sprinter.
The Most Handsome African Athletes of 2024 rankings used the golden ratio as a benchmark for facial attractiveness.
This study carefully analysed high-quality images of athletes from various sports, offering a fresh perspective on their aesthetic appeal.
The methodology involved selecting three high-quality images per athlete, sourced from official sports archives, media outlets, and verified athlete profiles, ensuring accuracy and clarity, according to the results of the research made available to Business Post.
Fourth on the list is Alex Iwobi of Nigeria, who plays for Fulham FC in England, and a Tanzanian footballer with Greece’s PAOK, Ally Samatta, is the fifth Most Handsome Athlete in Africa.
Ghana and Arsenal’s midfielder, Thomas Partey, is sixth, Senegalese Kalidou Koulibaly is seventh, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Garbon is eight, Ivorian Cheick Sallah-Cisse is ninth and Senegalese Reug Reug is number 10 on the list.
Sports
Premier League Festive Fixtures Begin on DStv, GOtv
Second-placed Arsenal and ninth-placed Manchester United will square up at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday in the first big match of the Premier League festive schedule.
The action-packed month of December will see each Premier League team play six matches within the next 28 days, with Champions League, Europa, Conference League and Carabao Cup matches in between.
The Gunners face the Red Devils knowing there’s no room for error in their chase of Liverpool who are nine points clear at the top of the table. United lost on each of their last three visits to Arsenal but will bank on the new Manager bounce. United Manager, Ruben Amorim, led Sporting Lisbon to a penalty shootout win over Arsenal at the Emirates in the Europa League round of 16 encounter two seasons ago.
During his press conference, Amorim charged his team to be brave against the Gunners. “Arsenal is the best team I’ve faced by far, they are in a different moment. But every game is a big test now because there are few days to train and we have to manage the minutes of every player. But I want my players to be brave to play this game. We need to have the ball and dominate moments of the game,” he said. United will be without Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo due to suspension. Tune in to catch the action as it unfolds live on DStv channel 203 and GOtv channel 66 at 9:15 pm on Wednesday.
In the other big match of the day, Liverpool will aim to continue their impressive run when they visit Saint James’ Park to take on Newcastle in one of the 8:30 pm matches on Wednesday. The match will also be available on DStv and GOtv. Newcastle lost 2-0 at home to West Ham last Monday and will be desperate to prevent a consecutive home defeat in front of the Geordies.
Other matches on Wednesday include Southampton vs Chelsea, Aston Villa vs Brentford, Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest, and Everton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers. On Thursday, Fulham will host Brighton while Bournemouth welcome Tottenham Hotspurs to the Vitality Stadium.
Customers can enjoy all matches this festive period by reconnecting their DStv or GOtv decoders. Simply dial *288# to renew or upgrade your subscription. You can also take advantage of the GOtv Golden Window and upgrade to Supa Plus package for N13,900 instead of N15,700. You can also download the MyGOtv app for a better self-service experience.
Sports
What is SRL & Why is It Better Than Virtual Football
Today’s sports betting services are way more advanced than several years ago. Modern punters can wager on all kinds of sports from the comfort of their homes. Aside from the standard alternatives, however, players can also bet on virtual sports and even take part in the simulated reality league (SRL).
Unlike Virtual Sports, which has been around for years, SRL is relatively new, meaning that not a lot of people know about it. Although it has its specifics, a lot of punters agree that it can be better than v-sports, especially virtual football. There are many reasons for it, so let’s dive in and learn more.
What’s the Simulated Reality League?
Before learning why the SRL is better than virtual football, it is important to share a few things about it. Generally speaking, the Simulated Reality League is a place where advanced machine learning tech and AI process large amounts of data from numerous sporting events. Thanks to that, the AI algorithm can create different numbers of situations, gameplays, and outcomes.
To put it in other words, this complex system uses the real performance of teams or players and creates a similar sporting experience where the results are unpredictable. Unlike in Virtual Sports, where everything is based on the RNG system, here, the Simulated reality league matches are based on the performance of the players and teams. In the case of football, the league offers matches from the world’s best football competitions, such as the EPL, La Liga, and the Bundesliga, and all of them take place at the same time as the real games.
It’s no surprise that the Simulated reality focuses mainly on football because this is the most popular sport in the world. With that said, it is also possible to find simulations for cricket, especially the T20 format that includes the Indian Premier League. Additionally, players will find daily coverage of the big WTA and ATP tennis tournaments.
The specifics
Since Simulated Reality is not that common among sports bettors yet, many people are not exactly sure how it all works. The most important aspect to remember is that everything is unpredictable and exciting. The matches are simulations of real-time events, and AI and the RNG tech ensure that the result is not predetermined. Instead, it is based on what’s happening in the match, making it much more exciting.
AI is the main star of the show here and is the “engine” behind everything. The people behind the SRL train the algorithm to process a lot of data and come up with unique sequences. The latter replicates the real match, providing bettors with a unique experience.
Since all Simulated Reality is new, it also means that people who have not used it so far will have a completely new experience. As we have seen, SR is very different from virtual sports, so it will be something that players will be interested in.
Things to keep in mind when comparing SR to Virtual Football
As mentioned, these two have many differences that people need to take into account. Perhaps the biggest one is realism because V-sports are just simulations that are entirely based on RNG. This means that their outcomes are random and have nothing to do with the real performance of the teams and players.
Those who decide to bet on the Simulator Reality League, however, will see that the latter uses a different algorithm. In other words, players have various types of experience.
With that said, there are some drawbacks of the SRL that bettors need to take into account, one of which is availability. Virtual Sports are available around the clock, which means you can bet on them at any time of the day. The SRL, on the other hand, is based on actual matches across football, cricket, and tennis. This means that there are only a handful of events per day.
The second drawback that users have to take into consideration is the match’s length. As mentioned, virtual sports are always there when you need them, and each match lasts no more than a couple of minutes. This allows you to bet on multiple options.
Due to how it works, the SRL is not like that because the matches there take as much time as the real ones. In the case of soccer, players will have regular 90 minutes of play.
Conclusion
Despite some disadvantages, the SRL is a very attractive option for people who want to bet on football. The new tech is somewhat between real sports betting and virtual sports, so it will definitely have a lot of fans. It will be very interesting to keep track of this option’s future development.
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