Can I win real money in Nigeria?

Yes, of course, you can play and win real money from casinos in Nigeria and beyond. If you are playing from the off-shore casinos or casinos with a license from other countries, read the terms and conditions to see if there are taxes. Whichever game you play for real money, slots, tables, or sports betting, there may be a small tax to pay while playing for real money. Indeed, many gamers may not feel much confidence to play at any casino. They may opt for casinos that also offer a free game option or a demo version of the game available for practice. It is a logical move when you are new to gaming.

Are there any withdrawal fees for Nigerian players?

There is a chance to pay a fee for withdrawals via Bank or wire transfer. Make sure to check with your bank while linking it with the casino. In the case of e-wallets or debit cards, there may not be any transaction fee too. Go through the terms and conditions of the casinos to confirm the same before signing up at any casino.

Can I play with Naira at Nigerian casinos?

Yes, you can use the Naira currencies at any of the Nigerian casinos. But since there are not enough gaming options available, you have to look for casinos off-shore that accept Naira. You may otherwise opt for e-wallets where you can deposit using the currency of your choice.

How long does it take before I receive my winnings?

It does not take more than a day at most casinos to process the payout via debit cards or e-wallets. However, if your winning is a big amount, it is better to go via bank transfer. In that case, the payout will take around 5 days to process. This will vary from one bank to the other, and the transaction fee will also vary. If you have deposited via any of these methods, you can rest assured that the processing will be instant, and you will not have to wait too. Most of the casinos do not accept deposits via cheque or bank transfer methods.

Are online casinos in Nigeria safe?

Yes, it is safe to play at any Nigerian casino we have reviewed since we ensure they have the license, and they pass several batteries of tests. Moreover, the government of Nigeria will not charge you fine for playing at any casino located outside Nigeria. However, this means you have to keep an eye and see if the casinos have a valid license and that we have reviewed it. Since most Nigerians prefer the off-shore or casinos from other countries, ensure to check if they have a valid license and if they also undergo third-party auditing done regularly.

What payment methods are available for players looking for online casinos in Nigeria?

Paga is a popular e-wallet choice for mobile users in Nigeria, and it is available for transferring money without any transfer fees. It is available for download at Google Playstore for Android users and App Store for iOS users. OPay is an Opera software to support payment via banking apps and even via Mastercard and Visa. Neteller and Skrill are also the ideal choices of payment by Nigerian players. It is easy to put in funds in these e-wallets while you get ready to bet from any casino, on-shore, or off-shore. Look out for casinos that also offer a special welcome bonus and other promotions for depositors using these methods. Debit cards and credit cards such as Naira Mastercard or Verve are some of the most common cards. They are legitimate and can be great to use with OTP or ATM pin, and they are quite safe to use. Lastly, there is a bank or wire transfer option, where you can directly use your banks like GTBank, IBTC Bank, Access Bank, Union Bank, Fidelity Bank, and others. These will take a little more time to receive the winnings, but it is nevertheless safe, and many casinos accept the payments via these.

Can I play Online Casinos for free?

Yes, you may play for free at any of the casinos too. But before signing up, see if the casinos offer you an option to play for the demo version at all or not. It makes sense to play for free if you are new to the online gaming world. It is also a sensible move if you are wondering about how to strategize and manage the bankroll. It is not a secret that games like Baccarat and Roulette have a lot of strategizing depending on how you manage your money. So, do not go hasty in spending all your winnings in making wrong moves.

Best Online Casinos in Nigeria: Top 10 Casino Websites 2023

Online casinos in Nigeria

As the online casino world started making waves in Europe, the States, and Asia, it also came to Nigeria. Land-based casinos and lotteries have been popular in Nigeria for quite some time, and this has been a reason for the rise of online casinos in 2013.

The locals here love sports betting online so much that each online site specializes in this category. It all started in 1977 when land-based gambling was a big craze around the world, and till now, there have been only three land-based casinos so far. However, the online casinos in Nigeria are primarily off-shore, and today, Nigeria ranks at the top, with South Africa and Kenya bringing in significant revenues.

Nigeria’s National Lottery Regulatory Commission operates and regulates the laws for legislating the gambling of the country. The locals are also allowed to play in casinos with Malta Gaming Authority, UKGC, and others.

In 2019, the Nigerian online gambling revenue was touted to be around $90 million, and though it is lower than that of South Africa, it is expected to go up. As we already mentioned, sports betting in Nigeria is definitely on a high. Soccer fans can check out that Nigeria Premier League is a popular event. Nevertheless, the Nigeria Football Federation or NFF oversees the professional and amateur playing time legally by offering the best parlays.

Punters may also come across other games like rugby, basketball, cricket, and more. Though the locals love betting on European and Scandinavian events, they are not that keen on the US markets. Punters can come across the best odds here, and they can easily use them from the promotions and bonuses here.

When it comes to diversity in games and stuff, you will find nothing short here. There are more table games, and the gamers in Nigeria prefer it more than the slot games any day. So, you can browse through the table games of Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, Sic-bo, Keno, Craps, and other titles. Even poker has many fans here. These casinos are trustworthy, and to select the casinos in Nigeria; you follow a similar process as you would for other casinos across the world.

History of gambling in Nigeria

Nigerians love to gamble, which has been a reason for the activity to be around for such a long time. Even before the online casinos came up in 2013, casino lovers were there swooning over different types. There are several restrictions in place because of other religions, not allowing gambling online at any cost.

But even then, there are off-shore casinos that continue to welcome Nigerian players wholeheartedly. They know that Nigerian gamers are fascinated with sports betting and other table games as much as any other countrymen.

Besides getting opposition from several gamers, the industry also faced financial and legal problems that allowed the off-shore casinos to flourish. Talking about sports betting, Nigerians have an additional option of going to the local sports betting shops sprinkled around the country. They have a local license, and it is safe to bet from here too. If you want to know how good this industry is, let us say that sports betting alone is a billion-dollar industry!

Taking this as a clue, the modern casinos are now using sports betting as a primary field for opening many more online casinos from Nigeria. You will come across names such as Nairabet, Naijabet, Supabets, and more. A big reason for this industry to flourish is because of the Nigerians’ love for football.

Another reason for the rise of sports betting here is the local’s craze of betting on popular names of athletes. That said, the esports sector is also on the rise, and it is only a matter of time before it again rises at par with the regular sports betting sector.

The future of online casinos in Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the fastest developing countries in Africa. As the country develops, citizens indulge in all types of fun activities—many people in the country play casino games. The government legalized gambling and recently developed rules which require all casino houses to obtain licenses from the gambling regulatory body. These regulations were set to help curb unlawful gambling.

Land-based casinos were given priority when the licensing activity started. However, the emergence of COVID-19 changed how people did activities. Some land-based casinos were closed to curb the spread of the virus. As a result, casinos needed to change their way of giving services. This led to casinos creating online platforms to help their customers play from the comfort of their homes. Luckily enough for the casinos, more than 50% of the nation's population has access to the internet.

The country has also improved its internet connectivity, making it easier for people to access it, though it is not yet at the desired speed.

The government is expected to increase its efforts in licensing online casinos as the future lies in the online market. Nigerian Lottery Commission regulates online gambling in the country. Online casinos are expected to follow the same rules as land-based casinos. Only people aged 18 years and above are allowed to play.

Are casinos legal in Nigeria?

This is a big question we all need to ponder at this point. As per Chapter 22 of the Criminal Code, gambling is illegal. However, the exceptions are three of the licensed casinos and card games, lottery, and backgammon. Even the state-operated pools and racing hubs are exceptions.

We have already spoken a lot about how big sportsbetting is in Nigeria. The country is fascinated with this betting. Nigerians love sportsbetting, which has created betting shops and other avenues, too, including online bookmakers. The country’s sportsbetting does not fall under online casino games. Nevertheless, no laws are regulating online sports betting.

This has caused the bookmakers of foreign nations and working with outstation licenses to accept Nigerian punters. The local government is very strict about the minimum age limit as being nothing less than 18. The penalty for players indulging in illegal gambling can be up to 3 months in prison and a fine of up to 40 nairas or both.

It is even unlawful for operators or promoters to involve in gambling, and so most of this happens underground. These are spread across the country, and punters can get no indemnity or protection if they are victims of any scam. This is why the punters should choose licensed sites with a proper license from their country of operation. At least, they will find it safer to complain about those casinos and even seek protection from those countries.

Nigerian players favorite games

Nigerians love their land-based casinos and lotteries only the most. But in these online gambling times, they also love spending money and time in sports events like Aussie Rules, Football, and cricket, among others.

As we have already stated, gamers love to spend time in Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, Video poker, Pai Gow, and other table games primarily. There is also a small market for slot games here. As per the report by KPMG, 2 Billion Naira is spent every year on sports betting alone!

If they play online casinos from other countries, they even go for slot games like Starburst, Book of Dead, and Gonzo’s Quest. That is to say; they too have a fondness for Microgaming, NetEnt, and Playtech as game developers. They also opt for the Three-Card Poker and other video poker titles like Texas Hold’em poker and Evolution Gaming’s table game assortments.

Popular casino bonuses in Nigeria

Online casinos use bonuses to attract more players to use their platform. In addition, bonuses help users have more fun by testing their skills without incurring any risk. Here are some of the most popular casino bonuses in Nigeria.

Welcome Bonus

Betting sites reward new customers with a welcome bonus when they register an account. Online casinos give massive welcome bonuses to attract punters. This bonus enables players to play online casinos without using their own money. Some of the casinos with this bonus in Nigeria are1XSlots, Kassu, and BetTilt.

Deposit Bonus

This is a deposit bonus given to customers after they deposit to their account. Players are required to make a certain deposit to get a certain percentage of their deposit. For instance, an online casino might issue a 75% bonus on a deposit of NGN100. The most popular deposit bonus is the first deposit bonus.

Birthday Bonus

This bonus can be given during a player's birthday month, week or day. The reward may be in the form of gambling money or free spins.

No Deposit Bonus

This bonus gives players a chance to play casino games without any deposit. The bonus can either be free spins or free money.

Payment methods in Nigeria

Although the nation has restricted some games in land-based casinos, players can freely play any game in online casinos. A large percentage of remote gambling fans prefer locally owned and licensed online casinos.

Most of these casinos use local payment methods. They also allow players to make deposits, withdrawals and play with the Nigerian Naira.

Here are the most popular local payment methods in Nigeria:

Debit Cards

This is the most popular payment method in the world. In Nigeria, players use Visa, Verve, Naira MasterCard, or Interswitch to make deposits and withdrawals.

Direct Bank Deposit

Nigeria has trusted banks that can perform direct deposits to one's online casino account. Some banks that offer this service are Union Bank, First Bank, Sterling Bank, UBA, Fidelity Bank, FCMB, Access Bank, and Stanbic IBTC Bank.

Pay an Agent

Online casinos with land-based agents allow people to make deposits through them. Then, agents convert the money deposited into credits that can be used to place in online casinos.

PayCom

This is an online payment method loved by many Nigerians. PayCom is simple, fast, and free to use. People only need internet connectivity to make use of the site.

Online casinos have other payment methods which transcend borders. Some of the most used payment methods are PayPal, Mastercard, Neteller, VISA, and Skrill.

How we select the best online casinos in Nigeria

Nigerians have to be very cautious while selecting the ideal site for gaming because the internet is a risky place. There are sites without a license or facing several disputes, too thriving alongside the legitimate ones.

However, this is where we step in to offer you a clear analysis of the sites and bring to you the most legitimate sites ever. Nigerian punters can check the casino ratings and reviews at our site before they sign up and deposit at any casino.

We prioritize offering the punters all the essential details on areas like deposit and withdrawal methods, security, payout times, and transaction fees that casinos accept. We also focus on getting the most accurate information about the customer support and the security the sites undertake to ensure the safety of Nigerian players, among others.

Here are some of the critical parameters using which we evaluate the trustworthiness of a casino for Nigerians.

Security

Are the punters safe when depositing at any online casino? We check the license of the casinos and see how they accept the deposit and withdrawals. We also check if they have the SSL’s latest encryption on the site and are compliant with the PCI. We also check for the licenses from the UK, Malta, Alderney, or Curacao.

Customer support

Does the casino offer you support 24/7? If not, stay wary of the same. Some casinos do not have live chat support, and they have email and telephone support. We ensure the casinos we select have 24/7 service and customer support via live chat, telephone, and email. Many good sites even offer local telephone support and not just one toll-free number.

Software and languages supported

We understand there is a need to only pick the games from casinos that are secure and safe. Also, we ensure there are games available across all categories without any hiccup while streaming. The sites should not take hours to load, and in the case of an app, it should not be consuming too much storage space.

Likewise, we also check the games on offer to you via Android or iOS platforms. These should be easy to log in and play with from any device, too, whether you go for desktop, tablet, or mobiles.

We support casinos that partner with top game developers like Microgaming, Playtech, Quickspin, Evolution, etc. We also ensure to check if the casino is offering services in various languages like English, Chinese, French, and Spanish, to name a few.

Languages at Nigerian casinos

This West African country has a population of about 200 million people and over 500 native languages. The most famous native languages are Hausa, Yoruba, Fulfulde, and Efik-Ibibio. Britain colonized Nigeria. As a result, Nigeria picked English as their official language. Many Nigerians use Nigerian Pidgin and Nigerian English as their second language.

People in urban areas use English more frequently compared to people in rural areas. This is primarily influenced by globalization and the level of education.

Since most Nigerians can read and write English, most Nigerian casinos have been created to support the language. Customer support is also given in English, and such factors help casinos attract and maintain customers.

Online casinos in Nigeria target both local and international customers. Therefore, they have to integrate different languages to serve people from all parts of the world. Nigeria also has Non-English speakers, foreigners who are interested in playing online casino games.

Such conditions have led to online casinos supporting multiple languages to keep their customers happy. Some supported languages are French, Danish, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, German, Portuguese, Canadian, Swedish, and Finnish. Although online casinos support multiple languages, it is rare for customer service to support various languages.

The majority of online casino customer services use English.

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