The main stereotype about Africa is that it is considered to be technology-constrained and cut off from the rest of the online world. But this has not been the case in recent years, and this is a good potential, given that more providers and operators are entering the local market of online casinos.
One of the biggest factors influencing the development of online gaming in Africa is the rapid growth of mobile networks. More than three quarters of the continent has a SIM, and two thirds of the population has access to high-speed mobile Internet.
We will talk about the Internet counterpart of land-based casinos – online casino in Nigeria.
How We Rate Online Casinos for Nigeria
Players can choose different options based solely on their own taste and what impressions they want to receive from their gambling experience. However, our reviews are based on several criteria, which we will list down below. Thus, we will consider the most basic, necessary criteria for choosing an online gambling that can be considered as credible. Summarizing these parameters, then we compile reviews based on the results of this assessment.
License
The first thing we ever need for a detailed review of the online casino is a gaming license. This is one of the most important parameters, as it determines whether players can trust the site in general. The safety of money, reliability and security of personal and bank data of users fully depends on the license as a legal base to conduct business.
Online gambling is regulated by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC).
Game Selection
Quite unlikely that players will want to spend time, or even consider registering in online casinos with a small or outdated range of games. At the same time, we also don’t aim to include casinos with thousands of different but boring games. We check the entire collection of slots, table games, providers and live casino for different types as well as unusual options that will be able to entertain potential players. It is also important to avoid casinos where a lot of games have bugs or different problems, as well as check the online casino site compatibility with mobile format.
Safety & Security
How does the casino comply with local regulations? What payment methods are available to players? All of this is, in one way or another, part of safety & security. In addition, it is essential for the casino to provide secure safety methods when it comes to making a deposit. Bank card information one way or another will be in the hands of site owners, so we pay close attention to the availability of quality certificates, audits and data encryption.
Payment Methods
The more comfortable and flexible the range of payment methods is, the better. It is also a signifier of the fact that the casino is responsible for the comfort of its players. Below, we will discuss the payment methods available in Nigeria in more detail, but for now we will highlight the payment methods as one of the main criterias of our reviews.
Withdrawals
In our reviews, we only support absolute transparency in the methods and time of processing player withdrawal requests. The withdrawal period should not be too long and the withdrawals themself should be conducted with maximum security for your winnings. In our reviews of online gambling, we only maintain absolute transparency in the methods and time of processing player withdrawal requests.
Promotions
Promotions are important for the entertainment of players. Tournaments, various bonuses as well as welcome bonuses are an integral part of any quality casino. It’s easy: what else can attract new users and demonstrate casino loyalty better than good bonuses?
Loyalty Programs
Loyalty programs or VIP programs can offer pleasant gifts and rewards to regular players. Therefore, we review the full spector of what is offered to all players – new and existing ones as well as high rollers. We always check the bonus terms and see if VIP/loyalty programs offer rewards for reasonable bets.
Customer Support
The 24-hour operation of technical support is undoubtedly a solid plus. But it is also important for support to be carried out by real professionals. We pay close attention to the quality of the customer assistance: waiting time, agent’s qualification, as well as the variety of communication channels through which players can ask questions or describe their problems with the service.
Play Online Casino Games For Real Money
Online casinos in Nigeria are loved due their accessibility. They do not require players to travel long distances in search of affordable traditional land based casinos. The user accesses a variety of games through just one click on the mouse or tap on the phone.
Below we will talk about what kind of games you can find in various online casinos.
Slots
These “machines” can be called the trademark of every online and traditional casino. In online ones, there are many games with different designs and features. The player chooses the slot machine and decides how many lines he wants to bet, then places it and spins the reels. If the player wins, the machine returns the multiplied prize. There is also a kind of slot where the main goal is a constant hit of combinations.
Blackjack
It is a very popular card game, also known as Twenty-one in the world of live casino games. Players must beat the dealer, this includes either scoring exactly 21 points or reaching close to these numbers, using cards of a certain value. The principle of blackjack assumes the presence of opponents, real or virtual ones. Bets are made at the beginning of the game and the main goal is to beat the dealer. This game is quite popular in all casinos around the world, attracting gamblers with its simple rules and relative ease of calculation.
Roulette
In this live casino games the player must guess the number that will appear on the reel with numerical values. The desired number is defined by a small ball that is thrown on the roulette. There are several types of roulette: European, French and American.
European roulette is the “basic” version – players need to determine one of 37 numbers and count on luck.
In the French one zero sector bets on equal chances with two options: they are all placed on the field until the next draw or, in the case of a repeated loss of zero or a loss of bet, a profit is made to the casino. In case of a gambler win, a return is made without a profit.
American roulette is close to the rules above, but has its own features. It has two zero numbers: zero and double zero, and the table can hold as much as three dealers.
Baccarat
This is an old card game that was invented several centuries ago and previously was considered as entertainment only to aristocrats. Its rules are quite similar to the blackjack: players are dealt two cards each and must score nine points. They can take or refuse to pick additional cards. Online casinos often provide the ability to play a mini-baccarat – against the casino itself. There are several types of this game, including eight decks, with different hand and buy rules, and different payouts.
Live Dealers
Live dealers or Live casino games are essentially a copy of the real land-based live casino games, but available anytime and from anywhere in online format. Although they are not exactly the “head dive” into the atmosphere of picturesque traditional casinos, they can provide a certain level of comfort – players can get access to them from any convenient place with internet connection.
Top Payment Methods in Nigeria
Payment Method | Advantage |
---|---|
Visa & Mastercard | 💳 Widely accepted globally, offering convenience and security |
Bank Transfer | 🏦 Direct transfer of funds, suitable for large transactions |
PayPal | 📱💳 Secure and widely used online payment system |
E-wallets | 💼 Convenient and fast digital wallet solutions for online transactions |
Gambling sites provide several common payment options for players to replenish the game deposit. As promised above, in this section we will discuss the available and some of the preferred payment methods at online casino in Nigeria.
To find out which payment methods are available in an online casino, go to the home page of its website. You can find a logo of the available payment systems on the bottom section. If there are none, go to the «Terms and Conditions» or «Deposit Methods» section.
Then log in to your casino’s account, select the appropriate payment method, and enter or withdraw funds. Once you have completed all these steps, your transaction request will be processed and the funds will be credited to your account. Note: remember that casinos may place certain restrictions on deposit and withdrawal.
Visa & Mastercard
One of the most common online casino payment methods. Mainly due to the fact that most adults already use these cards for daily needs, which simplifies its use on online casino sites without having to register in third-party services.
This payment method is also considered one of the best in terms of security and is recognized as one of the safest ways to fund casino accounts. Trustworthy casinos use digital 128 bit encryption (SSL) technology to protect information of their user’s bank card.
However, it should be noted that although this payment method is aimed at instant deposits, withdrawals can take some time – up to several hours.
Once you have successfully processed your first deposit at an online casino, you will be able to return and make additional deposits without having to enter your data again. But for subsequent transfers online casinos will ask you to enter a three-digit security code of your card each time to confirm the transaction. As well as the possibility of 3D verification by your bank for additional security.
Bank Transfer
For now bank transfers are not something extraordinary, but due to the popularity of electronic transfers and payment systems, have become much less common. However, the old way does not mean that they are not working. Users can still go to the bank and transfer the necessary amount to the casino account from the physical bank offices.
The transfer could be provided by bill to pay, Western Union or MoneyGram.
The most important drawback of this deposit option is that for its implementation you will have to spend your time going to the bank. You will need to show the cashier the details for the transfer (bill), pay the necessary amount, and then return home and wait. And here’s the second not-so-obvious problem: bank approval of transactions takes much longer than the same operation, but with online operators.
Bank deposits and withdrawals are made within 2-10 working days, but it can take 5-28 days to approve a bill.
There is also USSD banking, which is frequently used by Nigerian players. Is a type of digital banking, which allows carrying out transactions on payments and transfers on bank cards remotely without Internet connection.
To use USSD banking, users will need a short USSD code to create a bank-client connection. This code will be used for any banking transaction – you need to activate it on your mobile device using your phone number. Most banks will require you to register a new account if it was not previously available. The account is obligatory for these financial services.
To authorize user transactions you also need to set a 4 or 5 digit PIN. This code will be a simultaneous signature as a transaction confirmation and a security system to prevent access to your data. It is therefore highly not recommended to keep a code number on your phone or to use an easily guessable option: for example, date of birth, numbers from your phone number and so on.
PayPal
PayPal is one of the easiest ways to make online payments and one of the most common electronic payment systems in Nigeria.
In most cases, PayPal guarantees instant transactions, but this may depend on the type of account and your bank card tied to that account. For example, if you use a debit card linked to an electronic wallet, the transfers can take up to 48 hours.
The undeniable plus of PayPal is, of course, anonymity and security. The anonymity of PayPal transfers is comparable to the anonymity of using Bitcoin, as the user’s payment information does not reach third parties (in this case, the casino).
Making deposits via PayPal is an easy and easily accessible process. You choose the option «Deposit Funds» in your account in the online casino, go through PayPal authorization and confirm payment. If you still do not have an account, you can create an account even on the go, through the iOS or Android PayPal app. But remember that connecting the card to your account can take up to 3 days.
E-wallets
Among the well-known electronic wallets – alternatives to PayPal – Neteller and Skrill can be called the most common for the best online casino.
The principle of depositing the wallet itself, as well as depositing funds on the casino site, is almost identical with PayPal. Make sure you have an e-wallet account and enough money on it before making your first deposit.
While working almost similar to PayPal, Neteller and Skrill can provide users with some interesting features. For example, participating in a loyalty or multi-level VIP program, players can significantly reduce transaction time and receive lower transfer fees compared to PayPal.
If the user got a default e-wallet account, then the deposit to the online casino will remain instant, but the withdrawal may take up to 24 hours.
Skrill also provides the ability to use a prepaid card, which works perfectly with the principles of responsible gambling and allows users to control their casino spending.
Among the disadvantages of the Neteller and Skrill platforms are the insufficient number of available languages and the absence of any dispute resolution system.
Online Casino Bonuses
First of all, we need to clarify that the ways of getting bonuses and types of bonuses are different things. Ways of getting bonuses implies how a user can get bonuses from the casino. And types of bonuses – in what form the player will receive these bonuses.
So, you can get bonuses in three types:
- Cash,
- Free Spins,
- Mixed option (cash + free spins).
As for the types of bonuses of best online casinos, they are granted for different actions of the player. For registering an account, depositing your account, downloading a mobile app, as a birthday gift and so on. To receive them, the user must confirm the receipt option at the time of registration. Either confirm the possibility of receiving bonuses by clicking on the personal confirmation link in the email, or on the bonus page on the site. Usually such offers are specified on the account creation page.
It is also important to read the online casinos’ terms and conditions. There are different conditions for receiving bonuses. For example, activation and wagering are given for a limited period. If the player does not make it in time, unused bonuses will burn.
Now let’s talk about types of bonuses.
Matched Deposit Bonus
This is a type of promotion where the casino will match a percentage of the deposit amount with bonus funds. Matched bonuses differ from deposit cash bonuses and are given based on how the bets take place. Essentially, a matched deposit bonus is a 100% deposit bonus.
Players can claim these bonuses after they have met the minimum requirements for wagering. Then the bonus is deposited into their account. Wagering requirements and amount vary depending on the casino.
At the same time, players can lose a lot of bets. Some casinos want to make sure that such losses do not make their customers disappear from their casino forever. So there is a chance that the casino will offer a bonus for losses incurred on the bets.
Usually it is some percentage of the loss. The point is that players do not lose motivation.
Free Spins
This bonus allows the slot players to spin the reels for free. When it comes to free spins, it is usually either a casino bonus or a bonus round in the slot. But right now we’re talking about a casino bonus.
For example, an offer from a casino may sound like this: 10 free spins on the slot, the promotion must also indicate the cost of each spin. Let’s say it’s ₦10. That means the player will spin the reels 10 times for free.
The total value of the free spins depends on the value of each spin, as the winning is considered to be a multiplied bet. That is, if in one case the bet was ₦0.1, and in the other ₦30, the same combination will give a different win – ₦10 and ₦3000.
Free spins are most often offered for either a single or a limited selection of slots. Also for the new players as a part of welcome bonuses or for already existing players when advertising new slots.
No Deposit Casino Bonus
No deposit welcome bonuses are given to the player immediately after registration. In fact, this is the “thank you” gift from online casinos for registering it on their website.
To receive a no deposit bonus, players need to register at the online casino, as well as specify and confirm their contact details. These include a mobile number, an email address. If a player refuses to confirm contact information, then no bonus will be awarded to them.
Operators usually offer free spins as a no deposit welcome bonus for new players. No deposit bonuses are less common than deposit ones and quite smaller. But the conditions for obtaining them are obviously simpler. Players will either find a bonus code in the promotional info and enter in their profile, or contact support and request it there. No deposit bonus also can be used for a limited time.
Cashback Bonus
The cashback bonus is activated only if the player has entered their “minus” for different periods of time up to one month. User can request partial damages from the casino if the result of all bets and winnings is negative. This is automatically counted by the casino system.
The percentage of the cashback bonus depends on the rules of the online casino. Usually it is up to 20% of the total lost amount. Other factors can also influence the size of the cashback: participation in the loyalty program, total time of activity on the site, amount of lost bets and so on.
Reload Bonus
This type of bonus is a kind of gift to players for re-depositing their account. Usually, casino sites give 10% to 50% for repeated cash deposits. Free spins also can be awarded as a reload bonus.
Reload bonuses can also be offered to players on an exclusive basis. For example, to members of the VIP program or loyalty program of a casino.
Important: reload bonuses may not be available to players with withdrawals exceeding their total deposit. This is usually indicated in the terms and conditions of a specific online casino.
High Roller Bonus
If a player prefers to go big with a big bankroll or has the option of wagering large amounts, an online casino can offer a big bonus.
Usually this is a percentage of the deposit amount, and the amount can be really impressive – so that it will increase the bankroll by almost 50%. For example, many casino websites offer a premium of 50% with a deposit of ₦145000 or more.
Is Online Casino Legal in Nigeria?
Nigeria ranks second in the gambling sector in Africa right after South Africa. The gambling industry in Nigeria has been growing rapidly since 2004, when the government lifted the full gambling ban.
Now we will discuss the legality of gambling in Nigeria, as well as look at local gaming regulations.
Gambling Laws and Authorities in Nigeria
As we said above, the ban on gambling in Nigeria has been lifted, but things are not so simple. According to Chapter 22 of the Criminal Code, gambling is still illegal. However, exceptions include licensed land-based casinos, card games, lotteries and backgammon. There are also state-operated pools and racing centers.
Currently, the National Office For Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundry (SCUML) and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) are involved in licensing gambling, including offshore gambling.
Until 2010, online gambling was banned even for local citizens, not to mention the work of offshore companies, which, if introduced by the appropriate license, could replenish the budget of countries.
Sports betting is Nigeria’s favorite. For example, one of the most popular bookmakers bet9ja, they work under a license, and they also have a casino. According to TheGuardian.ng, 60 million people spend £4 million a day on sports betting. GGR Nigeria’s total gross revenue for 2014 was £27.8 million, and by the end of 2019 it had reached £55.8 million.
Local authorities very strictly monitor the minimum age of players – it must be at least 18 years. The penalty for illegal gambling is up to 3 months’ imprisonment and a fine of up to ₦40.
Gambling Taxation
Gambling is not yet very regulated at the regional level. Today, there is a serious conflict between the Council overseeing the Lagos state lottery and the Nigeria Lottery Control Commission. Each of these legal entities seeks to impose its own licensing prerogative and fees.
Thus, the cost of obtaining an online gambling license in Africa in this jurisdiction, as well as its renewal, depends entirely on which body will regulate the company.
Previously, the Federal Revenue Service (FIRS) proposed to introduce a 5% VAT payment for online transactions. If such a tax is introduced, operators may review their policy towards the region in general.
FAQs
Is it safe to gamble at online casinos in Nigeria?
Nigeria’s legal online casinos are regulated by the Nigeria Lottery Control Commission, so yes, it is safe.
How do I know if an online casino is licensed and regulated?
To make sure a casino is safe, you can check their name on the regulator’s website.
Can I play casino games for free?
Online casinos have demo versions of games where users can familiarize themselves with the interface of a particular game. However, gambling is not free.
How can I improve my chances of winning at an online casino?
It is not possible to give a definite answer to this question, as the winning in the casino is entirely dependent on luck and chance.
What are the most popular payment methods for online casinos in Nigeria?
Among the popular ones are banking debit cards, USSD, PayPal, and electronic wallets, including Neteller and Skrill.
What types of bonuses do online casinos in Nigeria offer?
Online casino in Nigeria provides a full list of well-known bonuses: deposit, no deposit, cashback bonuses, reload bonuses and many more. For example, Bet9ja offers players a 100% deposit bonus up to ₦100,000 + 50% Casino Bonus with a minimum deposit of ₦100.