Online casinos accepting players from Nigeria

Gambling is a popular pastime in Nigeria. The country's casino and gambling laws do not mention online gambling and no licenses are issued for the business in the country. However, operators are expected to follow the same laws as their land-based counterparts do.

The most important part of Nigerian gambling law that applies to online casinos is the gambling age. Players must be at least eighteen years of age in order to deposit money, play the games, or cash out.

This is not an obstacle for Nigerian gamblers as all licensed online casinos require players to be at least 18 years old to open an account. Some may require customers to be 21, but that will be mentioned on the gaming website if the age of majority is over 18 to play.

All of the casinos listed here follow and adhere to anti-money laundering (AML) and KYC (know your customer) procedures. This is the reason players need to submit documents to the casino's compliance office before they can cash out any winnings. The same protocol is followed whether the online operator is licensed in Malta, Curacao, Alderney, the Isle of Man, or anywhere else.

Mobile Casinos in Nigeria

While many Nigerians like to gamble from home, the country's infrastructure along with cultural trends have placed nearly all Nigerians in the category of mobile internet users. Sure, a few students and independent businesspeople have and use laptops and desktop computers from home, but nearly everyone is connected to the internet via a mobile device. Some estimate that smartphone penetration has already reached nearly 85% in the country.

Nearly all online casinos and sportsbooks today offer their virtual wares and services in the device-agnostic HTML5 format. This means that mobile users and desktop users have nearly the same gambling experience available to them across devices. All it takes to open a casino nowadays is an internet browser.

Websites and specifically slots and other games are optimized to give the best possible performance tailored to the device you are using. There is no need to download or install any mobile app or another software program in order to enjoy the benefits of gambling at home on a computer or a mobile device. The software adjusts to accommodate you rather than the other way around.

Online Casino Games in Nigeria

The HTML5 framework has made it possible for operators to offer everything under one roof that players formerly had to install separate software programs or mobile apps to access. 

Some sites offer sports and race books, live betting, slots and RNG animated table games, live dealer streams, lottery, bingo, peer to peer games like rummy and more. All of this at one website!

Others have decided to specialize and you can find some casinos that only offer slots, some include RNG table and card games, some offer only live dealer games, and some provide specific mixtures of game types. Half of the fun in discovering a new and trusted online gaming site in Nigeria is finding out what they have to offer.

On the following list you'll see just a few of the online casino games you can play in Nigeria:

• Video Slots
• Progressive Jackpot Slots
• Classic Slots
• Card and Table Games
• Live Dealer Tables
• Roulette 
• Video Poker
• Table Poker
• Tournament Poker and Cash Games
• Specialty Games
• Lottery
• Bingo
• Peer-2-Peer and Multiplayer Games

Bonuses for Nigerian Players

The vast majority of our Nigerian online casinos offer at least one welcome bonus. Many times the deposit incentive is a multi-stage offer. Players might receive a 100% match of funds, or more, on their first deposit, and then two or three more percentage matches as part of the welcome package.

It is always recommended that you check the terms of any bonus offer in order to choose the most valuable promotion. Some operators may offer a very high percentage match, yet place a cap on the maximum amount that can be withdrawn. These type of offers are best for players who simply want more playtime and a chance to cash out some winnings.

All "free money" comes with strings attached. Certain games may be limited or restricted from play and others may not contribute 100% to the wagering requirements.

If you are a risk-taker and prefer highly volatile slots, you may want to choose a bonus with a good percentage match (100% or more), no cap on max winnings, and sacrifice some wagering time by accepting 40x playthrough or more.

One lucky hit on a high-risk game can increase your bankroll significantly. A larger bankroll gives more opportunity for additional jackpots and virtually assures you will make the playthrough requirements to cash out your winnings.

No Deposit Bonuses

Be sure to look for no deposit bonuses with any welcome offer. The maximum cashout value of these are usually low - perhaps $50, $100, or $200. The good news is that you won't be risking your own funds. While you won't need to make a deposit to play and win, you may be required to make a small deposit in order to cash out.

A "verification deposit" is part of the KYC requirements placed on an operator by their licensing regulator. Once your documents are approved, you should be able to cash out any subsequent winnings quickly and easily.

Payment methods for Nigerian Online Casinos

Players in Nigeria have a good variety of choices for funding an online casino account as well as for cashing out their winnings. We'll cover some of the most popular options below.

Electronic Wallets

Some of the most popular banking devices for gambling in Nigeria are electronic wallets or "e-Wallets" such as Neteller or Skrill.

If you have an account with funds in it, simply enter the cashier of your favorite gaming site or sportsbook and follow the direction on the screen. Wallets are handy because they work for deposits and withdrawals.

Before accepting a bonus and depositing with Neteller or Skrill, please make sure the banking method is accepted for the bonus you wish to take. Some operators will not allow a welcome bonus when you use one of these methods. Others may have specific rules such as reduced maximum bet size when depositing with a wallet and playing with bonus funds.

OPay

OPay is the payment service operated by Opera Software. OperaPay operates like an eWallet for deposits. The platform allows users to make payments on their mobile or desktop browsers. The platform supports payments using banking apps, Visa, and Mastercard.

Paga

Paga is an eWallet for mobile devices. The apps are available at Google Play for Android devices and at the App Store for iOS like iPads and iPhones.

The method is popular with Nigerian gamblers because there are no fees to transfer money if your Paga wallet is linked to your bank account. The platform has over 13,000,000 customers and over 20,000 agents.

Another reason the platform is so popular is its ease of use and safety. All customers need to do is protect their username, password, and PIN to use the safe and secure payment method.

Quickteller

Quickteller offers an eWallet that gives Verve and other cardholders immediate access to the card information and access to Verve eCash. In order to use eCash you will need to register Quickteller with Verve.

Debit and Credit Cards

Visa and other debit and credit cards such as Verve and Naira Mastercard are used by the majority of bettors in Nigeria to fund their gambling accounts.

After you have entered the cashier section simply choose WebPay if you are on a mobile device, or Pay with ATM if you are using a desktop computer and follow the simple process of depositing in order to see your funds instantly available to play with.

Be sure to check the withdrawal section before depositing so you can be sure you have a way to collect your winnings. Not all operators will pay winnings back to a credit card, and none will allow you to withdraw to a debit card.

A bank transfer may be your best bet to get your winnings, but it can take a few days for the funds to appear in your bank checking or savings account.

Some of the banks offering Verve payments include FCMB, UBA, Jaiz Bank, Polaris Bank, Heritage Bank Limited, Access Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, First Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, Ecobank Plc, and Unity Bank Plc.

Bank Transfer

Many sportsbooks and gaming sites will accept deposits directly from your bank account. A few of the prominent Nigerian banks that will allow you to deposit at online gambling sites include, but are not limited to Access Bank, FCMB, Fidelity Bank, First Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Sterling Bank, UBA, and Union Bank.

Deposits can be made in person using a deposit slip at your local bank branch. The cashier system at your gaming site may also offer an option for online deposits from your bank. This method is instant and you will be able to bet or play right away.

For those who tend to make significant deposits and withdrawals, this method may be the best option. However, please be aware that it may take several days for your winnings to appear in your bank account after cashing out.

Guaranty Trust Bank Online Banking

If your betting site lists GT Bank in the cashier, you can deposit via mobile or online with your home computer. Simply follow the onscreen prompts and enter the required information to complete the transfer of funds from your GT Bank account to your casino or sportsbook account.

Automated Teller Machine Deposits

Some sportsbooks and casinos offer a deposit service using a nearby ATM. Use the Quickteller option or Pay Bills, Fund Wallet, or Fund another Wallet. If you don't see your sportsbook listed under Merchants, choose Other and enter the merchant code given to you by the site operator. You will also need to enter a unique Player ID code to complete the transaction.

While Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are the preferred method of banking for people in other parts of the world, the digital currencies are not as easily accessible for Nigerians.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has informed all Nigerian banks that all digital currencies have been banned in the country since the institution doesn't have the ability to control or regulate bitcoin or altcoins like Bitcoin Cash, Etherium, etc.

Nigerian Online Casinos Conclusion

While sports betting is the favorite online gambling activity of most people in Nigeria, online casinos are also gaining in popularity b leaps and bounds. Most bettors in the country prefer to use their local bookies, but there are no local online casino operators.

All of the gaming sites we list here are licensed and regulated. Licenses from Malta are the most prestigious but many sites that don't also target Europe will be licensed elsewhere, such as Curacao.

The premier Master License holder there who issues sub-licenses for Nigerian casinos is Antillephone - but all of the license providers are regulated ultimately by the Curacao government under permission from the Netherlands.

Nigerians who choose one of our listed gaming sites, do their homework on bonuses, and follow our guide to deposit and withdraw winnings, will have a fun and safe gambling experience.

FAQs

Are online casinos legal in Nigeria?

Undetermined. The government asserts that they are not. However, the Criminal Code Act of 1990 states in Chapter 22 that many forms of gambling are indeed illegal in Nigeria. Like most other countries with laws that dated, internet gambling was not even invented yet when the definitions of gambling were codified into Nigerian law.

Since there is no specific mention of online gambling in the Nigerian Criminal Code, the legal question may be in what is known as a gray area (not specifically legal and not specifically illegal).

Looking further back in time we see the Gaming Machines (Prohibition) Act of 1977. This law addresses coin and token-operated machines and states that their use could result in a one-year prison sentence.

A case-law-tested legal opinion would be needed to interpret the facts and risks. If in doubt, please consult competent local legal counsel.

Are Nigerian online casinos licensed?

Yes and No. The Nigerian government does not license any online casinos, but other competent jurisdictions do. It's always good to look at the bottom of a casino webpage and click any shield or emblem of an international offshore casino regulator to see if it takes you to the operator's license. If there is no 'clickable' license link, read the footer area of the page for owner/operator and licensing information and confirm what it states. Otherwise, the property may not be licensed.

Are online casinos in Nigeria safe?

Yes - Some are, and some are not. While all online gambling sites use state of the art encryption and other technologies to keep your personal and financial data safe, not all operators in Nigeria offer fair rules or play by the rules that they insist you agree to.

In as far as the games are concerned, all developers and providers that service Europe and most of Asia only deploy games that have been tested, certified and audited by international game testing labs like bmm and TST. Cheating games appear very rarely and when they do the providers are hung out to dry and disappear very quickly back under the rock they crawled out from beneath.

How old do I have to be to play at online casinos in Nigeria?

18 or 21. Nigerian law states that you must be at least 18 years of age to gamble. Many international casino operators will accept this as the minimum age, others will not let you open an account unless you are 21 or older.

Can I gamble online with my smartphone or tablet?

Yes. Nearly all casino games including slots and live dealer table games can be played in any web browser connected to the internet.

Should I play slots, blackjack, or roulette?

It depends. Each type of casino game appeals to a different type of gambling "personality". If you like the adrenaline rush of a roller coaster ride, then slots may be the game for you. Blackjack has very low volatility and you can play perfect strategy for hours on end with a small bankroll, but you aren't likely to experience any jackpot thrills. Roulette gives you the option of betting safe on near-even-money wagers like red/black, odd/even or to go for the gusto with riskier bets like on a single number.

Can I bet in Nairas?

Yes. Many of the sites listed here will accept deposits and payout in the local currency. Please see terms and conditions or the casino cashier for details. 

What's the best way to deposit?

This will depend on your priorities and possibly on the methods you may already be familiar with. Consult customer service or the cashier/payments page to see your options.

What's the best way to withdraw my winnings at a Nigerian online casino?

Again, this will depend on which payment methods you have in your arsenal and what you are most familiar with as well as what methods the casino offers. It's always good to check the withdrawal section in the cashier or consult customer service before choosing a deposit method. You will want to get your winnings out as quickly and easily as possible.

 

Author: Lars Jones