Sports betting is a very popular pastime in Nigeria. It is estimated that more than 50 million people are engaged in this activity, and when you have this many people, it is no wonder that they are wagering on different things.
In this article, we will explore some of the most popular sports on which Nigerians like to wager.
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Enjoy!
Football
The most popular sport on the planet is first on our list. This statement also holds true when it comes to sports betting in Nigeria. About 70% of all the stakes made are on football, which is totally understandable. With such tournaments as the World Cup, the UEFA League, and superstar players like Ronaldo, Messi, and Benzema, even people who are usually not interested in football place a bet or two when the big event is taking place.
As of the time of the writing of this article, “the big one” is the World Cup in Qatar, which has garnered the attention of millions of people all across the world and probably already made some people a bit richer from the stakes they have placed.
Basketball
Next is basketball, a thrilling and flashy sport with a huge following in every part of the world. It is honestly not a surprise that Nigerians enjoy wagering on basketball. The game is fast-paced and practically screams entertainment with all the dunks and threes being thrown around by athletes in peak human condition. There are also a large number of professional NBA players from Nigeria, which could explain why people bet so heavily on basketball. It is still smaller than football; however, basketball is a relatively young sport, and for the past 50 years it has been growing in popularity more and more. Who knows, maybe one day it will outclass football in terms of popularity.
Tennis
Tennis, also known as “the sport of kings,” is very popular among Nigerian bettors for a number of reasons. The first one is that it is very fun to watch. Tennis requires a lot of skill and dedication to succeed; only a select few reach the top, where there is money, fame, and sponsorships.
The second is the sheer number of matches. Almost every day, excluding the two months of November and December, there are games being played, and not only by some unimportant athletes from the top 250; the big names like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are also present and competing. There is always something interesting going on in the tennis world, which is why people gravitate towards it so much. If you are wondering where people wager these days, then wonder no more. Most betting in Nigeria happens on online gambling platforms such as these.
MMA
Blood sports have been popular since the dawn of time: Roman gladiatorial fights, Thai boxing, and the list goes on. They still remain prominent in our more civilised age, although the violence has been scaled down significantly. The most popular blood sport at the moment is without a doubt MMA, and in the world of mixed martial arts, the UFC reigns supreme. Every event draws the attention of millions of people and, of course, accumulates a significant amount of money in the process.
The betting scene for MMA is huge in Nigeria. You will find every prominent event in the catalogue of most sportsbooks, aside from a couple outliers. Many find MMA disturbing, yet many more find it entertaining to see two men fight each other. In some ways, it is quite beautiful, even graceful. The numbers speak for themselves: around 20 million Nigerians are wagering on MMA annually, and their ranks are growing.
Horse Racing
Horse racing is a very old sport; it has gone through many iterations throughout the centuries, from Byzantine chariot races to the almost modern look of the Victorian era. Nowadays, it is most popular in Asian countries such as Korea and Hong Kong, as well as in the United States. It is one of the many prominent sports throughout the world that has managed to carve a place in the hearts of Nigerian punters due to its innately competitive nature and the heated, high-octane betting experience that only it has been able to provide.
In Conclusion
Sports betting is surging in popularity, and there is nothing that may stop that. We do, however, advise you to wager responsively. Set concrete boundaries and limits that separate your normal, everyday life from betting. Remember, it is just a hobby. It may be profitable, and it is certainly unique, but it is still just a hobby; don’t take it too seriously.