The whole story starts with a Twitter account called @MayorofTwitter. It is a well-respected account in the local betting community, known for so-called ‘Sure Game’ predictions. Sure Game predictions refer to a betting tip that is almost certain to win.

In this case, a Sure Game went viral. The betting community jumped on it, resulting in numerous N7.500 bets being placed. Combined with a betting code, the guaranteed payout came to N5.5 million. A fantastic deal for bettors, but terrible news for MSport if having to make the payouts.

The Scam that Shook Nigeria

The prediction was accurate, meaning that MSport now owed millions. Except the operator had no intention of being honourable. The company changed the odds overnight, drastically reducing the owed amount. Suddenly bettors were winning N1.5 million instead of N5.5 million.

It isn’t necessarily uncommon for sportsbooks to change odds. The difference, in this case, is that the change was made after the match had concluded. Changing odds after a game has finished isn’t just an irregularity. It is downright criminal. As would be expected, bettors were not happy.

#MsportScam trended on Twitter for days, to such an extent that the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) decided to take action. Most didn’t expect the NLRC to get results, but things took a dramatic turn in this case.

The NLRC Gets Results

MSport representative Funmilola Akingbelu met with NLCR Director General Lanre Gbaja. To everyone’s surprise, it wasn’t long before MSport promised to make payments. Gbaja also publically pledged that an investigation would be launched into the matter. Sure enough, bettors soon started to get the total N5.5 million payments.

Gbaja stated that the NLRC has the matter well in hand. He elaborated that his organisation is always working tirelessly to resolve complaints. Additionally, he added that issues are always resolved amicably, with all stakeholders and organisations considered.

In this case, the matter was resolved, much to the relief of betting enthusiasts. In other cases, similar situations do not come to a satisfactory conclusion. The fact is that Africa is rife with operators that act dishonourably.

Irregularities in African Sports Betting

A well-known incident took place in Cameroon. After a bettor landed an incredible $22 million wager, 1xBet refused to make the payment. Such unrest followed that a riot consumed the area.

Early in the year, Nigerian operator SportyBet pulled a similar stunt to MSport. A bettor walked away with N7 million, triggering the company to change policies overnight. The operator will now never make any payout higher than N25 million.

It isn’t just in Africa that betting regulations are a problem. In Germany, lawmakers have been struggling to agree on policies for years. In many German states, gambling is illegal to this very day. In the United Kingdom, a similar situation exists, with lawmakers in constant conflict over which regulations should be implemented.

A big difference is that an independent organisation called GamCare exists in the UK. The group works exclusively toward keeping local operators under constant scrutiny.

A Growing Problem in Africa

As online betting in Africa grows, it has become more evident that steps need to be taken. Irregularities are becoming commonplace, and governments seem to do little in response. In many cases, existing regulatory bodies are powerless to rein in enormous corporations.

In Nigeria, the steps taken by the NLRC are a guiding light. It is the first time a regulator has stepped up so publically, indicating that the tides are finally changing. Even still, there is plenty of work to be done.

Sports betting in Nigeria is a vast industry and only getting bigger. This means that watchdogs have their work cut out for them. The question is whether the industry will be safe and adequately controlled. There is no question that more must be done to ensure the situation does not turn into chaos.

The post Africa in Dire Need of Betting Regulations appeared first on gamblers.africa.

To add to his long run of success and prestige, Kanu has joined Sportsbet.io, a leading crypto-based sports betting site. Kanu is the latest global ambassador in their extensive marketing campaign.

Supporting the Kanu Heart Foundation with Crypto

In a recent statement, Kanu expressed how pleased he is to have the opportunity to join Sportsbet. He also stated that he is a believer in what many are calling “the crypto revolution”.

Crypto and blockchain transactions are swiftly becoming the preferred method of online payment worldwide. This is particularly true when it comes to online casinos and sports betting. Kanu believes that it can be used as a force for good, and has set up his charity, the Kanu Heart Foundation, to accept Bitcoin donations. Kanu also aims for his foundation to be a major beneficiary of his new partnership with Sportsbet, which is largely crypto-based.

Kanu has signed a four-year deal with Sportsbet. He has agreed to take part in a variety of promotions for the sports betting company. 

Albert Climent of Sportsbet has also expressed how pleased and honored, he and his company are to have the legendary footballer on board. Kanu is the latest to join Sportsbet’s team of global superstar ambassadors, which include Tekno Miles, Cassper Nyovest, and King Kaka.

In May, Kanu and Sportsbet hosted a special “Ahead of the Game” event in Lagos, Nigeria. Over 400 people attended to watch Arsenal take on Manchester United in a live screening of the Premier League. At the event, Bitcoin prizes were given away, while a 250 million Bitcoin donation was made to the Kanu Heart Foundation.

More About Sportsbet.io

Sportsbet is a popular and successful online betting company. It was founded in 2016 as part of the Yolo Group and is currently owned by the Australian-based company, Flutter Entertainment. Over the years, Sportsbet has been a leading innovator in the online betting platform and market. Their goal is to combine the latest cutting-edge technology with their in-depth gambling expertise. All while providing a fun, fast and reliable service to customers. 

As their success has grown, they have become the key sponsor for English Premier League club Southampton and the official betting partner of Arsenal FC. 

Sportsbet currently provides betting options across all major sports and sporting events, including eSports. Its impressive offering includes over 350,000 pre-match events per year and a wider variety of in-play betting options. 

Sportsbet.io is particularly proud of its reputation for providing one of the most secure, trustworthy betting services in the online industry. With a rate of 1.5 withdrawals a minute, they have become ever-more invested in the unprecedented security and efficiency of crypto. 

The post Nkwankwo Kanu Becomes Sportsbet Ambassador appeared first on gamblers.africa.

The motion was originally moved by Isiaka Ibrahim (APC, Ogun.) Ibrahim pointed out that the gaming market is growing rapidly, predicted to reach $565 million by the end of 2022. He insisted that the industry growth should not come at the cost of Nigeria’s youth. He added that NIN requirements should be introduced as a way to ensure accountability.

A Need for Age Verification

Ibrahim continued that all gambling is subject to age verification in Nigeria. He pointed out that casinos and online gaming are not different, and that both must do due diligence. He added that online data security is a top priority, but reiterated that NIN collection is essential. If passed the motion requires operators to collect NINs from bettors. No operator will be allowed to accept money otherwise.

Ibrahim continued that betting cannot be anonymous. He concluded that both money laundering and underage gambling must be tackled simultaneously. It has been noted that online gambling is the potential for criminal activity. Money laundering in particular is a potential problem with rapid online transactions. NIN requirements would do much to stem online laundering possibilities.

Motion Referred

Although the motion looks likely to pass it will first be referred to the House Committee on Governmental Affairs. This is not the first time that a gaming motion has gone to the Committee. However, the last motion was slammed by Akin Alabi (APC, Oyo.) It just so happens that Alabi is the founder of Nairabet, one of the more popular online sports betting sites in Nigeria.

The last motion involved the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) looking to tax bettors. The tax would have applied even if a bet didn’t win. Alabi took the opportunity to verbally denounce the motion on Twitter. His argument was that bettors don’t want to be subjected to tax if they are not winning.

Many have criticized that Alabi is in charge of regulating the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, even still he is now tasked with overseeing the new motion regarding NIN. It remains to be seen if he will take to Twitter to express his opinion.

The post Nigerian Bettors Will Soon Require NIN to Bet appeared first on gamblers.africa.

Unfortunately, Bet9ja is not the first online sportsbook to deal with an online attack. There has been an increased number of similar reports across the online betting landscape.

Taking the Matter Seriously

The Bet9ja spokesperson confirmed that the matter is being taken very seriously. Mention was also made of the dangers of false information. In that regard, the spokesperson insisted that only officially released statements be believed. It was also confirmed that the site will be back online soon. Customers that log in after reopening are to be treated to a sensational bonanza of promotions.

The spokesperson concluded that much is being learned from the attack and that security will be bolstered.

It seems that Bet9ja will be more prepared for cyberattacks in the future. Customers will also be thankful that their accounts are being kept safe during attacks. Hopes now are that other online bookmakers are as swift to respond to attacks from hackers.

The post Bet9ja Recovering From Advanced Cyberattack appeared first on gamblers.africa.

 This year, they’re celebrating four years of success in Nigeria’s booming market with their 4^th anniversary. 

According to BetKing’s mission statement, everybody is a king and deserves to be treated like one. And from this point of view, they’ve managed to build an incredible brand. 

During a recent interview, BetKing Nigeria Managing Director Gossy Ukanwoke elaborated on several key questions regarding the brand. He also shone the spotlight on the group’s commitment to the quality and safety of the betting experience offered to customers. 

Focused on Africa

BetKing currently operates in four countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Ghana. 

BetKing has its full focus on the African continent, explained Ukanwoke, which defines the operator and sets it apart from many others.  

The betting provider first began operating in Nigeria in 2018 and has since grown into becoming one of the biggest role-players in the digital entertainment sector. According to Ukanwoke, this has led to the company being recognized as one of the best-known brands across the Nigerian betting landscape. 

The Challenges Faced

But the company hasn’t been without its challenges in establishing itself as a household brand in Nigeria. 

Even so, Ukanwoke said in meeting these challenges, the key focus for the operator has been not only on digital entertainment. It’s also changing the way that sports betting in Africa is typically viewed. 

Ukanwoke explained that it has been crucial to improve the market in which the company is operating locally. Within this localized improvement, the BetKing Nigeria MD described the main challenge as emerging successful and unique in a market already populated by so many other providers. 

Ukanwoke said that the brand has taken up this challenge full force by remaining true to what the BetKing brand stands for. He described this as being the empowerment of the individual bettor while staying focused on meeting the bettor’s needs. 

Investing has Been Worth it

Nigeria is an important market for the brand. According to the BetKing Nigeria MD is made even more so by the size of the betting market compared to many other countries in the African continent. 

An important strategy here has been the inking vital partnerships with others operating in this lucrative market, he explained. This ties in perfectly once again in keeping with what the brand hopes to represent, which is making use of the right sort of technology, innovation, and partnerships to reach the best possible outcome. 

Since Nigeria is such a huge and promising market from a sports betting and digital growth point of view, Ukanwoke said the decision to remain active in the country has played a pivotal role in helping BetKing to grow and expand its business also into other African countries. 

The State of the Network

IT provision and reliable connectivity have played a deciding role for BetKing in Nigeria. 

With more people now having access to the internet and mobile connectivity than ever before, more people now have access to online entertainment than in years gone by. 

According to Ukanwoke, this has meant the difference between running a mediocre operation vs. a successful one.

Giving as Important as Getting

Ukanwoke also commented on the operator’s popular AFKON campaign. In this campaign, BetKing Nigeria gave away cars for free to several lucky customers.

People love to win, he explained. Initiatives like AFKON play an important role in the growth and expansion of the brand’s footprint. 

BetKing Nigeria’s newest campaign is called “4 Years on the Throne”. This campaign rewards customers for supporting BetKing, said the MD. Giving back to the community has been a vital part of all of that, he explained. Therefore much of the operator’s focus has been on job creation. 

To date, BetKing Nigeria has created more than 50,000 new jobs in the country.  

Another big campaign has been BetKing’s KidsPort project. This is a football program presented to after-schoolers. The program deserves honourable mention because provides opportunities to kids from orphanages and poorer communities for developing their football talent. 

BetKing Nigeria will continue to grow for as long as it is able to make a difference. 

The post BetKing Nigeria Changing Sports Betting appeared first on gamblers.africa.

Zoom Virtual Soccer generated a streak of particularly huge wins for bettors in Nigeria over March of 2022. This has followed a growing trend towards virtual sports betting within Africa and globally.

What is Virtual Sports Betting?

After the Covid-19 pandemic caused a steep decline in sports around the world, the sports betting industry, like many others, took a big hit. To keep up revenue, customers, and general interest in sports betting, many sports betting companies began to innovate. One of the most successful solutions to come out of this turbulent time has since become known as virtual sports betting.

Virtual sports betting games take the basic idea of popular sports sim-management games such as FIFA Manager, Football Manager, and various others. Using statistical information about sports, such as player, team, and league stats, and using an RNG, random number generator, realistic and unique simulations can be created. Sports bettors can then bet on the results of these simulations as if they were real sports.

The great advantage of this is that bettors can place bets at any time, without having to wait for matches, leagues, or tournaments, etc, to start. Because the games are virtual, multiple different matches and leagues can be wagered on at any point. Bettors also don’t have to sit through entire matches or wait for events to finish, to get the results unless they opt for in-play betting. All the usual betting options are also available in virtual sports betting games. This includes live-betting options. 

Zoom Virtual Soccer

Zoom Virtual Soccer is the popular virtual sports betting game offered by Bet9ja. It allows bettors to wager on all their favourite teams and players across the globe. From the popular European leagues to international events, Zoom Virtual Soccer has it all. 

In March 2022, a series of wins in Zoom Virtual Soccer reached a record high. It began with a lucky player winning 9.87 million NGN with a 100 NGN coupon. Before the end of the month, three more players had won huge amounts, with the largest totaling a massive 39.5 million NGN.

With all four of the wins, a similar pattern began to emerge. All the bettors had used a single Bet9ja coupon to place multiple bets on a wide range of selections. Though the odds were stacked high against them, they managed to get all their selections correct, leading to massive wins. 

Bet9ja coupons have become a popular and convenient means for sports bettors using its platform. They are designed to make the betting experience more enjoyable and streamlined.

Sports bettors also have the huge advantage of utilizing Bet9ja’s helpful stats page. It is filled with useful and regularly updated statistics and information about all the most popular sports around the globe.

Is Virtual Sports Betting Games Better?

Virtual sports betting is generally faster, and thus potentially more profitable than regular sports betting. Though it’s also unlikely to replace it any time soon. Generally, such preferences depend on the individual. Many bettors have their own personal enjoyments and motives for sports betting. 

Fortunately, the sports world is gradually recovering from the post-Covid-19 slump, giving bettors more choice nowadays. Virtual sports betting has a certain appeal, though, leading to its rising popularity and the recent big wins. And as technology continues to progress, virtual sports betting will undoubtedly keep on improving, perhaps one day becoming indistinguishable from the real thing.

The post Record Bet9ja Wins With Zoom Virtual Soccer appeared first on gamblers.africa.

It also allows DPO Group to operate as an independent payment solutions provider. They provide services in Nigeria well as over 20 other African countries. 

DPO Group provides services to over 60,000 active businesses, including eCommerce companies, airlines, and travel agents in a wide variety of payment methods and currency options. Furthermore, DPO Group has garnered a reputation for providing a trustworthy and steadfast network. With local and international channels, it is known and trusted for having good security. It is also known for efficient customer support. Especially in concern to fraud, refunds, chargebacks, etc.

Ecommerce Growth

Nigeria has experienced significant growth in eCommerce over recent years. Digital payments have steadily become a standard in the country. Approximately 7.7 billion people and businesses in Nigeria are expected to utilize online payments by 2025. This indicates a 45 percent increase since 2019.

Eran Feinstein, the CEO of DPO Group, says that Nigeria is a key market in Africa. He believes the country to be one of the most innovative in Africa when it comes to fintech and eCommerce.

Excitement is now growing around the new license and DPO Group’s new services. Nigerian businesses and online customers can now look forward to greater options. As well as smoother and more secure digital payment. This is expected to greatly improve business and opportunity within the country.

A New Payment Option

DPO Group has announced plans to launch a new comprehensive payment solution, called “DPO Pay”. It will be available in Africa, and across their customer base.

Country Manager of DPO Group Nigeria, Chidinma Aroyewun, expressed excitement at the opportunity. He looks forward to helping businesses and eCommerce grow.DPO Group is not the only payment provider in Nigeria though. With others, such as Flutterwave and Paystack dominating, the addition of DPO Group will bolster competition in the market. Sports betting companies are expected to benefit the most. They will now have a host of new payment options to work with and provide quality service to their customers. Additionally, there is now an ever-greater opportunity for up-and-coming startup brands and companies. In turn, this creates greater potential for success in Africa’s bustling eCommerce and betting industries.

The post DPO Group to Provide New Payment Services in Nigeria appeared first on gamblers.africa.

Increased Betting Regulations

The first legislation is titled “A Bill for an Act to Repeal the National Lottery Act, No.7, 2005 and the National Lottery (Amendment) Act, No.6, 2017 And Enact the National Gaming Bill”. The other is titled “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Service Compact Management Agency for the Effective Management, Execution and Enforcement of Service Compact with Citizens.”

Their general purpose is to establish greater and more effective management and regulation of betting in Nigeria.

Alabi stated in his address that many foreign operators in the country have not been paying taxes to the government. Thus, they are not contributing to the country’s economy. He stated further that there should be no argument between stakeholders and the government. He believes government-controlled betting operations in the country to be a necessity. He urged all stakeholders to work in unity for it to be a success. 

An Inside Understanding

Having worked as an operator, he expressed his understanding of the factors and difficulties involved. He also stated his optimism towards a healthy relationship between the government and operators. His belief is that this can happen through proper legislation. 

The new bills seek to overhaul and change existing laws while creating new ones. Apart from better regulation, they also aim to better explore and exploit the full potential of the gaming industry.

The Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, a representative of the Deputy Majority Leader, Peter Akpatason, also spoke. He stated that the bills are crucial legislation and are for the people’s best interests. He reported estimates that the illegal betting revenue accumulated in Africa over 2021 amounted to around 1.7 trillion USD. 

Illegal betting in Africa is estimated to reach an all-time high in 2022. This is according to the UNODC, United Nations Office On Drugs and Crime, and their publication, the Global Report on Corruption in Sport. Following the report, there have been calls for a swift and unified response to corruption, fraud, and malpractice in the gambling sector across the continent.

The post Offshore Betting Sites to Pay Taxes in Nigeria appeared first on gamblers.africa.

eSports involves human players competing against one another in video games, but virtual sports are essentially computer-generated and computer-simulated events based on real-life athletic events. However, these virtual versions of sports fixtures don’t take as long to play out as their real-world counterparts. For example, a virtual sports football match can be wrapped in just 90 seconds, a 10th of the 90 minutes an actual game lasts. 

Virtual sports bettors are not just limited to wagering on Football games. Popular options include Cricket, Dog Racing, Horse Racing, Motor Sports, and Tennis. eSports, however, are devoted to games that people play solely on their consoles or laptops like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, CS:GO, Dota 2, League of Legends, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege.

One of the most important aspects of virtual sports is that they also feature fixtures based on realistic odds. This makes wagering on them very similar to doing so on actual matches and games. However, their results are determined by Random Number Generator software rather than players’ efforts. 

This puts virtual sports in the same category as slots. But, instead of creating a single result for each round of play like is done for reel games, a range of outcomes is generated in virtual sports. Based on these, players receive realistic odds from the bookmaker offering the event. And they’re free to evaluate these and then place a bet in the same way they’d do when wagering on a real sports event. 

The Appeal of Betting on Virtual Sports

Why are more Nigerians electing to wager on virtual sports when the real thing exists and can be bet on? 

There are a number of reasons it’s appealing to so many people. The first is that results are determined so much sooner. For example, Football bettors receive their winnings in a mere 90 seconds if they’ve predicted the outcome correctly, rather than the hour and a half real-world game would take. So, bets can be placed more frequently. 

Then there’s the fact that virtual sports events are always starting, looping endlessly, so there’s never any waiting time required before the next one starts. You can place your bet at any time of night or day, no matter what time the mood strikes you. Simply log in to your account at the online bookmaker hosting these types of events and wager. You can also access the action from your laptop, smartphone, or tablet as you prefer. 

And the legal factor is another very important element. Nigerian law explicitly states that betting on games of skill is permitted but wagering on games of chance is not. Because there is the requirement of odds evaluation in place for virtual sports betting, it’s categorized as the former and is thus 100% legal. 

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Virtual sports betting being legal in Nigeria is one of the biggest predictors of its continuing to flourish in the future. It’s a brand-new style of real-money entertainment and the technologically adept youth love it. The market is consequently steadily increasing. Plus, the fact that we’re still so restricted by COVID-19 is another reason to assume its popularity will keep increasing. 

In 2020, COVID-19 disrupted sporting calendars worldwide. The UEFA Champions League. The 2020 Basketball Tournament. Vergil Ortiz Jr’s struggle to find an opponent in the Boxing ring. The postponement of the United Rugby Championship. Or even the outright cancellation of the 2020 World Athletics Indoor Championships. No sport was unaffected. And these brakes applied to wagering as much as they did to sports, laying out the red carpet for the opportunities presented by virtual sports. 

With no real end to the chaos, COVID-19 has caused and uncertainty around real-world sports starting up again, virtual sports may be our only option for a while. 

What the Future Holds

For virtual sports to truly come into its own, developers will need to start treating each country as the individual entity it is in terms of wagering preferences. Providers will then be tasked with adapting their specific offerings to the market as determined by these. Football is an obvious choice, given its enormous popularity in Nigeria and around the rest of the world, but a mix of other options will not go unappreciated, either.

When you consider that bettors getting the most enjoyment from virtual sports at the moment are part of the younger generation, it’s safe to assume that its future in Nigeria is assured. It’s likely that an increasing number of online bookmakers are going to start offering a widening array of virtual sports betting options. And increased demand will see game developers experimenting with more sports options. This makes the future of virtual sports an exciting development in Nigeria, Africa, and across the globe.

The post A Look at Nigerian Virtual Sports Betting appeared first on gamblers.africa.

Since then, technology has progressed. The world has also gone through some major changes. Betting has now become something of a national pastime in Nigeria, especially when it comes to sports.

The Impact of Football on Sports Betting

Like most of Africa, football in Nigeria is huge. There’s also an equally huge football sports betting scene. 

For the past decade, Nigeria has by far had the highest GDP in Africa. This is mostly thanks to its growing IT and e-commerce industry. In particular, the huge amounts of revenue generated from sports betting. The Spanish La Liga, and English League Premier, are particular favourites for bettors in Nigeria. 

The Expansion of Betting Operators

More than ever before, smartphones have become the most prevalent form of technology in Nigeria. It’s estimated that, over the past three years, the use of smartphones for sports betting has increased by 50%.

With an increasing amount of the population getting involved, betting operators have been rushing to meet the demand. This includes foreign operators and investors who have added much-needed stimulus to the market.

Operators have begun enlisting the help of celebrities to aid in marketing on a more regular basis. Mergers and partnerships have also helped to boost and strengthen the market. 

With a far greater supply of products, Nigerian bettors can now enjoy a wider variety of betting options than ever before. These include options that are local and international.

Changing Views on Sports Betting

Before the boom, sports betting in Nigeria was generally looked down on as a somewhat pointless past-time. Over the past decade though, perceptions have changed. Now, people of every class and level of income, that can afford it, are flocking in to get their slice of the pie.

Predictions for 2022 & the Foreseeable Future

At its increasing rate of success, the future looks good for the betting industry in Nigeria. To keep it up, and avoid stagnation though, there will need to be a continuous push. This is required to be driven to the expansion of content as well as the betting options available to players. Investment, mergers, and acquisitions will likely become ever-more-frequent and necessary. 

Meanwhile, marketing strategies will likely focus on drawing in the masses. With the biggest market, being the youth, taking center-stage. Keeping up with technology will become more necessary to stay on par with international standards and trends. 

Like elsewhere in the world, new devices such as VR headsets may prove useful in attracting the larger, younger, generation. Along with better mobile devices like smartwatches and smartglasses.

If all goes smoothly, Nigeria could very well be on the verge of an economic golden era. Furthermore, such a staunch role model could do wonders for the continent of Africa.

The post Nigerian Betting Outlook For 2022 appeared first on gamblers.africa.