For many people, cash betting is a proven way to increase interest in watching a sporting event and profit from a correctly made prediction. To avoid losing money, you must make bets only on legal betting portals. Many users ask questions: “Is betting on sports in Nigeria legal? Is 1XBet legit?” Read this article for answers.
Is Online Sports Betting Allowed in Nigeria
Every online bookmaker knows that international law is a tangled jungle that is difficult to understand. Conditions constantly change, forcing operators to be on guard and follow the news. However, there are islands of relative stability in this ocean.
Online betting is legal and regulated in many countries, such as the UK, Australia, Denmark, France, the Philippines, Ghana, and Colombia. The difference is in how limited this activity is. Somewhere only specific types of bets or bets on certain sports are allowed. In some countries, the license for online betting is tied to land-based betting. In some states, it is not secured, and in some markets, betting is not regulated separately.
The online gambling market in Nigeria does not have strict regulations. Nigerian laws allow skill-based games such as the national lottery, skill-based card games, and backgammon. Nigeria does not have a law expressly banning online gambling. As a result, online betting and online casino games are officially on the Nigerian market.
The country does not have strict regulations regarding online sports betting operations. For example, offshore bookmakers may only offer their services in some countries if they accept the country’s currency; however, things are different in Nigeria. Some popular sports betting payment solutions include e-wallets, USSD codes, and credit and debit cards.
The Nigerian Lottery Commission frequently issues bookmaker lottery licenses, advertising permits, and online and offline sports betting licenses. The Commission also checks that operators follow the license application process.
The Danger of Illegal Bookmakers
Illegal bookmakers feel their complete impunity, so they often deceive players. If you win a small amount, everything will go smoothly, but if the win is significant, such a company will do everything not to pay. Here are the most common scams:
- Pulling up payments. Sometimes they ask for more and more documents, answering at a rate of about one letter per week so that the check takes several months. Sometimes they refer to technical problems on the site or banking system.
- Rate change. This situation also tends to happen. It is egregious and very unpleasant. Let’s say you bet on a specific outcome with high odds. The result played, you rub your hands in anticipation of money, go into your account, and see a bet on the opposite outcome. You can’t prove you’re on the right.
- Cutting highs. If you start to win, be prepared that soon you will be cut off the limits. Perhaps even to zero.
- Account blocking. You don’t even have to think of a reason. A player can be told that he broke the rules, but which ones and how will not be explained. The money that was in the account is likely to be confiscated. In rare cases, they can be allowed to be withdrawn. As you already understand, there is nowhere to complain. No one controls the activities of such companies.
Ways to Check for a License
The most convenient way to bet on sports is to use the services of virtual establishments that allow you to place risky bets without leaving your home. To be guaranteed to get your winnings, choose only licensed bookmakers for your leisure time. You can check for a license in the following ways:
- Use the service, which presents a rating of the best legal establishments. This option will also allow you to get acquainted with the conditions and benefits of each bookmaker, which will significantly save time when choosing a site for betting.
- Go to the bookmaker’s website and find information about the availability of a license. Please note that only a bookmaker with a physical representation can accept bets in a virtual format. If the bookmaker does not provide information about the physical address of the office and contact numbers, most likely, the institution operates without a license.
- Go to the forum of gambling bettors. Such users are happy to share information about licensed establishments. You can find plenty of other information and read about winning betting strategies on such forums.
Conclusion
Legal bookmakers submit documents for verification, the so-called identification. Companies are responsible to the state, including for disclosing customers’ data. But for illegal offices, the designation is intended only for themselves.
For betting, choose only reliable licensed bookmakers. It guarantees safety, correct calculations of your winnings, and getting them without any issues. Even if you see a tempting offer from an illegal bookmaker, don’t risk it. The illusion of a favorable rate can cost you dearly. Therefore, do not be lazy to check the license before the first deposit.