Sports betting has never been more popular in Nigeria, and that’s largely thanks to the lucrative laws and regulations in the country. Namely, online sports betting is legal as long as a bookmaker has a valid license issued by one of the two regulating bodies: the National Lottery Regulatory Commission or the Lagos State Lottery Board. 

There are over 50 sports betting sites that currently hold a permit by the NLRC, which means that the competition is stronger than ever. Naturally, each one of them strives to attract as many customers as possible, and the most effective tried-and-tested way to bring new users to a betting site is through bonuses. In this article, we’ll discuss the bonuses offered by the best bookmakers in Nigeria. We’ll talk about the different types of bonuses, what you can win with them, and if they’re actually worth it. Stay tuned.

Welcome Bonuses: A warm reception for new bettors

The welcome bonus is the most common type of offer that most bookies offer. It’s a promotion that’s only available to new users that create an account with the particular betting site for the first time, and it’s provided upon registration or when an initial deposit is made.

They come in different forms and sizes, but some of the most widely used formats by the best bookmakers in Nigeria are deposit match bonuses, free bets, or risk-free bets. They serve as a valuable incentive for punters who decide to join a particular sports betting site.

Deposit Match Deals

The deposit match deal has been the go-to welcome deal offered by most bookmakers and gaming sites, and it’s fairly simple to understand. Essentially, the bookmaker will match your deposit naira-for-naira up to a certain amount and percentage. For example, if the offer is a 100% deposit match of up to ₦100,000, it means that if you deposit ₦100,000, you’ll get an additional ₦100,000 as betting credits. Keep in mind that these deals come with specific terms and conditions, such as wagering requirements.

Free Bets

The term ‘free bets’ have been overused in the past few years, and it includes all bonus offers that bookmakers offer that let their users place a bet without spending their own money. Oftentimes, even deposit match deals get characterized as free bets, but some operators offer promotions that include one or a few bets that you can place – and if your bet doesn’t win, you get your money back.

These promos are usually called risk-free bets or no-sweat bets, and they’re a part of the welcome bonus. For example, if a bookie offers a risk-free bet of up to ₦10,000, it means that you get to place a wager on betting markets of your choice (there’s usually a minimum odds limit that you must adhere to), and if your bet wins, you get your winnings in your betting account. If your bet loses, the bookmaker will refund your wager in the form of betting credits that you can later use to place another wager.

Rewards for existing users

Client retention is just as important for Nigerian bookmakers as acquiring new customers. That’s why they often offer exclusive bonuses, deals, and perks to regulars as well. They usually come in the form of cashback, reload offers, or boosted odds, and this is how they work.

Cashback for loyal users

This is a deal that’s typically a part of the loyalty program of the bookmaker, and it provides a reimbursement of the money a bettor has used to wager in the past week. For example, if a bookmaker offers cashback of up to 10% on Mondays, it means that you can get back up to 10% of the money you’ve wagered on unsuccessful bets in the past week up to a certain amount.

Reload promos

Reload bonuses work just like deposit match deals, but they’re available for all users that use the betting site. For example, if a reload offer is available, it might provide a deposit match for all deposits made on a certain day up to a predetermined percentage and amount. If the reload offer provides a 50% bonus of up to ₦100,000, it means that you can get up to ₦50,000 in free bet credits if you deposit that day.

Odds boosts

This is the most common promotion type offered by the best bookmakers in Nigeria, and, as the name suggests, offers better odds for certain betting markets. For example, if Manchester City is playing against Liverpool FC, the bookie might offer boosted odds for a certain betting market – such as a Liverpool win or under 2.5 goals total.