The Role Of Nigerian Football And The Emerging Gambling Industry

The Relationship Of Football And Gambling In Nigeria

Nigerians of all ages love football, and this passion has helped drive interest to new heights. More recently, this has included a rise in betting on sports, particularly football.

Nigerian Football Interest Drives Betting Activity

Football is one of the great global cultural phenomena that unites peoples in many countries, and Nigeria is no exception to the love of the beautiful game. And with a passion for football comes widespread betting activity, as millions of fans (most under 40) participate in putting their money where their mouth is.

In common with many other countries, football is not only the predominant sporting attraction but also the foremost sports betting category, which means there’s a very broad range of markets available.

There are many sports betting shops offering real-world access to markets in Nigeria, but the country also has a flourishing online betting scene that can be accessed via desktops or smartphones.

To a large extent, this is a natural expansion of the hubbub and debate (or argument) that surrounds football and every other sport, with the added bonus that if your forecasts end up being right you can make some extra cash.

The Economic Boom Of Football

Sports betting is just one side of the economic boom that football can deliver. From ticket sales to the spending of talented footballers, having sporting arenas nearby can be great for local businesses.

This includes sportsbooks, as well as restaurants, cafes, and other venues of dining and entertainment. However, the betting side of this economic advantage is not geographically limited, as online access (including by smartphone) means wherever you are, a bet in mind can easily be wagered.

It’s an exciting challenge to try and beat the bookies at sports betting but there’s always an off-season for football. When this happens, or if you’re after a change of pace, then the best international online casinos are easily available to all fans of online betting, and often have sports betting sides too.

Whether you prefer to stick with soccer for football-themed slots and virtual sports including soccer, or prefer to spread your wings and take advantage of classic table games, a broad range of slots, and live dealer gaming, there’s a lot to experience.

Many top sites also offer generous welcome promotions to newcomers, and online casinos with a sports section usually enable winnings from one part of the site to be used for the other, so even if the scoreline isn’t to your liking, the roulette wheel maybe.

International Competitions

A surge in betting on football accompanied the recent African Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament and has provided a shot in the arm to the nascent Nigerian betting industry.

This was helped by the Super Eagles of Nigeria rising in the FIFA rankings (despite an early departure from the tournament) to become the 3rd highest ranked team in Africa and 32nd in the world.

Interest in Afcon is particularly high given the continental focus of the competition. High variance in skill between differing countries (commonplace for such continental tournaments) can also create some heavy favourites.

A similar rise in interest is expected to recur later when the World Cup (controversially held in Qatar) kicks off at the unusual calendar slot of November/December.

At the time of writing, the World Cup favourites are primarily from Europe and South America, with Brazil, France, and England the shortest odds to claim the title. Nigeria are one of many long shots at 200/1, but it’s worth recalling that shock results can happen, as when Greece won Euro 2004 despite having odds of 150/1.

Only Bet What You Can Afford To Lose

Betting on sports, especially football, can be a lot of fun. The smorgasbord of markets means almost any eventuality can be bet on, and some sites even offer the chance for bettors to request specific outcomes if they aren’t already available.

It is, however, important to keep a level head and remember to only bet what you can afford to lose. It can also be wise to avoid betting heavily on multiples/accumulators, which can offer a huge payout but are correspondingly unlikely to come off. And remember that even the strongest favourites can fail whether you bet according to gut instinct or using advanced computer predictive models.

It’s also worth remembering, if you’re into player markets, that politics and injuries can play a role just as much as talent. There was some surprise when the Nigerian coach Augustine Eguavoen indicated he had only selected Ogenyi Onazi in order to pacify the men in suits. He joined the side in time for them to face Ghana in their FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff.

Betting on football, both online and in-person, has never been more popular. Whether things are going well or badly, keep a level head to avoid getting carried away, and keep a tight rein on your stakes.