List of Online Casinos in Nigeria

History of Nigerian Online Casinos

Nigerians love to gamble. Gambling was a part of the country long before introducing the Gaming Machines (Prohibitions) Act in 1977. Previously, however, gambling was limited to throwing dice and a few card games. 

As technology advanced, the internet ushered in the era of online casinos, and many Nigerians began gambling at offshore betting sites. However, the Criminal Code Act didn't specify offshore gambling as a legal activity. 

Although the law did not state anything concerning online gambling, there are also some restrictions because of different religions. Nevertheless, Nigerian players are fascinated with online sports betting and casino games.

As a result of Nigerian players' passion for sports betting, many operators that run online casino services have also integrated a sportsbook section on their websites. There is no telling which online casino was the first to enter the Nigerian market. We can tell that the market is growing at an alarming rate, with hundreds, if not thousands, of betting sites targetting players in the country. 

We hope modifications will be made to the country's current gambling laws regarding online casinos so that players can enjoy betting on their preferred games freely.

Choose the Best Nigeria Online Casino

This guide will discuss some essential factors that make up a top online casino for Nigerian players. After all, you want to enjoy a great time playing your favorite games and have a chance to win money without any issues. So you need to do your homework and check for the best betting sites to join. 

As part of this guide, we will also cover the legal situation of gambling in the country, payment methods offered by the best casinos, types of games available, and many others. Let's get started.

The License of Nigerian Casinos

As a Nigerian player, one of the first things you need to check when choosing an online casino is its license. Casinos that are not licensed are usually scam sites looking to prey on unsuspecting gamblers and steal their money. Several rigid regulatory bodies in the iGaming industry monitor their licensees and ensure they deliver the best services. 

Some of the most popular ones are the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, and the Swedish Gambling Commission.

A licensed online casino must follow the rules and terms of its license. These rules are implemented to ensure that the casino delivers the best services to players. If a betting site fails to abide by the rules, it may be fined heavily or revoked its license. 

Another benefit of playing at a licensed casino is reporting it to its regulatory authority. For instance, if a casino fails to deliver a promised service or features illegal casino games, you can inform its regulatory authority, who can then take action.

To know if a casino operates with a valid license, you can check its licensing information. Most top online casinos provide their licensing information in their website's footer. But in cases where this information is unavailable, you can contact the customer support of such a betting site to ask. 

Once you have the license or registration number of the betting site, you can head over to the website of its regulatory authority to confirm if the license is valid.

Good List of Support Channels Offered

Besides checking the license, another crucial factor when choosing the best online casinos in Nigeria is the available support channels. The reason is that you may need a betting site's assistance to resolve an issue. Thus, it is best to go with a betting site that offers efficient customer service 24/7 and via different channels.

The best gambling sites have a dedicated team that attends to players' questions and complaints. They offer support via live chat, email, and, in some cases, telephone. Besides, they usually have a comprehensive FAQ section on their site where players can find answers to the most common questions.

It is also common for these top online casinos to work with an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) agency to handle disputes with players. If you are not satisfied with how a particular complaint is dealt with, you can inform the casino's ADR company and require that the issue be revisited. When you play at the best betting sites, you can rest assured that you will get help when needed. So, to recap:

1. Live chat;
2. Telephone;
3. Email;
4. Whatsapp;
5. VIP support.

Safe Deposits and Withdrawals with Nigerian Methods

Playing at an online casino involves depositing money into your betting account. Thus, it makes sense to ensure that your deposits are safe. The best casino sites in Nigeria accept a wide range of deposit methods known to be safe to use. 

When processing credit/debit card transactions, they conform to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS).

Apart from that, these betting sites also require players to provide basic details about themselves as part of the Know Your Customer (KYC) procedure. This way, they can ensure that transactions originate from a legitimate account owner. Here are some of the best payment methods available when gambling in Nigeria:

Safe Casino Experience from Nigeria

In addition to checking if your deposits are safe, you must examine the casino's overall safety to know the kind of experience you will get. There are various threats to online security, with hackers trying to steal players' personal and financial information. When you play at one of Nigeria's best online casinos, you can rest assured that you are in safe hands.

These operators secure their betting sites with industry-standard and top-notch security mechanisms such as secure sockets (SSL) encryption and firewalls. They encrypt information on their website and filter incoming and outgoing connections to ensure that their players enjoy a safe gaming experience at all times.

Bonuses Available in Nigerian Naira

Bonuses are an integral part of online casinos, and we know it pretty well at CasinoTopsOnline. They allow players to enjoy more game time and an opportunity to win money. As a Nigerian player, you need to check the casino bonuses and promotions you can claim at a betting site. While doing that, consider the currency supported for the bonus, like the African rand and the e-wallets supporting it.

Top Nigerian online casinos offer different kinds of bonuses in Nigerian Naira. When they sign up, they usually reward new players with a lucrative welcome bonus offer. In some cases, there no deposit bonuses do not require any deposit to benefit from them. 

Besides welcome bonuses, players can also claim other impressive offers such as match bonuses, free spins, reload bonuses, and free plays. In most cases, the best betting sites also offer their loyal customers special rewards in the form of comp points that they can accumulate and trade for other bonuses.

When checking the bonuses, look at the terms and conditions governing them. Usually, casino bonuses have a specified wagering requirement you have to fulfill before you can cash out winnings made from them. Operators also set game restrictions for bonuses. You may also need to use a bonus code to claim these offers.

Here are some of the casino bonuses available to Nigerian gamblers:

Positive Feedback From Nigerian Players

Feedback from other gamblers about a betting site says much about the kind of service you can expect from such an operator. If the feedback is negative, then there is a good chance that you will not be satisfied with the service the operator offers. However, if it is positive, you can consider it an excellent choice after also considering other factors.

You can read reviews about a Nigerian casino site to learn about its features. These should include the kind of games provided, bonuses offered customer support, and banking options accepted. Alternatively, you can join a good online casino forum to stay up-to-date with players' discussions about a betting site. 

Is Gambling Legal in Nigeria?

The legality of gambling in Nigeria is a bit of a grey area. Although gambling in the country is regulated by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), there is a lack of proper and effective implementation. Nevertheless, two specific laws govern gambling in Nigeria — the Gaming Machines (Prohibition) Act of 1977 and the Nigerian Criminal Code.

The Gaming Machines (Prohibition) Act states that the use of gaming machines is illegal. Anyone caught using gaming machines to offer gambling services will bag a 1-year jail term without the option of a fine. For clarification, the act defines gaming machines as any mechanical game that requires a coin or token to operate and is used for gambling.

The second law related to gambling is the Nigerian Criminal Code Act, enacted in 1990. This act pertains to what is considered legal and illegal gambling in Nigeria. The law specifies the punishment for running an illegal gaming house in the country. 

Owners and participants of such illegal infrastructures may serve two years in prison or be required to pay a fine of up to 1000 Naira. According to the Nigerian Criminal Code Act, only three types of gambling are considered legal:

• Lotteries;
• Skill-based casino games;
• Sports betting.

Gambling Laws in Nigeria

While the Nigerian gambling laws permit online sports betting and bookmakers, they outright forbid online casinos from operating within the country's boundaries. Nevertheless, nothing is mentioned in the law about playing at offshore casino sites, although it is generally assumed to be illegal. 

But, as mentioned in the previous section, there is a serious lack of effective implementation of gambling restrictions. As a result, many Nigerian players have created accounts with numerous offshore online casinos to play an impressive array of games.

These foreign casinos offer various bonuses and are licensed by reputable regulatory authorities in their respective jurisdictions. There has been no mention of a Nigerian player being arrested for creating an account with offshore online casino operators or playing online casino games. 

Thus, it is safe to assume that casino players can gamble at betting sites not located in the country without any issues.

Minimum Gambling Age in Nigeria

As with every country, Nigeria also has a minimum gambling age. Gamblers must be at least 18 years old before participating in any form of gambling in the country. If a betting infrastructure in the country allows underage gambling, it will be fined heavily by the regulatory authority. 

As well as that, the gambler may also face some charges based on the specifications of the Criminal Code Act. This is why the land-based casinos in the country often request an ID card from players to ensure that they are of legal gambling age. At the best online casino sites in Nigeria, you will not be able to sign up unless you are 18 years or above.

Best Casino Games for Nigerian Players

There are several kinds of casino games that Nigerian players play. These games are from some of the industry's best developers, such as the popular Microgaming, NetEnt, Playtech, Quickspin, Betsoft, and Booongo Games.

They come with different kinds of impressive features. Some of them are also well-known for offering huge winnings. When you enter the lobby of a top Nigerian online casino, you will find hundreds of games properly sectioned for easy access. You can play most of these games on your desktop computers and mobile devices without installing any special app. 

Here are some of the best casino games in the country.

Live Casino Games With Nigerian Dealers

Live dealer games are pretty common among Nigerian players. They provide a similar sensation to that found at land-based casinos. You will play against a live dealer and other players from around the world.

While the gambling law does not permit online casinos to operate within the country, several offshore betting sites offer live casino games with Nigerian dealers. Developers host these games in their studios, and with advanced technology, players can stream their HD video feed in real time. Here are some popular live dealer games you can play at Nigerian casinos.

Land-based Casinos in Nigeria

According to Chapter 22 of the Criminal Code Act, land-based casinos are listed as one of the country's legal gambling activities. Physical casinos can offer gambling services to Nigerian gambling laws. They must obtain a license from the NLRC and, in some cases, the state where they operate. 

In Lagos State, the Lagos State Lotteries Board licenses gambling activities. So any land-based casino operating there must also obtain a license from the board.

As we have pointed out, there are only three known legal land-based casinos in Nigeria. They have a small collection of games and do not feature games of chance, such as video slots, progressive jackpot slots, poker table games, baccarat, blackjack, and roulette. This is because the gambling law outrightly forbids these games from the different software providers. 

Featuring them would be a direct violation of the law. But why only three land-based casinos, you may ask? The answer is that applying for and getting a license to operate a land-based casino in the country is tedious. This has discouraged many operators from trying.

Three different commissions must examine and approve prospective operators looking to run a land-based casino. These are the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), and the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP). 

After that, applicants have to register for Value Added Tax (VAT) and acquire a Tax Identification Number (TIN) from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

As with almost all countries that allow gambling infrastructures, Nigeria's government also taxes land-based casino owners. The taxes are paid at national and state levels, and an accurate record must be kept. However, Nigerian players do not have to pay taxes on winnings from playing games at land-based casinos.

Here is the list of land-based casinos in this country:

The Transcorp Hilton Casino 

• Address: 1 Aguiyi Ironsi St, Wuse, Abuja, Nigeria
• Phone: +234 708 060 3000
• Hours: Open 12 pm - 3 am 

Le Meridien Eko Hotel and Casino

• Address:  Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria, Africa 
• Phone: +234 1 26 24 60 0
• Hours: Open 12 pm - 5 am 

The Federal Palace Hotel and Casino

• Address:  6-8 Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island 101241, Lagos, Nigeria
• Phone: +234 1 277 9000
• Hours: Open 12 pm - 4 am 

Jacaranda Casino's

• Address:  60-86 Tokunboh St, Lagos Island 102273, Lagos, Nigeria
• Phone: +234 810 481 7172
• Hours: Open 12 pm - 5 am 

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