Best Betting Payment Methods In Nigeria for 2025

Choosing the right payment method for sports betting in Nigeria is essential, as each option comes with it's own advantages and disadvantages.

The best options offered by Nigerian bookmakers include bank transfers, e-wallets, and debit/credit cards. Bank transfers are widely accepted, e-wallets offer convenience, and debit/credit cards are secure and easy to use.

In this article, we’ll list all the approved betting payment methods for Nigerian players and help you select the most suitable option
for a hassle-free deposits and withdrawals.

Which Payment Methods Are Approved by Bookmakers for the Nigerian Market?

Approved sports betting payment methods are those, that bookmakers legally recognize and are authorized to use in Nigeria. These methods must meet the legal and regulatory requirements set by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure secure, reliable, and compliant transactions.   

Let’s take a look at some of the most common payment methods in Nigeria.

Debit and Credit Cards

• Visa
• MasterCard
• Verve

In Nigeria, debit cards are the most common payment methods, especially Visa, MasterCard, and Verve. They are very popular because of the speed of their transactions. Deposits made with cards are usually instant (typically within 10 seconds).

Debit card withdrawals are also fast as they are often processed within 5 minutes, depending on the bookmaker and your bank. If you use a MasterCard from GT Bank, then your withdrawals will typically reflect within a few seconds (not even up to a minute). 

In terms of convenience, debit cards are a top choice because almost every Nigerian has at least one card, and whenever you want to make a payment, all you have to do is enter your card details, which makes transactions very easy.

E-Wallets

• Skrill
• Neteller
• PayPal
• EcoPayz

E-Wallets are the next on our list. With E-wallets, you can keep money in a digital account and use it to fund your betting account whenever you want to make deposits. You can also withdraw directly from your betting account into your e-wallet.

E-wallets are not as popular as card payments or bank transfers in Nigeria because a lot of the popular e-wallets in the world have some restrictions in place for Nigerians. For example, PayPal is the most popular E-wallet in the world, but Nigerians are currently restricted from using PayPal to receive money, which means you can’t withdraw from your betting account to your PayPal account if you’re a Nigerian.

Skirll, Neteller, and EcoPayz are also popular in Nigeria. However, they mostly require you to convert your funds to the U.S. dollars, which might incur additional conversion fees. For instance, Skrill doesn’t allow you to fund your account using Naira directly, so you’ll be charged an extra conversion fee if you want to fund your betting account using Skrill.

Mobile Payment Solutions

• PalmPay
• OPay
• Paga
• Quickteller

Apart from card payments, mobile solutions like OPay and PalmPay are the fastest payment methods available on most bookmakers.

They are very convenient to set up and use. All you need is a mobile phone to download the mobile wallet app, and you’ll be able to instantly create a new wallet using your phone number. 

With OPay and PalmPay, you can fund your Bet9ja and other bookmaker accounts directly from the mobile app. Paga also allows you to deposit and withdraw money directly from your mobile wallet.

Another common mobile betting payment solution in Nigeria is Quickteller, which allows you to fund betting accounts by using USSD codes, licensed ATMs, and online transactions.

Bank Transfers

• Direct Bank Transfers
• Instant Bank Payments
• USSD Codes

Bank transfers are one of the most reliable ways to fund your betting accounts in Nigeria. With direct bank transfers, you can transfer money from your bank account directly to the bookmaker’s account. 

Some bookmakers like LiveScorebet, SportyBet, and 1xBet have an instant bank payment option which allows all your transactions to reflect immediately (within a few seconds to 5 minutes).

Additionally, you can use USSD codes to fund your betting account from your bank account, even if you don’t have internet access. For example, with Wema Bank, you can use *945# to make a transfer to your betting accounts.

Some of the best betting apps in Nigeria in Nigeria like SportyBet and Bet9ja allow you to have your own virtual bank account. Any money you transfer to this virtual bank account will automatically reflect in your betting wallet.

Cryptocurrency

• Bitcoin (BTC)
• Ethereum (ETH)
• USDT (Tether)

Some betting sites in Nigeria like Stake and BC.Game only accept cryptocurrencies, while others like 22bet and 1xBet allow crypto and fiat payments. 

It has been a bit complicated to fund betting accounts in Nigeria using cryptocurrencies because of the initial ban put in place by the government in 2021. However in 2023, the policy became relaxed, allowing people to legitimately make crypto payments in Nigeria.

Most of the bookmakers in Nigeria allow payments to be processed using Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT (Tether). Before you can fund your betting account using cryptocurrency, you need to set up a wallet. Crypto transactions are often fast, so your deposits and withdrawals are often processed in less than one hour.

Prepaid Cards and Vouchers

Gambling can be quite addictive, which makes prepaid cards the best choice for those who want to limit their spending or avoid sharing their bank details with bookmakers. 

For example, you can purchase a Paysafecard in fixed amounts and use it to deposit on betting sites. Some bookmakers like Betway also offer vouchers which you can use to top up your account.

However, the major downside of funding your betting account using prepaid cards and vouchers is that you can’t use them for withdrawals and they have a very limited amount you can deposit. 

For example, if you recently registered a Betano account in Nigeria, you would need to deposit ₦400,000 to get the maximum Betano welcome bonus of ₦200,000. Most prepaid cards have a limit of ₦50,000, which means you can’t get the maximum bonus using a prepaid card to fund your account due to its low maximum deposit limit.

Fintech Apps and Payment Gateways

• Flutterwave
• Paystack

Flutterwave and Paystack are Nigerian fintech companies that handle online payments for many local businesses, including betting platforms. They allow bettors to deposit using cards, bank transfers, and other local payment options through a single gateway.

Most Nigerian bookmakers allow you to deposit as much as ₦500,000 using Flutterwave and Paystack. This high deposit limit can help you get the highest first deposit bonus offered by bookmakers. You can even make withdrawals of up to ₦9,999,999 on most bookmakers to your account using Flutterwave.

Cash Deposit Options

Some bookmakers allow you to directly deposit money into your account at the bank or through POS (Point of Sale). Certain bookmakers even allow you to deposit money into your betting account at designated shops.

For example, you can fund your Bet9ja account at a Bet9ja bet shop by giving the agent the amount you want to add to your account. Since it’s a manual process, it can take up to two hours for your deposit to reflect in your betting account.

Key Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Sports Betting Payment Methods 

Payment Method	Can be Used for Deposit & Withdrawal	Deposit Transaction Time	Average Withdrawal Time	Deposit Fees	Acceptability
Debit cards	✔	Instant	Instant	None	Widely accepted
E-wallets	✔	Instant	Instant	None	Average acceptability
Mobile payment solutions	✔	Instant to a few minutes	Less than 10 minutes	None	Widely accepted
Bank transfer	✔	Instant to a few minutes	Less than 10 minutes	Bank charges apply (typically ₦65 or less)	Widely accepted
Cryptocurrency	✔	10-30 minutes (depending on the network speed)	10-30 minutes (depending on the network speed)	Network fees	Limited acceptability
Prepaid cards	✘ (Deposits only, no withdrawals)	Instant	✘ No withdrawals possible	None	Limited acceptability
Fintech apps	✔	Instant	10-30 minutes	None	Widely accepted
Cash deposit	✘ (Deposits only, no withdrawals)	30 minutes to 2 hours	✘ No withdrawals possible	None

How to Deposit Money into a Bet Account? 

To deposit money, choose a preferred betting payment method, enter the amount, and confirm the transaction. Here’s how to do it on 1xBet, one of the best betting sites in Nigeria.

1. Log in to your account by going to the 1xbet website and entering your username and password.
2. Tap the “plus” sign next to your betting balance on the homepage.

3. Choose your preferred payment method. 1xBet allows you to make transactions using cryptocurrency, bank transfer, cards, and others. You can check our 1xBet review to see other payment methods available on 1xBet. 

4. Enter the amount you wish to deposit.
5. Confirm your transaction

How Do I Withdraw Money from a Betting Account? 

Withdrawing your winnings is similar to making a deposit. The process may vary depending on the betting payment methods you’ve used. Most sports betting payment methods like bank transfers, e-wallets, and cards support quick withdrawals, while some other methods may have additional verification steps. Here’s how to do it effectively.

1. Log in to your account.
2. Select “Menu” and navigate to the “Account Management” section. 
3. Tap “Withdraw”.

4. Choose your preferred withdrawal method. I highly recommend OPay or PalmPay because of their transaction speed.
5. Enter the amount you wish to withdraw. 

6. Tap confirm to validate the payment. It’ll be processed immediately.

Common Issues with Online Betting Payment Methods (And How to Solve Them)

Issues with betting payment methods can arise when depositing or withdrawing your winnings. Here are the most common problems and how to fix them.

Delayed Transactions

This is the most common issue. Sometimes you might make a deposit and it would not reflect in your account. It is mostly caused by network issues or your bank having a downtime. There are even times when the bookmaker itself might be having some technical issues. 

I highly recommend contacting your bookmaker’s customer support team with your user ID and your transaction details. For example, if you used a bank transfer for your deposit, you can attach a transfer confirmation slip from your bank as a proof of payment.

I once experienced something similar when trying to deposit some funds into my Livescorebet account. The transaction didn’t reflect in my Livescorebet account. However, after reaching out to the customer support team with my transfer confirmation slip, the issue was resolved and my money reflected in my betting wallet.

Failed Deposits

There are times you might get an error while trying to make a deposit. This is mostly caused by insufficient funds or maybe you entered incorrect payment details. If your deposit failed while trying to use a card, it might be because the card has expired.

To fix this issue, double check your bank account balance, ensure your card is active, and confirm all the details you entered to be sure everything is correct. If the issue persists, you should try another payment method like bank transfer or cryptocurrency.

High Withdrawal Fees

Some payment channels can charge extra for certain transactions. I highly recommend using a different withdrawal method that doesn’t take extra fees. For example, if you try to make a withdrawal via crypto on 1xBet and you don’t feel comfortable with the associated network fees, you can withdraw using PalmPay instead.

Verification Issues

Some bookmakers like 1xBet and LiveScoreBet don’t allow you to withdraw certain amounts of money without verifying your account. For example, with Livescorebet, you can’t withdraw more than ₦100,000 without verifying your account. If you try to withdraw more than ₦100,000, you’ll get an error message.

To solve this issue, you need to submit a valid ID document issued by the Nigerian government. It could be your National ID, Driver’s License, or International Passport. You need to ensure the details matches your betting account.

Payment Method Restrictions

Some methods always have restrictions. For example, on SportyBet, you can’t deposit more than ₦500,000 at once using Flutterwave. If you receive an error message while trying to make a deposit or withdrawal, you should use a different payment method, preferably a bank transfer, since it allows you to deposit and withdraw huge amounts.

Are There Any Hidden Fees with Online Betting Transactions?

In the table above, we showed the normal fees associated with online transactions involving bookmakers. However, sometimes there are additional hidden fees you need to watch out for, depending on the site or payment provider:

• Currency Conversion Fees: If the bookmaker’s account is in a different currency (e.g., dollars), you might pay a conversion fee when depositing or withdrawing. This is common among international bookmakers like BC.Game and Stake.
• Bank SMS Alert Charges: Some banks charge a small fee for every SMS alert, which can add up if you deposit and withdraw frequently.
• Maintenance Fees: Certain e-wallets or bank accounts have monthly or yearly fees that might not be obvious when you sign up. For example, UBA deducts a monthly fee of up to ₦1,000 for maintenance.

Always read the terms and conditions of both the betting site and your payment provider. If something seems unclear, reach out to customer support before making a transaction.

What is the Best Payment Method for Online Bookmakers in Nigeria?

Debit cards and bank transfers are the best payment methods for online bookmakers in Nigeria because they are fast and widely accepted. Additionally, they have high transaction limits, which is usually good for “heavy bettors” who love to stake huge sums of money.

Top 3 Operators with Best Payment Options

Here are three of the best betting operators that offer a wide range of secure and convenient payment methods for Nigerian bettors. 

1. 

   1xbet

   4 rating

   Fast and Flexible Payment Options

   First deposit bonus up to ₦600,000

   Sign up with 1xbet
2. 

   22bet

   4 rating

   Bet Smarter with Cryptocurrency

   Up to ₦207,500 welcome offer

   Sign up with 22bet
3. 

   Betano

   5 rating

   All-Round Betting Champion

   First deposit bonus up to ₦200,000

   Sign up with Betano

Choosing the Best Payment Option for You

Choosing the best payment method depends on several factors, including how easy it is for you to deposit and withdraw, the speed of the transactions, and whether you want to avoid extra fees or not.

I have been placing bets in Nigeria for more than a decade, and my top 3 recommendations for depositing or withdrawing funds from bookmakers in Nigeria are Debit Cards (Visa or MasterCard) because they are simple to use and usually come with no fees, Bank Transfer (especially with USSD) because you can deposit even without an internet connection, and Mobile Money like PalmPay and OPay because of their speed.

Each of these has worked well for me, and I highly recommend trying them. Remember to always reach out to your bookmaker’s customer support team if you ever encounter any difficulties.

FAQs About Betting Payment Methods in Nigeria