Step 3: Deposit money on a betting site
After finding your bookmaker and opening your account, the next thing to do is to make a deposit into the account so that you can start betting on different sports. Again, just like the previous two steps, this is a very straightforward process.
All Nigerian bookmakers, and most of the foreign-based bookies like 1xBet, Betwinner and Betway allow customers to fund their accounts in Naira, while they also provide several payment methods for bettors.
It is then up to you to choose the method that is most convenient. There are so many ways of funding your betting accounts, the most popular being via ATM Cards and direct bank transfers, both of which you will find on most betting sites.
Some bookmakers allow you to pay via bank apps or USSD short codes, based on a prearranged agreement between the bank and the bookmaker. So, if you prefer this option, it is important to confirm its availability with your bookmaker and your bank.
Some payment methods come with additional service fees while others are free of charge. You can confirm this with the bookmaker before going on to make payments.
All Nigerian bookmakers, and most of the foreign-based bookies like 1xBet, Betwinner and Betway allow customers to fund their accounts in Naira.
You can also pay via online payment portals like Opay and Quickteller, while some bookies allow customer to customer transfer, which implies that a customer transfers funds from his own account to another person’s account.
A less popular way of funding in Nigeria is by cryptocurrency, but this is only available on foreign-based betting sites like 1xBet.
1xBet stands out with its numerous payments methods, with the bookie offering over 50 methods to Nigerian customers. On most betting sites, you will find all the available payment options by clicking a "Deposit" button on the home page.
Let us take Bet9ja for example and see the various deposit methods available on the site:
- Instant Cards Deposit
- QR Code Payment
- Bank Instant Deposits
- GT Bank Online (Mobile Transfer)
- ATP Deposit
- Quickteller Online Instant Deposit
- Opay Deposit
- Polaris Mobile Deposit
- UBA Instant Bills Pay
- GT Bank USSD
- Providus Bank Collect Pro App
- UBA USSD
- Unity Bank USSD
Usually, you can check the terms and conditions governing each payment method before going on to make your choice. So find out if there's an extra service fee involved or there's a minimum/maximum funding limit before selecting your payment methods.
As you can see, it is almost impossible not to find a convenient way to fund your betting account, even if it means you have to borrow your friend's bank card or beg your brother to transfer funds from his own betting account to yours, if the bookie (and your brother) allows that!
So go ahead and fund your account, and dive into the wonderful world of sports betting.