Current betting tips

Basketball Betting

Football betting might be the most popular option at bookies, but basketball betting might be right behind it. Whether it’s NBA betting or betting on the Euroleague or the World Cup, there are always fans of the sport that’ll place bets on the biggest b-ball competitions. If you don’t know where to start with basketball betting in Nigeria, you’re in the right place.

  • In this guide, we’ll show you the top betting sites for basketball.
  • It has the largest number of betting markets for this sport and many others, and the top odds as well.
  • On top of that, you’ll be getting exclusive bonuses and offers for the best basketball leagues and competitions so you can have the top experience while betting on the NBA or basketball in general.

The best basketball betting sites in Nigeria

Test winner 1xBet Betting Site Review 99/100 Rating
4.3 rating
1xBet Strengthen
  • A large number of betting markets
  • Betting with cryptocurrencies
  • In-play betting and live-streaming
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2 22Bet Betting Site Review 98/100 Rating
5.0 rating
22bet Strengthen
  • Live betting and live statistics
  • Over 100 betting markets on big events
  • eSports betting
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3 Wazobet Betting Site Review 96/100 Rating
4.5 rating
Wazobet Strengthen
  • Sports betting and casino sections
  • Straightforward deposit and withdrawal process
  • The welcome bonus is easy to claim
Icon Above-average odds ₦55,000 Bonus On first Deposit Visit T&C apply, 18+
4 Bet9ja Betting Site Review 95/100 Rating
4.3 rating
Bet9ja Strengthen
  • Over 100 betting markets
  • In-play betting and live-streaming
  • Amazing mobile betting app
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5 Betwinner Betting Site Review 92/100 Rating
4.0 rating
Betwinner Strengthen
  • Sports betting with cryptocurrency
  • In-play betting and live-streaming
  • A wide selection of betting markets
Icon Accumulator of the Day ₦100,000 Bonus On first Deposit Visit T&C apply, 18+
6 N1 Betting Site Review 92/100 Rating
4.3 rating
N1 Strengthen
  • Optimized for mobile use
  • Numerous betting options and available markets
  • SSL encrypted and licensed by NLRC
Icon Some of the best odds ₦500,000 Bonus On first Deposit Visit T&C apply, 18+
7 betBonanza Betting Site Review 90/100 Rating
4.3 rating
betBonanza Strengthen
  • A massive offer with over 160 markets
  • Live betting, Bet Builder, early cash-out
  • Fast withdrawals with no fees
Icon Combo Boost promo ₦130,000 Bonus On first Deposit Visit T&C apply, 18+
8 Betway Betting Site Review 90/100 Rating
4.0 rating
Betway Strengthen
  • A large number of sports and markets
  • Amazing mobile betting app
  • Live betting and live streaming
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9 Cloudbet Betting Site Review 90/100 Rating
4.5 rating
Cloudbet Strengthen
  • Over 20 sports to bet on
  • Live betting platform
  • Accepts Bitcoin and over 30 other coins
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10 Mozzartbet Betting Site Review 90/100 Rating
4.3 rating
Mozzartbet Strengthen
  • Licensed by NLRC
  • Sports betting and casino sections
  • Virtual sports available
Icon World Biggest Odds Boosts ₦2,000 Bonus On first Deposit Visit T&C apply, 18+
11 Parimatch Betting Site Review 87/100 Rating
4.5 rating
Parimatch Strengthen
  • Live betting and live streaming
  • Great mobile betting app
  • A large number of football betting markets
Average Odds ₦150,000 Bonus On first Deposit Visit T&C apply, 18+
Sports

Which Basketball tournaments/leagues/races are good to bet on?

Basketball is more than just the NBA. However, NBA betting is the most popular market in basketball at the best Nigerian sports betting sites. That’s normal – the NBA is the biggest league in the world, and it’s the most popular league to bet on as well. Of course, it’s not the only one.

NBA

The NBA is the most popular betting market when it comes to basketball. It has the world’s biggest basketball stars and thousands of matches to bet on every year. Top Nigerian bookies cover everything from regular season matches to the playoffs and the Finals, along with the All-Star NBA betting markets. You can bet in hundreds of fixed odds and live betting markets, as well as individual ones. The latter are extremely popular among totals bettors. For example, you can put your money on how many points major players such as Lebron James will score, or the number of threes Stephen Curry hits.

Euroleague

The Euroleague doesn’t get the same exposure in Nigeria as it does in Europe. But, it’s still a popular market thanks to the dozens of teams in action week in and week out. Many former NBA stars play in the Euroleague, and it has a different charm to the NBA and more strategic gameplay. The number of markets remains almost the same as for NBA betting, but you might find better odds in the Euroleague than the biggest basketball show on Earth.

World Cup

Every time the World Cup comes calling, basketball bettors rejoice. With many African teams in question, it gets a lot of coverage at the best online sports betting sites in Nigeria. The advantage here is that it’s a short tournament (usually lasts for around a month), and you can bet on outrights such as top scorer, rebounder, assists leader in addition to who wins the World Cup.

It’s an exciting tournament in basketball betting as it comes once every four years. If you’re a big basketball fan, you shouldn’t miss the World Cup.


Which tournaments/leagues are the most important in Basketball betting?

There are plenty of basketball leagues to put your money on at the top Nigerian betting sites. Of course, the NBA is the most popular one, but Nigerian bettors can also put their money on the BAL, the premier man’s basketball league in Africa.

NBA

The NBA is the biggest basketball show on Earth. It features the best athletes and teams, so despite the negative reception, champions might actually deserve the world champion moniker when they win the Finals. NBA betting is the most widespread form of basketball betting in the world. With hundreds of individual and team markets to bet on, it’s not a surprise that it’s the premier basketball betting market at Nigerian sportsbooks.

Euroleague

The Euroleague has gotten better over the years and has seen increased coverage in the past decade. It’s a huge draw for young players and NBA outcasts, so the level of quality is higher than ever before. The top Nigerian sportsbooks cover the season in full, giving Nigerian bettors a lot of matches to bet on paired with thousands of markets.

Major International Competitions

The World Cup, Euros, and qualifying tournaments across all continents are highly popular basketball betting markets too. Since they are shorter than an annual NBA season, they’re very interesting for bettors. You can find some great odds on these tournaments if you dig deep enough, and the depth in these betting markets is definitely something to keep an eye on.

Basketball Africa League

The BAL is Africa’s premier man’s basketball league. It features 12 teams from different countries—including Nigeria represented by the Kwara Falcons—and was established by the NBA and FIBA. It runs from March to May when basketball betting markets at the best Nigerian betting sites explode, giving bettors a range of games to bet on with great odds in tow.


Odds in Basketball Betting

One of the key factors when choosing what to bet on in basketball are the odds. The better the odds, the better the value. Basketball betting odds are different across Nigerian betting sites, and you should always go for the best ones available.

If you’re wondering how to find the best basketball and NBA betting odds, you should always compare different betting sites. It’s not illegal to shop for odds. Create accounts at the best betting sites in Nigeria and pick the top basketball betting odds for the best returns.

Short-Term and Long-Term Basketball Odds

When it comes to betting on basketball online, you have both short term and long terms odds. The lowest odds are on short terms markets when favorites play underdogs. Conversely, the longest odds are for the title favorites. It’s harder to predict who the NBA champion is rather than picking the winner in a match between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Detroit Pistons. Pay particular attention to all short term and long term basketball betting markets as you might find more than a few surprises.

Most Popular Basketball Betting Markets

As for the type of basketball betting markets, you can bet on match winners, outrights (for example, who wins the NBA title?), totals, point spreads, accumulators, and more. Individual betting markets are highly popular too as NBA stars are highly marketable assets. Point spreads are more popular than match winners at the best betting sites in Nigeria, as they are focused on the point total instead of the winner. This market is for more seasoned bettors, but it’s worth checking out.

Maximum Combined Odds

Depending on the market and the bookie you choose, there might be some limits to the odds. This goes double for accumulators which often have a ceiling. The sports betting platform will indicate this before you create your bet slip, so it won’t be hard to find it.


Which basketball betting markets are usually available for punters, when betting online?


There are many available basketball and NBA betting markets for Nigerian bettors. They go far beyond the simple match winner or title winner. Live betting on basketball is pretty popular too, although it’s not for beginners as it requires faster fingers. Here are the most popular basketball betting markets in Nigeria:

  • Moneyline
  • Point spreads
  • Futures
  • Prop bets (team and individual stats)
  • Half-time/Full-time result
  • Accumulators
  • Handicaps
  • MVP betting
  • Conference Finals betting
  • Finals winner

Short-term betting in Basketball

The name of these markets says it all. Short-term basketball betting means putting your money on markets that have much shorter terms. Those are moneylines (match winners), prop bets, and any match bet you can put your money on. Point spreads are also short-term markets, as you only need to wait for the game to end in a couple of hours to know if you’ve won.

Live betting markets are also short-term. The main advantage of short-term basketball betting is that you don’t have to wait for long to see if you’ve won. Everyone wants to win in the short-term rather than wait, and that’s why these markets are so popular among bettors.

Long-term betting in Basketball

Compared to short-term NBA betting, long-term bets have much longer odds. That’s because these are bets on future events, and as we know, it’s hard to predict anything in the future. While their odds are longer which means better payout potential, the main problem with this is that you have to wait for a long time—maybe even a year—to know if you’ve won or lost.

The most popular futures basketball betting markets include title winner, MVP, or who wins the conference playoffs.


Live betting/In-Play betting in Basketball


Just like with any other sport, live basketball betting has taken over the market. However, compared to other sports, it requires much more attention and a fast response. The reason for this is that basketball is a fast-paced sport – certainly faster than football or ice hockey.

The number of live basketball betting markets is impressive, especially when it comes to NBA. There are many interesting options to bet on such as which star scores the next basket that add a lot of excitement to an already impressive way to bet.

Logo 99/100 Rating
4.3 rating
1xBet Strengthen
  • A large number of betting markets
  • Betting with cryptocurrencies
  • In-play betting and live-streaming
₦145,600 Bonus On first Deposit Visit T&C apply, 18+

The best betting sites for Basketball

The Nigerian online sports betting market is full of excellent betting platforms. Since online betting is legal in the country, there are plenty of sportsbooks vying for supremacy. That’s great news for bettors as the heated competition is pushing each sports betting site to offer better odds than the other.

Of course, the grass is not always greener on the other side. Better odds don’t mean a better overall betting experience or better bonuses and promotions. If we had to pick a Nigerian betting site for basketball betting, it would be 22bet.

  • The popular bookie has dozens of available basketball markets outside of the NBA season. Once the biggest basketball league begins, you can count on over 100 matches to bet on every day.
  • The clear and user-friendly interface makes finding things easy.
  • NBA betting is in the focus at 22bet, with the top matches highlighted on the front page.
  • 22bet’s basketball betting odds are level or a bit better than what other Nigerian bookies offer.
  • Expect all kinds of free bets, bonuses, and boosters for the top NBA betting markets.
  • If you dig deeper under the basketball category, you’ll find more than decent odds for lesser known basketball competitions in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
  • You can even bet on Esports basketball betting markets if you’re into 2K’s great NBA video games. This adds a new level of basketball betting experience.

FAQ for Basketball betting

Is Basketball a good sport to bet on?

Absolutely. Basketball is as good as any other sport to bet on. Due to the popularity of the NBA and the stars that play there, it’s a lucrative and very popular betting market for Nigerian bettors.

Is there any opportunity to make a good profit within Basketball?

If the odds are good and you do your research, then yes, basketball betting can be profitable. Of course, there’s no guarantee you’ll ever win anything, so don’t start betting with that mentality.

How do I best get started by betting in Basketball?

The first thing you need to do is find a good betting site to start with. Pick a trusted bookie, see if there’s a free bet or welcome offer, then use that bonus to enter the exciting world of NBA betting.

Is Basketball a safe and fair market to bet on?

Yes, it is. It’s a highly popular sport around the world, so you have nothing to worry about when it comes to basketball betting as long as you choose a trusted betting site.


The biggest stars in Basketball

Lebron James

What more can one say about Lebron James? He’s one of the basketball GOATs together with Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Magic Johnson among others. Lebron often doesn’t get the respect he deserves, but there’s no question that he’s among the best. With 4 rings behind his name and 4 Finals MVPs in addition to 4 league MVPs, he’s one of the biggest basketball stars of all time. And to top that and other accolades, James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s leading scorer.

The fact he’s still going strong at the age of 38 is incredible. Betting on Lebron James’ points in a game can be pretty lucrative considering the fact he’s never averaged under 20 points per season. Besides being a global basketball ambassador, Lebron James is also a philanthrope who doesn’t shy away from investing in the community.

Stephen Curry

For a long time, Reggie Miller and Ray Allen were the best 3 point shooters in the world. Then came Stephen Curry who not only trumped their record, but completely changed the game. A playmaker with a knack for 3 point shots, his numbers during his career are impressive. He’s hit 42% of threes in his career which is a feat that we may never get to see again.

On top of that, Curry is a four-time champion and one-time NBA Finals MVP. He’s had a stellar career and even at the ripe age of 35, his Golden State Warriors are a title threat year in and year out.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

There haven’t been many players with an impact such as Giannis Antetokounmpo over the past decade. Entering the league as an athletic freak in 2013, Antetokounmpo grew each year physically and mentally until he started dominating the NBA in a Milwaukee Bucks shirt. He has one title behind his name and 2 league MVPs in addition to one Finals MVP reward.

Still young at the age of 28 and now with Damian Lillard by his side, he’s the biggest favorite to win another NBA title. Keep that in mind when you get to your favorite bookie’s NBA betting section.

Sue Bird

Sue Bird is the equivalent of Michael Jordan in the WNBA. She’s a four-time league champion and a 13-time All-Star. Bird is widely considered one of the greatest ever to grace the WNBA, dominating the league across three decades. With her stellar performances in 2020, Bird earned her fourth WNBA championship, becoming the first female to win titles in three different decades.

Now retired, there’s no question that Sue Bird changed how the game is played. She may have never caught up with Diana Taurasi in terms of leading scorer, but Sue Bird’s impact on basketball—especially female basketball—is undeniable.


The best clubs/country/teams

LA Lakers

The LA Lakers are one of the most successful teams in the NBA. Nicknamed The Lakeshow, the iconic team from Los Angeles is known for its reliance on aggressive, fast-paced, and spectacular basketball. It has been a huge draw for NBA’s largest stars, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Lebron James and Anthony Davis.

Led by the formidable duo of James and Davis, the Lakers won the 2020 titles, bringing the first trophy in a decade and 17th overall to LA. They should be among the favorites this year when it comes to NBA betting thanks to the decent business made over the summer of 2023.

Boston Celtics

LA’s biggest rivals the Boston Celtics are on level terms when it comes to trophies in the NBA. The Celtics have 17 titles as well, although they’ve been less successful than the Lakers during the past few decades. A recent revival has seen the team make the trip to the Finals in 2022, and get close on two more occasions.

NBA betting is inconceivable without putting the Celtics among the title favorites year in and year out. That’s the case this year too. If you’re into basketball betting, check out the Celtics markets as the team makes another run at the Finals.

Kwara Falcons

The Falcons play in the top tier African basketball competition – the BAL. Launched in 2013, the team finished 3rd in the Atlantic Conference in the Nigerian Premier League in 2015. In 2016 and 2017, the Falconsr reached the semi-finals, while a year later, they lost in the Finals to Rivers Hoopers. The Falcons won their first-ever championship in 2023, qualifying for the Basketball Africa League in 2023.

Now representing Nigerian in the BAL, the team is expected to make a solid run in the postseason. If you’re a fan of African basketball betting, you shouldn’t look past the Falcons to make a splash in the league this season.


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4.3 rating
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5.0 rating
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22bet Strengthen
  • Live betting and live statistics
  • Over 100 betting markets on big events
  • eSports betting
₦105,000 Visit T&C apply, 18+
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4.3 rating
Read review
1xBet Strengthen
  • A large number of betting markets
  • Betting with cryptocurrencies
  • In-play betting and live-streaming
₦145,600 Visit T&C apply, 18+
99/100 Rating Visit T&C apply, 18+
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