Betting Battles: Islamic Police Raids Intensify As Innovation Startup Challenges Nigeria s Gaming Giants

Meet CEOs/MDs of companies behind Nigeria's $2 billion Sports wagering market.


Gaming has actually progressed considerably in Nigeria from conventional kinds like pool staking and Baba Ijebu to a growing sports betting industry. Historically connected to European football leagues, swimming pool staking was a common sight at motor parks and kiosks, where enthusiasts would bet as little as N50-N200 on matches.


Slowly, with increased web access came virtual sports betting, which parallels international patterns. The sports betting wagering market is valued at $89.91 billion in 2023 and is forecasted to nearly double to $182.02 billion by 2030.


In spite of economic challenges such as inflation, Nigeria's sports betting sector has actually flourished, sports betting bring in millions, particularly among the younger group dealing with high unemployment rates.


Reports show that approximately 60 million Nigerians aged 18-40 actively engage in sports betting wagering, driving a market that generates an estimated yearly earnings of N730 billion. The federal government has actually not gone unnoticed by this growth, which is thinking about regulative measures like import tax responsibilities and VAT boosts to handle the sector.


The National Lottery Act of 2005 established regulative bodies like the National Lottery Regulatory Commission to make sure fair operations regardless of obstacles in enforcement. Concerns such as inadequate age confirmation and marketing guideline breaches reveal industry regulatory spaces.


In spite of these obstacles, sports betting wagering business continue to flourish through reliable service designs and sports betting aggressive marketing methods, leveraging the developer influencer market.


These efforts have actually contributed to Nigeria's robust $2 billion gaming sector, sports betting with CEOs playing crucial roles in broadening audience reach and sports betting driving market development. Here are the CEOs of leading sports betting companies who have significantly contributed to Nigeria's $2 billion gaming empire through their extensive audience reach.


Sheriff Olaniyan - CEO Surebet247

Constable Olaniyan is the CEO of Surebet247, a sports betting book business he co-founded with Badmos Olasupo in 2011. His varied career spans different functions in the video gaming and entertainment industry, consisting of operating at among the United Kingdom's biggest video gaming centres, The Palace Bingo Club, where he functioned as the Lead Engineer in a Bingo and Bowling Club.
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Olaniyan holds a BSc in Geography from the University of Ilorin and a Master's in Geographical Information Systems from the University of Glamorgan, Wales. Surebet247, founded in August 2011, has actually become a leading e-commerce company in the wagering and gaming sector, operating through online, mobile, and retail channels. The business was incorporated in Nigeria on November 7, 2006, and has actually since expanded its existence, achieving over 5,000 downloads on the Google Play Store.

Sam Sadi - CEO Livescorebet

Sam Sadi has over 25 years of experience in sports betting brands and sports betting media. In 2019, he ended up being the CEO of LiveScore Group, sports betting a fully integrated ecosystem that integrates relevant sports betting material, engaging features, and a first-rate sportsbook.


Since taking the helm right before the pandemic, sports betting Sam has driven substantial development for LiveScore Group. The company's employee headcount has actually increased by 29%, and annual earnings has risen from around ₤ 10 million to over ₤ 80 million.


Sam's leadership and sports betting tactical vision have actually propelled LiveScore Group's success and helped form the industry's direction. LiveScoreBet has achieved significant user engagement, with over 100,000 downloads on the Google Play Store.

Anthony Werkman - CEO of Betway Group

Anthony Werkman was appointed CEO of Betway in November 2017, having previously acted as the company's Marketing and Operations Director because 2015. He signed up with Betway in 2013 and has been in the online video gaming industry given that 2000, holding various effective functions, consisting of General Manager of a data analytics group and Director of a digital marketing firm.


Under Werkman's leadership, sports betting Betway has actually continued to grow its market existence and sports betting improve its offerings. The company's app has actually garnered significant user engagement, sports betting with over 100,000 downloads on the Google Play Store.

Damilare Alabi, Co-Founder, Managing Director NairaBET

Damilare Alabi has actually differentiated herself as a senior sports betting executive with a track record of transforming start-ups into institutionalized organizations. Her knowledge covers the video gaming, property, and sports betting credit lending markets, where he has established himself as a tactical and functional leader.


Damilare has contributed in NairaBET's success for over 14 years. Because June 2019, she has functioned as Managing Director and has actually supervised the business's development and operations in Lagos, Nigeria.


Before this, she was the Chief Operating Officer from 2010 to June 2019, sports betting critical in the company's operational strategies and market growth.


She founded DearDammy Women's Initiative (DDWIN), a non-profit organization empowering women-owned companies. DDWIN supplies frHer instructional background includes a Bachelor's degree in Geology/Earth Science from the University of Ibadan, finished in 2005.


Akin Alabi, the creator of NairaBET.com, Nigeria's pioneering sports betting bookmaking company, developed the business in 2009. While NairaBET was not the first sports betting wagering platform in Nigeria, it was the first to launch a totally practical site, setting a standard in the market.

Femi Babalola- General Manager of 1Xbet Nigeria Limited

Femi Babalola is the Managing Director of 1XBET Nigeria Limited, a franchise of the international sports betting wagering company based in Cyprus. 1XBET, founded in 2007 by the late Sergey Karshkov, has developed itself as one of the largest bookmakers in Europe and the world. The business runs in more than 50 countries, consisting of Nigeria, where it is completely licensed.


Under Babalola's management, 1XBET Nigeria has actually broadened its footprint in the competitive Nigerian sports betting market, using a vast array of wagering choices and sports betting an easy to use platform. The 1XBET app has more than 500,000 downloads on the Play Store.

Gossy Ukanwoke - CEO of Betking Nigeria

Gossy Ukanwoke is the CEO of BetKing, Managing Director of KingMakers, and sports betting Chairman of Vend Capital. In addition to leading these ventures, Ukanwoke has collaborated with African socio-economic institutions and federal governments to develop developmental policies targeted at empowering young people. In 2015, Ernst & & Young honoured him as the Winner of the Accelerating Category-- World Entrepreneur of the Year.
bet9ja.com

BetKing, founded and launched in Nigeria on February 22, 2018, by Byron Petzer and Adekunle Adeniji, operates under the trademark name of Lake Ventures Ltd. This pan-African sports betting and entertainment business has rapidly grown its existence in Nigeria, sports betting with outlets in major cities and over 500,000 downloads on the Google Play Store.


In 2020, BetKing entered into a partnership with the Lagos Employment Trust Fund, creating over 100,000 tasks, the number of which is increasing every year. In the same year, MultiChoice broadcaster bought a 20% stake in BetKing, which was increased to 49% in 2021.

Denise Coates - CEO Bet 365

Denise Coates is a British billionaire businesswoman, the founder, bulk shareholder, and joint Chief Executive of Bet365, sports betting an online gaming company she established in 2000. Bet365.com was released in 2001 as an online sports betting website and has actually given that turned into one of the world's biggest online sports betting business.


By 2016, Bet365 produced $2 billion in profits and assisted in $45 billion in annual bets. The business also holds a majority stake in Stoke City Football Club. Bet365 has actually garnered substantial user engagement, with over 1 million downloads on the Google Play Store.

Ayo Ojuroye - CEO/Cofounder Bet9ja

Ayo Ojuroye is the CEO and co-founder of Bet9ja, a leading sports betting wagering business in Nigeria, sports betting developed alongside businessman Kunle Soname, who likewise owns Portuguese club CD Feirense and Nigerian club Remo Stars.


Ojuroye is also the Chairman of Mango Asset Management, an independent Nigerian possession management business that generates investment returns and offers special financial investment insights and services to both individual and institutional clients.


Founded in 2012 under KC Gaming Networks, Bet9ja has rapidly grown in popularity, with over 1 million downloads on the Google Play Store. Under Ojuroye's management, sports betting Bet9ja has ended up being a significant player in the Nigerian sports betting industry.

Fikayo Ogunfuye - Country Director 22bet

Fikayo Ogunfuye is a skilled professional in the sports betting wagering market. He has actually been serving as the Country Director sports betting for 22BET in Nigeria considering that June 2021. In this function, he has actually added to the business's growth through partnerships, service strategy, and brand-new service development.


Fikayo's experience includes roles such as Chief Operations Officer (West Africa) at 22BET, where he managed item advancement and consumer experience, and Country Manager at 22BET, focusing on marketing strategy and budget plan management. Before 22BET, he led marketing efforts at LuckyBet.NG and held different digital marketing functions at Laclic Services and Betty Bingo.


His career began at Jumia Group, where he worked in SEO, CRM, sports betting and content management. Fikayo also acted as a Human Resource Officer at SIFAX Group.


He holds a Bachelor sports betting of Technology (B.Tech.) in Management and Accounting from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology and a Master of Science (MS) in Business Administration, Management, and Operations from ESTG University in Cotonou, Benin Republic.


22Bet is an online gaming platform that uses sports betting wagering, gambling establishment video games, and live dealer games. It was released in 2017 and is owned and operated by Marikit Holdings Ltd, a company signed up in Cyprus and a subsidiary of Orakum N.V.. They are likewise the owners of Betwinner and a chain of casinos worldwide.

Sudeep Ramnani-- CEO Sportybet Group

Sudeep Ramnani is the Founder and CEO of SportyBet, a business he established in 2013.


SportyBet is a worldwide sports betting and sports betting real-money gaming operator known for delivering an omni-channel home entertainment experience in regulated emerging markets. Under Ramnani's leadership, SportyBet has become a substantial player in the industry, with over 1 million downloads on the Google Play Store.


In addition to his function at SportyBet, sports betting Sudeep is an active investor in fintech and sports betting mobile payments and a strong advocate for the growing African web environment. His financial investments show his commitment to cultivating development and advancement within the region.


On April 30, 2024, sports betting Sudeep Ramnani purchased Chowdeck, participating in a seed round valued at $2.5 million.

The firm is set to disrupt the sports wagering market.


Sunbet Sporting International Limited has said it is concentrated on changing how millions of Africans engage with sports betting. In a market worth over $1.5 billion annual, with double-digit development projection in the coming years, according to reports from the African Sports Betting Association and PwC, the firm intends to take advantage of cutting-edge technology and a dedication to accountable gaming to revolutionise the sector.


Backed by the monetary power of 4 popular African billionaires, Sunbet, which will launch in the first quarter of 2025, aims to be the continent's biggest and most ingenious sports betting platform.


At a press instruction, the business's spokesperson, Akin Babatunde, sports betting stated that the increase in Internet penetration, sports betting mobile usage, and sports betting the continent's deep passion for sports betting, especially football, sports betting has set the stage for Sunbet's ambitious entry. He included that the firm's robust financial backing and expert team will allow it to scale and dominate the marketplace rapidly.




Islamic cops raid wagering stores in northern Nigeria


Islamic police in Nigeria's northern city of Kano have begun closing down sports betting shops, which they state are operating illegally.


"As you understand, wagering is forbidden in Islam," Mujahid Aminudeen, deputy chief of the Sharia police force, sports betting called the Hisbah, the BBC.


Complaints from community leaders and parents prompted the crackdown, fretted about the growing variety of gambling addicts, sports betting he stated.


On the very first day of raids, 30 shops were closed in one suburb alone, and sports betting their owners were sent home with a caution, the Sharia officer stated.


But Mr Aminudeen cautioned that now that the public was aware that the Hisbah was clamping down on gaming, those flouting the rules would be jailed.


Kano city is the capital of Kano state, which has a bulk Muslim population and runs the Islamic legal system - Sharia - alongside nonreligious law.


Bookies and bars tend to be permitted to operate in Kano's Christian neighbourhoods, though they too can face action if the Hisbah thinks Muslims are frequenting them.


Nevertheless, the current crackdown is focused on Muslim areas of Kano, a sprawling city and the economic center of northern Nigeria.


Sports betting shops can be discovered all over the city. A lot of have tv screens, and customers view the outcome of worldwide football matches or horse races on which they have actually staked cash.


Mr Aminudeen stated such bookmakers had had the ability to run under the radar as they had opened under false pretences.


"They don't have licences to operate as they were allowed to run computer game centres, which they later converted to sports betting stores," he said.


The sports betting market has actually expanded considerably across West Africa recently. The region is roughly divided between a generally Muslim north and sports betting a predominantly Christian south.


Many people go to bookies to take pleasure in the sociability of other bettors, though mobile apps are also popular for wagering on the outcome of events and groups.


Nigeria's crippling economic crisis has likewise suggested individuals are willing to run the risk of a small amount in the hope of winning big.


But this had resulted in prevalent dependency, and parents were even grumbling that children were leaving of school to bet, Mr Aminudeen said.


"These economic concerns we are facing in Nigeria is God informing us to alter our ways by stopping sins," he stated.


The raids on Tuesday focused on Munjibir, thought about a resort area in the northeast of the city-- visitors flock there at weekends.


"I am encouraging those running those wagering stores to either closed down or we'll jail them and take them to [a Sharia] court," Mr Aminudeen said.


It is uncertain what punishment they would face - often, such infringements bring a fine.


Sharia was presented in Kano in 2000 - as it was in 11 other Muslim-majority northern states - and prostitution, gaming and the intake of alcohol were prohibited.