Betting Wars: Hisbah Police Crackdown Intensify as Tech Startup Confronts Nigeria’s Betting Giants

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

Gaming has actually developed significantly in Nigeria from conventional forms like pool staking and Baba Ijebu to a thriving sports betting wagering market. Historically connected to European football leagues, pool staking was a typical sight at motor parks and kiosks, where enthusiasts would bet as little as N50-N200 on matches.

Slowly, with increased internet access came virtual wagering, which parallels global trends. The sports betting market is valued at $89.91 billion in 2023 and is forecasted to almost double to $182.02 billion by 2030.

In spite of financial difficulties such as inflation, Nigeria’s sports betting sector has actually flourished, bring in millions, specifically amongst the younger demographic facing high unemployment rates.

Reports indicate that approximately 60 million Nigerians aged 18-40 actively participate in sports betting, driving a market that creates an approximated yearly income of N730 billion. The federal government has actually not gone undetected by this growth, which is thinking about regulative measures like excise duties and VAT boosts to manage the sector.

The National Lottery Act of 2005 established regulative bodies like the National Lottery Regulatory Commission to make sure reasonable operations in spite of obstacles in enforcement. Problems such as inadequate age confirmation and advertising rule breaches show industry regulative spaces.

Regardless of these obstacles, sports betting wagering companies continue to thrive through effective organization designs and aggressive marketing strategies, leveraging the developer influencer market.

These efforts have contributed to Nigeria’s robust $2 billion sports betting sector, with CEOs playing important functions in broadening audience reach and driving industry development. Here are the CEOs of leading sports betting business who have considerably added to Nigeria’s $2 billion gaming empire through their substantial audience reach.

Constable Olaniyan – CEO Surebet247

Sheriff Olaniyan is the CEO of Surebet247, a sports betting book business he co-founded with Badmos Olasupo in 2011. His varied profession covers numerous functions in the gaming and show business, consisting of working at among the United Kingdom’s biggest video gaming centres, The Palace Bingo Club, where he worked as the Lead Engineer in a Bingo and Bowling Club.

Olaniyan holds a BSc in Geography from the University of Ilorin and sports betting a Master’s in Geographical Information Systems from the University of Glamorgan, Wales. Surebet247, founded in August 2011, sports betting has become a leading e-commerce service in the sports betting and video gaming sector, operating through online, mobile, and retail channels. The business was integrated in Nigeria on November 7, 2006, and has because broadened its presence, sports betting accomplishing over 5,000 downloads on the Google Play Store.

Sam Sadi – CEO Livescorebet

Sam Sadi has over 25 years of experience in sports betting brand names and sports betting media. In 2019, he ended up being the CEO of LiveScore Group, sports betting a completely incorporated environment that integrates pertinent sports betting content, engaging functions, and a world-class sportsbook.

Because taking the helm right before the pandemic, Sam has actually driven considerable growth for LiveScore Group. The business’s staff member headcount has increased by 29%, sports betting and annual earnings has surged from around ₤ 10 million to over ₤ 80 million.

Sam’s leadership and tactical vision have propelled LiveScore Group’s success and assisted form the market’s direction. LiveScoreBet has actually attained 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 actually formerly functioned as the business’s Marketing and Operations Director sports betting since 2015. He signed up with Betway in 2013 and has been in the online video gaming market considering that 2000, holding different effective roles, consisting of General Manager of an information analytics team and Director of a digital marketing company.

Under Werkman’s leadership, Betway has actually continued to grow its market presence and boost its offerings. The business’s app has actually gathered considerable user engagement, with over 100,000 downloads on the Google Play Store.

Damilare Alabi, Co-Founder, Managing Director NairaBET

Damilare Alabi has actually distinguished herself as a senior executive with a performance history of changing start-ups into institutionalized services. Her competence spans the gaming, realty, and credit financing markets, where he has actually developed himself as a tactical and functional leader.

Damilare has been instrumental in NairaBET’s success for over 14 years. Considering that June 2019, she has actually served as Managing Director and has overseen the company’s growth and operations in Lagos, Nigeria.

Before this, she was the Chief Operating Officer from 2010 to June 2019, sports betting pivotal in the business’s operational techniques and market expansion.

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

Akin Alabi, the founder of NairaBET.com, Nigeria’s pioneering sports betting bookmaking company, developed business in 2009. While NairaBET was not the very first sports betting wagering platform in Nigeria, it was the first to introduce a fully practical site, setting a standard in the industry.

Femi Babalola- General Manager of 1Xbet Nigeria Limited

Femi Babalola is the Managing Director of 1XBET Nigeria Limited, a franchise of the global sports betting wagering company based in Cyprus. 1XBET, founded in 2007 by the late Sergey Karshkov, has established itself as one of the largest bookies in Europe and the world. The company runs in more than 50 nations, including Nigeria, where it is totally certified.

Under Babalola’s management, sports betting 1XBET Nigeria has actually expanded its footprint in the competitive Nigerian sports betting wagering market, using a vast array of sports betting choices and an easy to use platform. The 1XBET app has over 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 Chairman of Vend Capital. In addition to leading these ventures, Ukanwoke has actually teamed up with African socio-economic organizations and governments to create developmental policies aimed at empowering young people. In 2015, Ernst & & Young honoured him as the Winner of the Accelerating Category– World Entrepreneur of the Year.

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

In 2020, BetKing participated in a partnership with the Lagos Employment Trust Fund, sports betting developing over 100,000 tasks, the variety of which is increasing each year. In the exact 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 creator, bulk investor, and joint Chief Executive of Bet365, an online gaming business she developed in 2000. Bet365.com was released in 2001 as an online wagering website and has since turned into one of the world’s biggest online gaming companies.

By 2016, Bet365 generated $2 billion in profits and assisted in $45 billion in annual bets. The company also holds a bulk stake in Stoke City Football Club. Bet365 has gathered 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, developed together with businessman Kunle Soname, who likewise owns Portuguese club CD Feirense and Nigerian club Remo Stars.

Ojuroye is likewise the Chairman of Mango Asset Management, an independent Nigerian property management business that generates investment returns and provides distinct investment insights and services to both private and .

Founded in 2012 under KC Gaming Networks, Bet9ja has actually rapidly grown in appeal, with over 1 million downloads on the Google Play Store. Under Ojuroye’s management, Bet9ja has actually ended up being a substantial gamer in the Nigerian sports betting wagering market.

Fikayo Ogunfuye – Country Director 22bet

Fikayo Ogunfuye is a skilled specialist in the sports betting market. He has actually been functioning as the Country Director for sports betting 22BET in Nigeria since June 2021. In this role, he has added to the business’s growth through partnerships, company strategy, sports betting and sports betting brand-new business advancement.

Fikayo’s experience consists of roles such as Chief Operations Officer (West Africa) at 22BET, where he managed item development and consumer experience, and sports betting Country Manager at 22BET, focusing on marketing method and budget plan management. Before 22BET, he led marketing efforts at LuckyBet.NG and held different digital marketing roles at Laclic Services and Betty Bingo.

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

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

22Bet is an online gambling platform that provides sports betting wagering, sports betting gambling establishment games, and live dealership video games. It was launched in 2017 and is owned and run by Marikit Holdings Ltd, a company registered in Cyprus and a subsidiary of Orakum N.V.. They are likewise the owners of Betwinner and a chain of gambling establishments worldwide.

Sudeep Ramnani– CEO Sportybet Group

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

SportyBet is an international sports betting wagering and real-money video gaming operator known for providing an omni-channel entertainment experience in regulated emerging markets. Under Ramnani’s leadership, sports betting SportyBet has become a substantial player in the market, with over 1 million downloads on the Google Play Store.

In addition to his function at SportyBet, Sudeep is an active financier in fintech and mobile payments and sports betting a strong advocate for the growing African web community. His investments show his commitment to fostering innovation and sports betting development within the area.

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

The company is set to interrupt the sports betting industry.

Sunbet Sporting International Limited has said it is concentrated on revolutionising how millions of Africans engage with sports betting. In an industry worth over $1.5 billion annual, with double-digit growth forecast in the coming years, according to reports from the African Sports Betting Association and PwC, the firm aims to utilize cutting-edge technology and a commitment to accountable gambling to change the sector.

Backed by the financial power of 4 popular African billionaires, Sunbet, which will release in the very first quarter of 2025, aims to be the continent’s largest and most innovative sports betting wagering platform.

At a press instruction, sports betting the business’s representative, sports betting Akin Babatunde, stated that the increase in Internet penetration, mobile use, and the continent’s deep enthusiasm for sports betting, especially football, has actually set the stage for Sunbet’s enthusiastic entry. He added that the firm’s robust financial backing and specialist team will allow it to scale and control the marketplace quickly.

Islamic cops raid wagering stores in northern Nigeria

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

“As you know, sports betting is forbidden in Islam,” Mujahid Aminudeen, deputy chief of the Sharia police force, known as the Hisbah, informed the BBC.

Problems from community leaders and moms and sports betting dads triggered the crackdown, worried about the growing number of gambling addicts, he stated.

On the first day of raids, 30 shops were closed in one residential area alone, sports betting and their owners were sent home with a warning, the Sharia officer said.

But Mr Aminudeen warned that now that the public knew that the Hisbah was clamping down on gaming, those flouting the guidelines would be jailed.

Kano city is the capital of Kano state, which has a bulk Muslim population and runs the Islamic legal system – Sharia – along with secular law.

Bookies and bars tend to be enabled to operate in Kano’s Christian areas, though they too can deal with action if the Hisbah believes Muslims are frequenting them.

Nevertheless, sports betting the existing crackdown is focused on Muslim areas of Kano, a sprawling city and the economic hub of northern Nigeria.

sports betting wagering stores can be discovered all over the city. A lot of have television screens, and clients view the outcome of global football matches or horse races on which they have actually staked cash.

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

“They do not have licences to operate as they were allowed to run computer game centres, which they later transformed to wagering stores,” he stated.

The sports betting wagering industry has expanded drastically across West Africa in the last few years. The region is roughly divided between a generally Muslim north and a mainly Christian south.

Many individuals go to bookmakers to take pleasure in the friendship of other bettors, though mobile apps are likewise popular for wagering on the result of occasions and groups.

Nigeria’s debilitating recession has actually likewise implied individuals are willing to run the risk of a percentage in the hope of winning huge.

However this had actually led to extensive dependency, and parents were even grumbling that kids were dropping out of school to bet, Mr Aminudeen stated.

“These financial issues we are dealing with in Nigeria is God telling us to change our methods by stopping sins,” he said.

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 advising those running those wagering stores to either shut down or we’ll detain them and take them to [a Sharia] court,” Mr Aminudeen said.

It is uncertain what penalty they would deal with – typically, such violations carry a fine.

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