Most Popular Types of Bets in Nigeria: Which One is Best for You?

The Nigerian sports betting market is characterized by incredible passion and high stakes, with millions of punters placing bets daily. While the variety of available markets is huge, most bettors, particularly those starting out, focus on a few specific types of bets.

Understanding the mechanics, risks, and advantages of the most popular types of bets in Nigeria is essential for moving from casual guesswork to consistent profit. Which market best suits your risk profile and game analysis?

Below, we detail the 5 most frequently used markets by Nigerian bettors and how you can use them effectively.

1. Full-Time Result (1x2 or Moneyline)

This is, without a doubt, the most basic and popular type of bet, especially for newcomers.

What It Is

You bet on one of three possible outcomes in a match's regular time (90 minutes + stoppage time):

• 1: Home Team Win.

• X: Draw.

• 2: Away Team Win.

Advantages and Risks

• Advantage: Simple and straightforward to understand. It offers decent odds even for moderate favorites.

• Risk: It is a high-risk market because you have only a one-in-three chance of being right. If your favoured team wins in extra time or penalties, the bet is lost.

2. Double Chance (Double Chance)

Directly derived from the 1x2 market, Double Chance is widely popular in Nigeria because it drastically reduces the betting risk.

What It Is

You cover two of the three possible outcomes in a single bet:

• 1X: The Home team wins or draws.

• X2: The Away team wins or draws.

• 12: Either team wins (excludes the draw).

Advantages and Risks

• Advantage: Covers 66.6% of the possible results. Ideal when you are highly confident that a team will not lose, but you are unsure if they will win.

• Risk: The odds are significantly lower than the 1x2 market because the risk is much smaller. It is often used to build security into Accumulators (Parlays).

3. ⚽ Over/Under Goals (Total Goals)

This market is a favourite among many analysts as it allows you to focus purely on the game's dynamic (offense and defense) without worrying about who wins. The most common market is Over/Under 2.5 Goals.

What It Is

You bet on the total number of goals scored by both teams in the match:

• Over 2.5 Goals: To win, the total goals must be 3 or more (e.g., 2-1, 3-0, 4-2).

• Under 2.5 Goals: To win, the total goals must be 2 or less (e.g., 1-0, 0-0, 1-1).

Advantages and Risks

• Advantage: You don't need to predict the winner. Analysis is based on teams' attack/defense statistics and goal averages.

• Risk: A single goal in the final minute can change your bet's outcome, even if the game was slow-paced for 89 minutes.

4. Accumulator Bets (Parlays or "Akkas")

This is by far the most popular betting format in Nigerian betting shops and online platforms, as it allows bettors to chase a massive win with a small stake.

What It Is

You combine two or more selections onto a single ticket. For the bet to be a winner, ALL selections (and their respective results) must be correct. The odds of each bet are multiplied together to create a huge final payout.

Advantages and Risks

• Advantage: The profit potential is enormous, turning a small stake into thousands of Naira.

• Risk: The risk is exponentially higher. If you have 5 selections and the probability of each is 80%, the chance of all 5 hitting is only 32.7%. A single incorrect selection voids the entire ticket.

5. Goalscorer Bets (Anytime/First Goalscorer)

Highly exciting and popular for big matches featuring star strikers (e.g., EPL or UCL games).

What It Is

You bet on a specific player to score a goal during the match.

• Anytime Goalscorer: The player scores at any point in the 90 minutes.

• First Goalscorer: The player scores the very first goal of the match.

Advantages and Risks

• Advantage: Offers very attractive odds, especially for the First Goalscorer market, and adds a personal excitement factor to watching the game.

• Risk: High risk. Injuries, substitutions, or a focus on assists over scoring (especially for midfielders) can quickly render your bet obsolete.

Conclusion: Which Market is Best for You?

Ready to Bet Smarter?

The key to success is pairing a sound strategy with a reliable platform. At Sky247 NG, you can find all these markets with competitive odds, an intuitive interface, and the security needed to execute your strategy successfully.

Ready to Bet Smarter? Join Sky247 NG Today!