The Popularity of Sports Betting in Africa

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Betting has always had its fair share of fans all over the world, and for good reason. The excitement and adrenaline rush punters experience is unparalleled, and it definitely doesn’t hurt that you stand to make some money too. Then the internet came along increased the public interest in gambling and made it much more accessible to a lot of people all over the world, especially when it comes to sports betting. To bet on your favorite teams playing a sport you grew up watching is pure entertainment on all levels and it even adds to the epic action of a football or baseball game. This is one of the reasons why sports betting started growing in popularity across Africa –– a continent suffering from poverty, but with an unyielding love for sports. 

The love of Football 

If there’s one thing adored across all African countries, it is football and pg. It is the one sport watched by millions across the entire continent, regardless of their status or position in society. The African Cup of Nations draws in millions of viewers every couple of years, and the same goes for the FIFA World Cup and dozens of other competitions. It only makes sense that a lot of Africans started getting involved in wagering on the sports they love and view so much. Some studies show that countries like Nigeria have over 60 million active sports punters between the ages of 18 and 40! South Africa, on the other hand, has half its population actively betting on sports on a regular basis. These jaw-dropping numbers show how much sports mean to the people around the continent, so much so, that betting has become a steady source of income for some.

Basketball 

Although football is the number one watched sport in Africa, basketball has also been steadily rising in popularity over the past few years. The NBA is watched by a lot of viewers across the continent, and it helps that the majority of the top basketball players are of African heritage. Recently, even college basketball has began to get attention in Africa as well, as the games does get as exciting to those in the big league. So, punters starts doing more research and find sites that offer expert insight into college matches. Boydsbets is one of those sites who gives those. Contrary to popular belief, using a helpful site like this gives betting enthusiasts an edge as they provide users with all they need to know for each game. This is especially important for those still finding their way around sports betting, as expert advice is often on point and will help you place successful bets. 

The role of the Internet 

Perhaps the tool that mattered the most in the rise of sports betting popularity in Africa is the internet. In the past, you had to deal with bookies if you wanted to wager on a team and there weren’t many of those around Africa in the past. But the internet came along and changed all that. It was possible for the residents of countries, that might not even have a casino, to place bets on teams playing halfway across the world without ever leaving their homes. Mobile betting applications and websites are available on smartphones and are becoming a lot more common in Africa. It became possible for people in remote destinations that might not even be all that industrialized to bet on sports if all they have is a phone and an internet connection, which is why sports betting is booming across countries like Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Congo, and Ghana.

The bookies know it

The world’s most famous sports betting bookies were smart enough to understand just how popular and loved sports are in Africa and how much people are really invested in watching the different competitions. This is why major sportsbooks like Betway started expanding in the region and offering their services to punters in those countries, offering bonuses, rewards, and the chance to bet on your favorite team, no matter what location you are in. They also started making facilities in terms of payment, making it possible for punters to pay through different means that are easily accessible to African bettors like PaySafeCard, PayPal, Visa, and others that are accepted in all African banks. 

The popularity of sports betting in Africa is only expected to grow because Africans are extremely attached to sports and they will always remain so. And they’re starting to realize that they can make money from the passion and love they have for the different games. After all, sports betting is about knowing the sport and understanding the different factors that could influence the outcome, which is why it will continue growing in demand in Africa. 

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