The first country people think about when they think of online poker is the United States. The US is the country everyone thinks about because it is so big in terms of money and population. But this does not mean the United States is the only country with online poker and a thriving online poker environment. While the interest in online poker is far-reaching in America, it is technically only legal in six states. In other countries with a bigger population than these six states, the popularity of online poker could turn to more physical players than in America—one of the countries of interest to people in Nigeria. Nigeria is well known as one of the more popular countries on the African continent and, if done correctly, could be one of the top countries when it comes to online poker real money. Nigeria is already an economic powerhouse in other regards. Hence, it’s only natural if online poker were to become a mainstay in the population, it may be able to elevate its status in this industry as well.
Below, we will look at the legality, popularity, and prospects for online poker in Nigeria.
When it comes to the legality of online poker in Nigeria, it becomes complicated. Through Nigerian law, there are no actual rules regarding online poker for real money or offshore poker. In addition, Nigerian law does have a ban on unlicensed gambling, and this prevents online casinos from permeating within the country. So many people within the country can play online poker for real money here. This prevents them from getting in trouble, but it could also be a hindrance to the online poker scene from truly rising within the country.
Poker is a game that transcends borders and has become a part of many cultures through generations and across all countries. While it may not be the number one way people gamble online in Nigeria, there is a growing fanbase. Poker, even in-person poker, has not always been the top game played in Nigeria. But with the world increasingly becoming more connected and people becoming aware of poker and the fun it brings, more people within Nigeria are being exposed to the game.
With close to 56% (108 million people ) of the population having access to the internet, this has created the bandwidth for people to gain access to this sector. As mentioned in the previous section, the legal status of online poker is a little murky. Still, with people having access to the internet, instead of using local online platforms, they are using foreign platforms. All of which work the same and relieve them of any fear they may have.
The popularity will also increase thanks to casinos having in-person poker games. The main casinos in Nigeria are within the two major cities of the country, Lagos and Kano. These casinos help to spread the word about poker and get more people into the game. This grassroots expansion will translate into more people seeking it through alternative means like online poker, planting the seeds for a growing audience.
Nigerians have been playing poker for a long time, but they have not developed a game that they created themselves. Instead, they have adopted other versions of poker commonly found worldwide. Currently, the most popular version of poker among Nigerians is Texas Hold ’em. It is a game where players receive two facedown cards to start. Then, through three stages, five face-up cards are placed on the table for the players to choose from. The game’s objective is for each player to make the best five-card hand out of the five face-up cards and the two facedown cards.
The other type of poker style that has garnered attention in Nigeria is Omaha, but again, this type of game got imported from other countries.
As mentioned in the previous section, there is much room for the poker game to grow in Nigeria. Only half of a population of 213.4 million people have internet access, and for most of Nigeria’s history, poker was not a dominant game. So, the more people get access to the internet, the more people become aware of poker, and the more people will gravitate toward it online. With this increased popularity, online poker companies may begin to expand into Nigerian markets, and the Nigerian government may soon be in a position where they may have to make the law more transparent to allow more domestic businesses to arise and to alleviate any anxiety some people may have. As long as the country continues on its current trajectory, the business of online poker is to grow and expand within its borders. Nigeria is already known for its oil, but soon, it could become known for its online poker sector as well.
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