The Nigerian betting industry is among the fastest growing in the world. And one of the ways top bookmakers have responded to the ever-increasing consumer base is through their reward system, particularly their welcome offers. These welcome offers aim to provide each customer with extra value when betting on these platforms. Read along as we unpack the most popular welcome offers and what they offer you as a bettor.

Popular welcome offers at Nigerian sportsbooks

While researching online bookmakers, we noticed the top sites have similar welcome bonus formats. Each sportsbook curates its own unique offer, but they tend to fall within these three categories:

Deposit bonus

By far the most popular welcome offer, the deposit bonus is adopted by almost all top bookies on the market. This rewards you based on your initial deposit. The most common deposit bonus is the 100% deposit bonus, which lets you bet with double your starting bankroll. Other deposit bonuses include 50%, 200%, 300%, 400% and 500%. Very few sites offer 300%, 400%, or 500% deposit bonus offers, and when you do come across one, be sure to check the wager requirements to be certain it is feasible.

Bonus bets

Another very popular welcome offer you will find among top bookies is the bonus bet, also known as free bets. As a new customer, you can activate bonus bets on your account when you deposit a certain amount and place qualifying bets that are successfully settled. bet365 is a prime example, as they offer new customers up to ￡50 for a ￡10 qualifying bet. You can claim your free bet on cheekypunter.com by clicking through the link to sign up at bet365 or any other recommended free bet bookies.

Bet refund

Platforms that use this offer reward you with a return of your stake when your first bet loses. This offer is less common than others, but top sites such as Paddy Power offer bet refunds of up to ￡20 on your first loss as a new customer. A bet refund is similar to a bonus bet. The only difference is that you can only receive this one if your first bet loses. It’s also called a second chance bet.

Maximising your welcome offer – understand the t&cs

Welcome offers are meant to give you more value and top up your betting funds when you register with a new sportsbook. However, in order to fully utilise this bonus offer and boost your betting experience, you need to understand that these offers all come with terms and conditions that you must fulfill before you can withdraw any winnings they generate. Standard T&Cs include a wagering requirement, odds level, deposit method, time limit/validity, eligible sports, and more. So before making use of that welcome offer, ensure you’re up to speed with the terms of usage.

These are the most common kinds of welcome offers you’ll come across when betting with different bookmakers. Whether it is the deposit bonus, bonus bets or bet refunds, they’re all great ways to improve your betting adventure. And since these bonuses provide more funds for you to bet with, they increase your chances of winning.