Popular sports betting website, Bet9ja, has been hacked, shutting out users and leaving customers apprehensive about their investments.

Since Wednesday morning, many customers have been complaining of their inability to access their accounts on the gaming website.

The company in a statement Thursday evening acknowledged the challenge while allaying customers’ fears and assuring the safety of their funds.

“Just like so many market-leading global organisations, Bet9ja recently became a victim of a sophisticated criminal cyber-attack, which is restricting your access to our platform,” the company said in the statement. “We take this matter extremely seriously. Our priority is protecting our customers and you have our assurances that your accounts and all your funds are safe.”

Chairman of KC Gaming Networks Limited, owners of Bet9ja, Kunle Soname, confirmed to Peoples Gazette that the company’s website was under a cyber-attack by a Russian hacking group.

Mr Soname confirmed that the hackers have demanded a staggering amount of money to be paid in bitcoin as ransom. The betting supremo, however, assured that the website would be back online on Friday, March 8.

He also debunked claims that the company absconded to avoid paying large winnings to customers who won recently, stating that all winnings will be paid once services are fully restored.

KC Gaming Networks Limited has escalated the ongoing cyberattack on the Bet9ja website to all the relevant federal authorities.