In recent years, Nigerians have shown growing interest in esports. Casual gamers engage in competitive games while aspiring professionals participate in tournaments. Additionally, betting platforms like 1xbet.et/en accept wagers on esports matches.

What’s behind this surge in esports popularity among Nigerians? There are several reasons. Let’s break down the key factors in detail.

Growing Audience

According to Statista, the main driver behind esports’ audience growth in Nigeria is the demographic shift. Sports and betting enthusiasts can be divided into the older and the newer generations. The older generation favours traditional sports as they grew up when video games were non-existent or just emerging. Meanwhile, the younger generation enjoys offline sports and esports, as they grew up when virtual entertainment became an integral part of the media landscape.

The new audience can also be split into two subgroups based on age: traditional gamers and younger players. Traditional gamers prefer PCs and consoles, while younger players often play competitive games on smartphones. To cater to this latter group, bookmakers are launching mobile-friendly platforms and apps for phone-based betting, such as the 1xBet app, available for download at https://1xbet.et/en/mobile (the software is completely free).

Esports Promotion by Independent Organizations

Another major factor in esports’ growing appeal is its active promotion. The Nigerian E-Sports Federation (NEF) plays a central role in this effort. The NEF organises regular events and actively manages social media pages, including Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

While the NEF cannot yet boast significant achievements, it has steadily progressed since its inception in 2023. The federation has not hosted large-scale national or international tournaments but sends Nigerian players to international events by holding qualifying tournaments open to all.

Additionally, the NEF collaborates with esports organisations in other African countries with better-established records. For example, it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Ghana E-Sport Federation.

Such activities draw Nigerians’ attention to esports. As a result, more people are watching matches, placing bets through bookmakers, playing competitive games, or participating in various tournaments.

Esports’ popularity is also amplified through social media, though much of this influence comes from outside Nigeria. For instance, gaming YouTube vlogs are widely watched by Nigerians, contributing significantly to the growth of interest in esports.

Marketing Promotion of Esports

Another key driver behind the growing popularity of esports in Nigeria is their publishers’ or developers’ marketing promotion of games and tournaments. While most games operate on a free-to-play model, they generate revenue by selling various cosmetic items.

In Nigeria, the following games are frequently advertised:

• CS 2.
• Dota 2.
• PUBG.

Interestingly, the promotions are often carried out not by the developers or publishers but by their partners. Either way, these efforts draw attention to the games and expand their audience.

Given that Nigeria’s younger generation prefers gaming on smartphones, mobile games receive particularly aggressive promotion. Their creators even sign contracts with local esports organisations. For example, MOONTON Games, the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang developer, collaborates with the Nigerian E-Sports Federation (NEF).

Additionally, bookmakers and their affiliates actively promote esports disciplines to attract new players and boost sports betting turnover. If you’re interested in betting on esports, you can do so with 1xBet. To start, register on the platform at 1xbet.et/en/registration. The process is flexible, allowing registration via phone number, email, or social media and messaging apps.

This multi-faceted promotion significantly boosts interest in esports, leading many players, fans, and bettors to engage with the industry.

The Future of Esports and Betting in Nigeria

According to Statista, the Nigerian esports market is on an upward trajectory, and moderate growth is expected in the coming years, albeit slower than in some other African nations. The platform predicts that esports revenue in Nigeria will surpass $20.1 million by 2025. While this is a small fraction of the global revenue, estimated at approximately $4.8 billion, it represents significant progress for Nigeria. The country’s esports market is projected to grow by 6.89%, outpacing the global growth rate of 5.54%.

However, Nigeria’s overall number of individuals involved in esports remains relatively low. Statista forecasts that by 2029, approximately 13.4 million Nigerians—over 6% of the population—will be engaged in esports in some capacity. For comparison, 20–25% of the population is connected to esports in the United States and Europe. In the long term, this gap is expected to narrow as living standards improve.

At the same time, Nigeria’s betting market for traditional sports and esports is also expanding. Analysts estimate that revenue in this sector will reach $325 million by 2025 and grow to $402.2 million by 2029.

While Nigeria’s esports audience, including players, fans, and bettors, is currently smaller than other countries, it is experiencing steady growth that outpaces many African regions and even exceeds global averages. This upward trend signals a bright future for esports and its associated industries in the country.