The Nigerian gambling industry has undergone an impressive transformation in recent years. Whereas most casinos in the past were land-based, improved internet penetration has fueled a rise in the number of online casinos.
Apart from being much easier to access, online casinos also offer gamers the thrill of interacting with dealers in real-time from the comfort of their couches. As the Nigerian online casino landscape grows, more and more players are discovering the appeal of live casino games and subsequently flooding to live dealer platforms.
Below, we will explore the factors that make live dealer games so attractive and highlight the top casinos offering these experiences in Nigeria.
What are live dealer casinos?
Live dealer casinos are casinos that combine the convenience of online gaming with the sights and sounds of the traditional casino experience. Unlike regular online casinos that rely on random number generators and computer-generated, live casinos employ real human dealers to host the featured games.
The games may be played in actual physical casinos or in specially built studios. They are then transmitted, in real-time, to players via high-definition video feeds.
Players participating in live dealer games do not only get to interact with the dealers but also chat with other players, just like they would in a physical casino.
Essentially, live dealer casinos seek to combine the best of modern video streaming technology and human interaction to create immersive and authentic gaming experience.
Indeed, many players who play at live casinos say that the experience blurs the lines between virtual and real-life casino gaming.
The growth of live dealer casinos in Nigeria
The exponential growth of live dealer casinos in Nigeria can be attributed to several factors touching both the casinos and the players themselves. These include:
Increased access to the internet
Each the years, Nigeria has seen massive improvements in internet coverage and infrastructure, with high speed internet now being the norm rather than the exception.
Reliable high-speed internet is key to enjoying smooth, uninterrupted, real time streaming of live casino games. As such, the improvements in internet accessibility and speed has enabled a larger number of prospective players to engage with live casinos.
Mobile-friendly games
As sophisticated as they sound, live dealer casinos are increasingly easier to access from smartphones and tablets. Moreover, most big online casinos have dedicated mobile apps that further optimize the live dealer games for mobile streaming, resulting in a smoother experience for mobile users. This is a potential reason behind their growing popularity in Nigeria, considering that majority of the country’s online gamblers use mobile devices.
Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic
While the coronavirus pandemic is almost behind us now, it did change the way we do things. For one, the pandemic occasioned the closure of traditional entertainment options, including casinos, which pushed most people to look for entertainment online.
For many Nigerian players, the pandemic error marked their first forays into online gaming, where they got to see first hand the convenience and variety of live dealer casinos. This newfound interest did not fade away even after all pandemic-related restrictions were lifted, with a large number of gamers retaining their interest in live dealer games until today.
Increased demand for more unique entertainment options
For the longest time, online gambling has mostly involved passive viewing and gameplay. Now, there is a noticeable shift towards more dynamic and unique gaming options among Nigerian players. Live betting casinos meet this demand by providing interactive gaming environments that combine the excitement of online casino games with the social interactions of land-based casinos. As more players get to experience the casino live experience, the demand for live dealer games will most likely keep going up.
Popular live dealer games among Nigerian players
On top of all the factors highlighted above, we may also say that the wide variety of available live casino games has contributed greatly to the prevalence of live dealer casinos in Nigeria. Players looking to play live casino online games are typically spoilt for choice by the numerous immersive game offerings. The top options include:
- Poker – this is arguably the most popular live casino game as it involves higher potential for big wins and a high level social interaction, both of which are very attractive to most players. There are also different types of poker games, which means there is something for every type of player. Texas Hold’em, Three-Card Poker, and Omaha are some of the poker games that are popular among Nigerian players.
- Sick Bo – this is a dice game that traces its roots in ancient China, and which has found a devoted following among the more experienced live casino players in Nigeria. The game’s appeal lies in its fast-paced gameplay and variety of exciting outcomes.
- Roulette – the classic game of chance is more at home in the live casino online format than any other casino game. The excitement of interacting with a real dealer while watching the wheels spin, with huge prizes on the line, is particularly memorable for many Nigerian players. You can check our article about roulette table layout here.
- Baccarat – known for its remarkably low house edge, the old, elegant game of baccarat has gained high traction among Nigerian high-rollers looking to make big profits with little risk. There are different types of Live Baccarat, ranging from Speed Baccarat to Baccarat Squeeze.
- Blackjack – one of the most popular table games among live casino players, blackjack is known for its seamless blend of luck and skill, which is especially attractive to players looking for strategy battles with the dealers. You can check our Blackjack guide here.
Top live dealer casino platforms for Nigerian players
As the live dealer casino industry in Nigeria grows from strength to strength, a number of prominent sites have emerged as market leaders. These casinos offer unique features and experiences that cater to the diverse preferences of Nigerian players, which helps to foster brand loyalty. We can broadly categorize the gambling sites based on their offerings as follows:
International gaming platforms
Online gambling regulations in Nigeria are quite relaxed, which has attracted the top global casinos to establish a presence in Africa’s second-largest gambling market. These gambling sites are very popular among local players as they often have great reputations, feature the best games, and offer more advanced streaming technology.
Sports betting sites with casino integration
A number of well-established sports betting companies in Nigeria have tried to expand their product ranges to include live dealer casino sections to varying levels of success. These platforms seek to leverage their often large customer bases and strong reputations to grow their live dealer products. Players who patronize these sites get to explore their favorite live casino online games in familiar environments, which potentially enhances the gaming experience.
Mobile-first platforms
Mobile devices dominate the Nigerian online casino industry, and it is not surprising that some casinos have gone to great lengths to ensure mobile accessibility. These operators offer mobile-friendly live games, either via dedicated mobile apps or optimized websites, to ensure quality gameplay for players with smartphones and tablets. Most mobile players are thus more likely to patronize these casinos, which further boosts their standing and reputation.
Bonuses and promotions for live casino games
Despite being one of Africa’s largest economies, Nigeria is still a developing country, and most online gamers do not have adequate income to regularly fund their casino accounts. This is where casino bonuses and promotions come in handy.
Most platforms offering live dealer games offer different types of bonuses and promotional gifts to enhance their players’ gaming experiences. These offers are particularly important as they provide Nigerian players with opportunities to maximize their gambling bankroll. Below are most popular types of bonuses and promotions for live casino games:
- Welcome bonuses – this is easily the most common type of bonus found at Nigerian live dealer casinos. Most welcome bonuses are cash-based, and they match players’ initial deposits by specified percentages. Some sites also offer free plays and wheel spins as part of their welcome packages.
- Ongoing promotions – live dealer casinos in Nigeria may run ongoing promotions targeted at keeping their existing players engaged and happy with their platforms. These ongoing bonuses may include reload bonuses and cashback offers.
- Loyalty programs – most casinos have programs to reward regular and consistent players with points and ultimately rewards for their consistency. Rewards may range from faster withdrawals to bonus cash to branded merchandise.
- Game-specific bonuses – some live casinos offer bonuses tailored for players who love certain live games. For instance, a casino may offer bonuses for live roulette or live poker.
Tips for choosing a reliable live dealer casino
As the Nigerian online casino industry continues to grow, it will ostensibly attract lots of new casino operators, some of which will be unscrupulous. To weed out the bad actors, players need to exercise a lot of caution and due diligence when selecting live dealer casinos. Here are some of our best tips on how to identify reliable casinos (or check the list of best casinos in Nigeria on our home page here):
- Check the licenses – narrow your search to live dealer casinos that hold valid licenses from reputable bodies. Ideally, look for casinos that are licensed by the National Lottery Regulation Commission (NLRC), Nigeria’s gambling regulator. Other reputable licensing authorities include the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), and the Gibraltar Gambling Commission (GGC).
- Reputation is key – once you narrow down your choices, be sure to read reviews on the casinos from reputable review sites in Nigeria and internationally to see how the casinos are perceived. Casinos with a high number of bad ratings are best avoided.
- Convenient payment methods – ensure that any casino you go for offers a good range of payment methods that will allow you to make deposits and withdrawals conveniently. Casinos that offer Nigerian mobile money and bank transfers should be top of your list. Crypto and e-wallets may also be convenient enough, depending on your circumstances.
- Game diversity -opt for live dealer casinos that do not only offer a diverse selection of games, but also source their games from the top software providers in the world, such as NetEnt, Microgaming, and Play’nGo. l These companies have well-established reputations for developing exciting and high quality casino games that also meet industry standards when it comes to fairness and transparency.
