These African Sports Betting Statistics Will Blow Your Mind

We are going to move away from the Edison Cricket Club for the time being and focus on sports betting stats in Africa. The people of Africa love to bet on sports, especially football, and there are plenty that can make a lot of money doing so. Forty percent of the continent live below the poverty line, but Africa is quickly emerging as the world's most profitable sports betting market.

Sports Betting Popularity in Africa

Below you will find three statistics that will probably surprise you quite a bit.

• Around 60 million people in Nigeria, aged between 18-40, actively bet on sports. On average, each one spends N3,000 ($15) betting on sports each day
• In South Africa, it is estimated that around 50% of adults bet on sports regularly. This, believe it or not, is the same in East, West, and Central Africa
• When combined, the betting markets of Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria are worth a massive $40 billion

Many sports betting companies in the United States and Europe have already extended into Africa as they have realized just how much money there is to be made. One highly popular European sportsbook in Africa is Betway - they are safe and secure and accept many different African-friendly payment methods such as Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, PaySafeCard, MasterCard, and Visa.

Why sports Betting is Popular in Africa

Below we are going to take a look at some of the main reasons why sports betting is becoming more popular on the African continent.

Loads of Unemployed Youth

Africa has an extremely high percentage of youths who are unemployed and have very little income. Betting on sports is not that expensive as you can bet the equivalent of $1 and, if you are lucky, turn it into $500 or more. Therefore, the majority of the continent’s unemployed youths turn to gambling as a means to try and make money. The sports betting companies know this which is why many have started accepting Africans.

A Huge Love for Sports

Africans, it is safe to say, absolutely love their sports. Millions and millions of Africans love football, while cricket also has its fair share of supporters. In countries such as Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, rugby also has plenty of followers. African football fans love to watch all of the major European leagues such as the English Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1. As well as the aforementioned sports, Africans also enjoy placing bets on tennis, basketball, hockey, horse racing, and F1. It is this love for sports that makes Africa such a lucrative place for sports betting companies.

More Mobile Phone Usage

More Africans are using mobile phones and have access to an Internet connection now more than ever before, which means that Africans are able to place sport wagers wherever they are. The popularity of sports betting is only going to increase when more people start using mobile devices.