The Big Journey

What is The Big Journey?

“That was the reason why we joined [online as well as land-based]. But we were a full brick-and-mortar company so it took us some time to prepare for that market. In the beginning, the market share was of course higher because you only had 10 operators and we had a very well-known brand name, but now the market is much bigger and you have operators more specialised in sports betting and things like that. We have dropped down a bit.”

The Netherlands has a government that may be a little heavy handed, a regulator that knows this, and a monopolistic operator that’s trying to do its best for the customer. The industry is an active participant in trying to erradicate the growing illegal market. This week, state-lottery operator Nederlandse Loterij took action against the offshore operator behind the brand Skyhills, ordering them to cease serving Dutch players.

What else can Netherlands gambling operators do to stop the flow of players offshore? Holland Casino is a member of online gambling trade association VNLOK which represents 90% of the licensed operators, and Petra answers simply: “If we knew the answer, we would try to reach it.

What is The Big Journey?

Getting started with sports betting in Nigeria is straightforward, but a little preparation goes a long way. The first step is choosing a licensed platform that operates legally in the country and offers the sports you care about most.

Once you have picked a platform, create an account with a valid phone number and email address. Most Nigerian operators require you to verify your identity before you can withdraw winnings, so keep your details accurate from the start.

Depositing money is usually instant. Nigerian bettors can fund their accounts through bank transfer, card, USSD or popular mobile money options. Always deposit only what you can afford to lose.

How to play The Big Journey

Neither bill has created a route to license private online betting. Egypt is pursuing an increasingly punitive enforcement model instead.

The three markets have reached the same point by different routes. Morocco has an incumbent defending its exclusivity through the courts, so far without success.

Tunisia has competing bills to prohibit or regulate online betting, neither of which has advanced. Egypt has relied on enforcement measures.