🤔 Why look for sites like 1xBet?

1xBet is one of the most recognisable betting brands in Africa. Bettors like it for the sheer number of events and markets, large multi-deposit bonuses, live streaming, and a payment menu that includes local mobile money, cards and, in some countries, crypto. In Nigeria, for example, its Lagos-licensed site advertises a casino package of up to ₦2,550,000 plus 150 free spins over four deposits, with 35x wagering.

So why look elsewhere? There are a few common reasons:

• Licence concerns. 1xBet’s international site operates under a Curaçao licence. According to Wikipedia, the UK Gambling Commission revoked its British licence in 2019 after a Sunday Times investigation, and it’s prohibited in countries including the US, the UK, France and Spain.
• A controversial record. Wikipedia records that a Curaçao company in the group was declared bankrupt by the Dutch Supreme Court in January 2023 after refusing to refund gamblers, and that a 2024 Bellingcat and Josimar investigation reported the company hosting thousands of live-streamed amateur games involving fake teams. 1xBet has said that the Curaçao company doesn’t own 1xBet, that its own Curaçao licence remains valid and that it “pays out all legitimate winnings in full and without delay”.
• Bans and enforcement in Africa. In November 2024, Puntland State of Somalia banned 1xBet by presidential decree, iGaming Afrika reported. In Liberia, the regulator suspended and later revoked a local licensee’s sports betting licence over allegations that it processed unauthorised 1xBet transactions; the site went live again in September 2026 after a settlement, iGamingToday reported.
• Complex bonuses. Big multi-stage bonuses usually come with high wagering, short deadlines and restrictions on which bets count.
• Wanting a local brand. Some bettors simply prefer a bookmaker built around their own country, with local jackpots, sponsorships and support.

🗺️ Where is 1xBet licensed in Africa?

If you’re in South Africa, 1xBet isn’t a legal option, so the alternatives below aren’t just a matter of preference. In the other five countries, using the local 1xBet site is legal, and choosing an alternative is about features, trust and value.

🧪 How we chose these 1xBet alternatives

Every bookmaker in this guide passed one test first: we found it on the regulator’s register in at least one of the countries where we recommend it. Then we compared it with what makes 1xBet appealing.

• 30%
  🛡️ Local licence and safety. Regulator registers, ownership and player protection.
• 25%
  ⚽ Markets and odds. Number of events, depth per match, live betting and margins.
• 20%
  💳 Payments. Local mobile money and bank methods, minimums and payout speed.
• 15%
  🎁 Bonuses. Welcome offers and accumulator boosts, judged on their terms, not headline size.
• 10%
  📱 App and support. Mobile experience and how easy it is to get help.

🔎 The best 1xBet alternatives reviewed

We’ve ranked these alternatives by how closely they match what people like about 1xBet, while holding local licences. The country sections further down show the best choice where you live.

2. Betano: deep markets and modern tools

🛡️ Licences: Nigeria (LSLGA, to 22 Sep 2027), Ghana (GCG 2026)

💰 Welcome: 50% up to ₦200,000 (NG); 100% up to GHS 2,000 (GH)

💳 Min. deposit: ₦100 in Nigeria

📱 App: iOS and Android

Betano, run by Kaizen Gaming, is the best alternative if you value a polished product over sheer volume. In Nigeria it holds a Lagos licence for sports betting and online casino, issued on 23 September 2026 and valid until 22 September 2027, and offers Bet Builder, early payout, cash out and HD live streaming on selected events. It launched in Ghana in February 2026, its 20th regulated market, and offers a 100% first-deposit match up to GHS 2,000 there.

Its Nigerian sports welcome offer is a 50% match up to ₦200,000, with demanding conditions: deposit plus bonus wagered 10 times on sports or virtuals at odds above 3.00. As with 1xBet, read the terms before you opt in.

✅ Pros

• ✅ Licence in Nigeria to September 2027
• ✅ Bet Builder, early payout, live streaming
• ✅ Large casino with 10,000+ games in Nigeria

⚠️ Cons

• ⚠️ Only in Nigeria and Ghana among our countries
• ⚠️ Demanding bonus wagering
• ⚠️ No 24/7 support in Nigeria

Best for: Nigerian and Ghanaian bettors who want a modern app and in-play tools.

Visit Betano Nigeria

Visit Betano Ghana

18+ | New customers only | T&Cs apply

3. Betway: the widest international licence footprint

🛡️ Licences: Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa

🏢 Owner: Super Group, listed on the NYSE

💳 Payments: local methods in each country

📱 App: iOS and Android

Betway is owned by Super Group, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and that brings a level of financial disclosure that 1xBet doesn’t offer. It’s licensed in four of our six countries:

• 🇳🇬 Nigeria: Digi Bay Limited, Lagos licence code LSLGA/OP/OSB/BW221017, plus a national permit. Welcome pack of a ₦1,000 free bet, 10 free spins and 10 Aviator flights, according to recent reviews.
• 🇬🇭 Ghana: on the Gaming Commission of Ghana’s 2026 register for sports betting and online casino, with a free-bet welcome offer.
• 🇹🇿 Tanzania: Media Bay on the Gaming Board register, with 24/7 chat in English and Swahili.
• 🇿🇦 South Africa: licensed by the Western Cape and Mpumalanga boards for sports and racing betting, with a small free-bet welcome offer.

Betway left Kenya in 2023 and isn’t on Uganda’s lists, so it’s not an option there.

✅ Pros

• ✅ NYSE-listed parent company
• ✅ Licensed in four countries, including South Africa
• ✅ Build a Bet, Win Boost and live chat

⚠️ Cons

• ⚠️ Smaller welcome offers than 1xBet
• ⚠️ Not available in Kenya or Uganda

Best for: bettors who want a big international brand with a listed parent and a local licence.

Visit Betway Nigeria

Visit Betway South Africa

18+ | New customers only | T&Cs apply

4. SportyBet: football on mobile

🛡️ Licences: Nigeria (LSLGA, to 4 Jan 2027), Ghana (GCG 2026), Kenya (2025/26), Tanzania

🚀 Multi Bet Bonus: up to 1,000%

💳 Min. ticket: ₦10 in Nigeria

📱 App: rated 4.5 on Android and iOS

SportyBet, owned by London-headquartered Sporty Group, is the best alternative if your 1xBet habit is mostly football accumulators on your phone. ChampsBase called its football catalogue the deepest it found in Nigeria, measured tighter prices than Bet9ja on a Premier League fixture, and received OPay withdrawals in under a minute. Its Multi Bet Bonus boosts winnings on multiples of two or more selections at odds of 1.20+, up to 1,000%.

There’s no welcome bonus in Nigeria, according to SportyBet’s own support, and deposit limits in Nigeria must be requested through support.

✅ Pros

• ✅ Deep football coverage and sharp prices
• ✅ Very fast mobile wallet payouts
• ✅ Highly rated apps

⚠️ Cons

• ⚠️ No welcome bonus in Nigeria
• ⚠️ Casino RTPs not published

Best for: football accumulator fans who bet from their phones.

Visit SportyBet

18+ | T&Cs apply

6. Bet9ja: the Nigerian all-rounder

🛡️ Licence: LSLGA, KC Gaming Networks Limited, 3 Oct 2026 – 2 Oct 2027

💰 New customers: ₦2,500 free bet after a ₦1,000 qualifying bet

💳 Min. deposit: ₦100

📱 App: Android (Google Play and APK) and iOS

If you’re in Nigeria and want a local brand instead of an international one, Bet9ja is the obvious choice. Its Lagos licence for online sports betting and online casino was renewed from 3 October 2026, and its cashier is one of the widest in the country, from OPay and PalmPay to USSD codes and a personal virtual bank account. In ChampsBase’s test, three bank withdrawals arrived in an average of about 56 minutes, without fees.

Bet9ja’s accumulator tools are a big part of its appeal: Cut 1 pays out on a 5+ leg slip even if one selection loses, 1UP settles a bet once your team goes a goal up, and a Multiple Boost adds up to 170% to accumulator winnings. Support is its weak point: phone lines close at 9pm and there’s no live chat in the app.

Best for: Nigerian bettors who want a trusted local account for football, accumulators and virtuals.

Visit Bet9ja

18+ | New customers only | T&Cs apply

🌍 Best 1xBet alternatives by country

The right alternative depends on where you live, because each country has its own regulator, licensed brands, payments and taxes. Here’s our pick for each market.

🇳🇬 Nigeria

Since the Supreme Court’s November 2024 ruling, Nigerian betting is regulated by the states, and the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority is the most important regulator. Lagos-licensed operators deduct a 5% withholding tax from net winnings.

Our pick for Nigeria: Bet9ja for an all-round local account, or 22Bet if you want the closest thing to 1xBet. Avoid brands on Lagos’s illegal operators list, which named 44 companies in September 2026, including Stake and bet365.

Visit Bet9ja

🇬🇭 Ghana

Ghana has one national regulator, the Gaming Commission of Ghana, and every licence on its register runs from 1 January to 31 December 2026. There’s no tax on players’ winnings, since the 10% withholding tax was repealed with effect from 2 April 2025.

Our pick for Ghana: Betway for trust and an all-round product, or Betano for the largest welcome match we confirmed.

Visit Betway Ghana

🇰🇪 Kenya

Kenya’s Gambling Control Act 2025 created the Gambling Regulatory Authority. Old-regime licences remained valid until 24 September 2026, and the authority hadn’t published its 2026 register by mid-October, so check any bookmaker at gra.go.ke. Kenyan law takes 5% excise from deposits and 5% withholding tax from withdrawals, and bans credit cards and crypto for gambling, so 1xBet-style crypto payments aren’t an option for Kenyans.

Our pick for Kenya: SportPesa, the big brand with the clearest 2026 licence disclosure, or 22Bet if market depth is your priority.

Visit SportPesa

🇺🇬 Uganda

Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board publishes an annual list of licensed operators. Uganda’s law treats anyone under 25 as a minor for gambling, so you must be 25 or older to bet. A 15% withholding tax on winnings applies from 1 July 2026.

Our pick for Uganda: Betika for simplicity, or 22Bet for depth. Melbet, BetWinner and Betway aren’t on Uganda’s current lists.

🇹🇿 Tanzania

The Gaming Board of Tanzania publishes an online register of licensed sports betting operators. Tanzania withholds tax on winnings; sources disagree on the 2026 rate, so check the deduction on your account.

Our pick for Tanzania: betPawa for small stakes, or Betway for an international brand. 22Bet, Melbet, bet365 and Stake aren’t on the Tanzanian register.

🇿🇦 South Africa

In South Africa, 1xBet holds no licence, so switching isn’t optional. Online sports and horse racing betting are legal with a provincially licensed bookmaker. Online casino games are banned under the National Gambling Act, and casino-style games offered by bookmakers are legally disputed, so we recommend these brands for sports and racing only.

Our pick for South Africa: Hollywoodbets for racing and a no-deposit start, or Betway for football depth. 1xBet, 22Bet and Melbet have no South African licence.

Visit Hollywoodbets

⚖️ 1xBet vs the alternatives: feature by feature

🎁 Comparing bonuses: headline size vs real value

1xBet is known for very large headline bonuses. In Nigeria, its casino package reaches ₦2,550,000 plus 150 free spins over four deposits, but with 35x wagering and a seven-day deadline. A bonus that size is only worth something if you can realistically meet the terms.

Here’s how to compare offers fairly:

1. Check the wagering multiple. 22Bet’s 5x sports wagering in Nigeria is far easier to clear than a 35x casino requirement.
2. Check what has to be wagered. “Deposit plus bonus 10 times”, as with Betano Nigeria, means wagering on both amounts, not just the bonus.
3. Check the minimum odds. Odds of 3.00 or more per slip, for example, push you towards riskier bets.
4. Check the deadline. Seven days is short if you bet only at weekends.
5. Check the maximum win. Some free bets cap what you can withdraw.

💳 Payments: matching 1xBet’s local methods

One reason 1xBet is popular is its long list of local payment methods. The good news is that licensed alternatives are built around the same local wallets and banks:

Whatever the method, use an account or wallet in your own name. Licensed bookmakers only pay out to accounts that match your verified identity.

🎯 Quick picks by type of bettor

🤝 Should you stay with 1xBet?

This guide isn’t saying that 1xBet’s local sites are illegal: in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, we found 1xBet’s local operators on the regulators’ registers or lists. If you’re happy with your local 1xBet account, you’re using a site your regulator has licensed, and you can complain to that regulator if something goes wrong.

The case for an alternative is about choice. Some bettors want a brand without 1xBet’s international controversies, some want simpler bonus terms, and some want local features such as Kenyan jackpots or South African racing. And in South Africa, where 1xBet has no licence, an alternative is the only legal option. Whichever way you go, the rule is the same: use your country’s local licensed site and check the register yourself.

🧾 Tax on winnings by country

These taxes apply whichever licensed bookmaker you choose, including 1xBet’s local sites. Unlicensed sites may not deduct tax, but they also give you no legal protection.

🔎 How to check a bookmaker’s licence in your country

Match the company name, not just the brand name. For example, 22Bet Nigeria is run by Arcadia Hospitality Ltd, and Betway Nigeria by Digi Bay Limited. If the company in the footer doesn’t match the register, ask the regulator before you deposit.

🚫 Brands we don’t recommend, and why

We left these brands out because we couldn’t find a valid licence in the country concerned when we checked in October 2026:

• Stake and bet365 (Nigeria): both named on Lagos’s illegal operators list in September 2026.
• Melbet (Uganda): no longer authorised from 1 January 2026.
• BetWinner (Uganda): not on the regulator’s list in May 2026.
• 22Bet, Melbet, bet365 and Stake (Tanzania): not on the Gaming Board’s online register.
• 1xBet, 22Bet and Melbet (South Africa): no provincial licence.
• International .com sites of any brand: they aren’t licensed by your country’s regulator, even if the brand has a licensed local site.

🔄 How to switch from 1xBet safely

1. Withdraw your balance first. Request a withdrawal of any remaining funds before you stop using your 1xBet account, and keep the transaction record.
2. Check any active bonus. If you have an active bonus, check whether withdrawing will cancel it.
3. Close or self-exclude. Ask support to close the account, or use self-exclusion if you’re stepping back from gambling altogether.
4. Pick a licensed alternative. Use the country tables above and check the register yourself.
5. Verify straight away. Complete KYC with your ID before your first deposit or withdrawal.
6. Set limits from day one. Choose a deposit limit before you place your first bet.

🧩 Feature glossary