Two Years On, SportyBet and 114 Customers Remain at Odds Over N960.55m
A dispute between SportyBet and 114 customers over approximately N960.55 million in alleged winnings unresolved more than two years after the betting company restricted the customers’ accounts.
Represented by Lagos-based Prolex Solicitors, the customers allege that SportyBet withheld their winnings and deactivated their accounts after accusing them of using automated software, or “bot technology”, to manipulate its platform.
The customers deny the allegation and say the funds represent legitimate winnings. Their solicitor, Kunle Bamidele, said petitions were submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Police Special Fraud Unit, the Force Intelligence and Investigation Department, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), among other agencies.
The case has drawn attention amid the rapid growth of sports betting and online gaming in Nigeria. At its centre is a question with implications for customer confidence: whether the customers won the funds legitimately or used automated systems to manipulate the platform, as SportyBet alleges.
The customers say their accounts remained restricted despite providing additional documentation requested by the company. One affected customer, Anthony Anozie, reportedly said his account was locked after his balance rose to nearly N18 million. He said he submitted documents requested by SportyBet, including his international passport, but his account was not reopened.
Another customer, identified as Aleke Esther, said her account remained frozen after she submitted bank statements and other documents requested by the company’s support team.
SportyBet has previously said the accounts were restricted because of suspected fraudulent activity involving automated betting or manipulation of its platform. Reports from 2024 quoted the company as rejecting the allegations against it and questioning the motives behind the campaign by the affected customers.
The dispute also moved to court. SportyBet approached the Lagos High Court seeking reliefs against the affected customers. According to reports on the judgment, Justice D.T. Olatokun dismissed the case in November 2024. More recent reports in April 2026 said the court action had failed, while the separate dispute over the alleged unpaid winnings remained unresolved.
The dismissal did not determine whether the customers are entitled to the N960.55 million they claim. That question remains at the heart of the wider dispute.
For the customers, the continued uncertainty raises questions about how effectively existing complaint and regulatory processes can resolve disputes between betting operators and their patrons. The case also underscores the importance of transparency in a growing gaming industry where operators hold customer funds pending the outcome of bets and withdrawal requests.
SportyBet is among the licensed sports-betting operators listed by Nigerian regulatory authorities. A list published in April 2026 included Sporty Internet Limited, the company behind SportyBet, among approved operators.
For the customers involved, however, the immediate issue is access to funds they say they legitimately won. More than two years after their accounts were restricted, questions remain about the evidence behind the alleged use of automated betting systems, the status of the disputed funds and the extent of regulatory intervention.
Until those questions are addressed, the case will remain a test of customer protection, transparency and confidence in Nigeria’s online betting industry.
