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Europe and 68 % in LatAm markets . Nigeria also showcases lower bandwidth both compared to African markets , ranking towards the lower end among the 15 leading markets on the continent , and when compared to previous igaming markets we have analysed in Europe and LatAm .
This trend , however , is rapidly reversing with Nigerian data consumption increasing 37 % in 2023 , driven by a rise in internet subscriptions and increasing smartphone penetration according to the Nigerian Communications Commission .
This creates a particular setting for the igaming industry in Nigeria . First , operators need to look towards lightweight online casino games . These need to be optimised for low data consumption and work with limited network speeds . It ’ s also essential to cater for lower-end devices and browsers , ensuring audiences are kept entertained without latency .
Our internal data confirms that game providers choose different approaches to tackle this particularity . Some , for example , offer games with and without sound to decrease the size of the game . Others choose to focus on creating games for African markets that are smaller in size from the very start .
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PLAYER BEHAVIOUR
So , does this impact player behaviours in Nigeria ? Within our early-stage data in the country , we observed some unique player behaviours and wagering trends . One that stands out is that players generate the lowest average bet of our series so far across the top 20 games within our SlotMatrix network .
According to our Slot Trumps Nigeria report , players spend an average of € 0.14 per spin across the games – markedly less than the global average bet of € 1 .
Tying in with their preference for lowvolatility games , Nigerian players have yet to transition real-money habits from sports betting to online casino .
This can be correlated with the market ’ s current levels of internet penetration and bandwidth . It may be that when these areas improve for the general population , the appetite for online casino games will gain traction .
Despite the lower than average spend per spin , bonus features hold plenty of interest . This can easily convert players across verticals . In-game free spins ( offered across 55 % of the top 20 games ) are a great example , as are jackpots ( which feature in 35 % of the top 20 ). We also recommend looking at more enticing options such as buy features .
As the most common bonus feature , in-game free spins offer Nigerian players more in-game time – this is something that can be correlated with the large number of sessions within our 90-day dataset timeframe .
As the market develops , we anticipate that lower average bet sizes will also be
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