Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa have emerged among the world’s top 10 countries for online betting participation, with South Africa ranking first globally and Nigeria placing joint 10th, according to a new international survey.
Key Highlights
- South Africa ranks first globally, with 32.3% of internet users visiting betting sites or apps monthly.
- Ghana ranks joint fifth with 21.5%, while Nigeria is joint 10th with 18%.
- Norway (31.2%), Greece (25.8%) and New Zealand (24%) also rank high.
- South Africa’s gross gambling revenue rose 25.7% to R59.3bn in 2023/24.
- The data measure participation among internet users aged 16+, not money wagered.
The findings, published in the Digital 2026 Global Overview Report, show that 32.3 percent of South African internet users aged 16 and above visited an online gambling or betting website or application in the month preceding the survey.
Ghana ranked joint fifth, with 21.5 percent, while Nigeria placed joint 10th, with 18 percent, highlighting the growing reach of digital betting platforms across the three African countries.
The figures are based on Global Web Index (GWI) data from its second-quarter 2025 survey, as reported by Business Insider.
What The Survey Measures
The survey measures online betting participation among internet users aged 16 and above who accessed gambling platforms during the preceding month.
It does not represent the percentage of the total population involved in gambling or measure the amount of money wagered by users.
South Africa’s Booming Gambling Industry
South Africa’s position at the top of the ranking comes amid significant growth in its gambling industry, which has become an increasingly important part of the country’s entertainment and leisure economy.
Data published by Statistics South Africa showed that the country’s gross gambling revenue increased to R59.3 billion in the 2023/24 financial year, representing a 25.7 percent rise from the R47.2 billion recorded in the previous financial year.
Gross gambling revenue refers to the amount retained by gambling operators after paying out winnings, rather than the total value of bets placed by customers.
Although the revenue figures provide context for the expansion of South Africa’s gambling industry, the survey does not establish a direct link between industry earnings and the proportion of internet users accessing online betting platforms.
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Other countries also recorded significant participation in online gambling. Norway ranked second globally, with 31.2 percent, followed by Greece at 25.8 percent and New Zealand at 24 percent.
Ghana’s joint fifth-place position and Nigeria’s joint 10th-place ranking further underscore the presence of African countries among markets with substantial online betting participation.
The growing availability of internet-enabled devices, mobile applications and digital payment services has made betting platforms increasingly accessible, allowing users to wager on sporting events and other gambling activities without visiting physical betting shops.
However, the figures do not establish how frequently users place bets, how much they spend, or the prevalence of gambling-related financial difficulties in the countries surveyed.
The data also do not show whether online betting participation has increased or declined over time, as the findings represent reported activity during a specific survey period.
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