For Omoniyi Oluwaferanmi, a resident of Lagos, there was nothing unusual about the advert that appeared on his Facebook feed in March 2025.
Like dozens of betting promotions that surface daily on Meta’s platforms, the post by Konfambet promised “Instant Payout” and advertised 4.16 odds on Barcelona, Brighton and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) all winning their upcoming matches.
“It looked genuine because it was on Facebook. I didn’t think it was a scam,” Omoniyi told this reporter.
Convinced by the prediction, he staked N20,000 using the booking code provided in the advert, hoping to win nearly N90,000.
The prediction came through. Barcelona beat Benfica 3–1 in the UEFA Champions League on March 11, 2025, while Brighton defeated Fulham 2–1 and PSG thrashed Rennes 4–1 three days earlier.
But when Omoniyi tried to cash out, he said the platform would not release his winnings.
“I won the bet, but I couldn’t withdraw my money. I contacted customer support several times, but nothing changed,” he said.
This reporter traced the advert to a Facebook post published on March 8, 2025. As of July 13, 2026, more than 16 months later, it remained live on Facebook. Beneath the post were complaints from other users alleging they, too, had been unable to withdraw winnings after betting through Konfambet.
Omoniyi’s experience mirrors that of Tunji, another Lagos resident, who told this reporter he discovered NigeBet through Facebook.
According to him, the betting platform portrayed itself as a licensed operator on its website. This gave him confidence to use it.
In March 2025, Tunji staked N50,000 on Kumasi Sports Academy Ladies to beat Dreamz Ladies away from home at 8.03 odds. The match ended 2–1 in Kumasi’s favour, leaving him with winnings of N401,500, according to his betting ticket.
“I was happy because the game entered. It was when I tried to withdraw the money that I realised something was wrong,” he said.
Despite repeated attempts, he said the platform never paid.
“It was later, when I searched online, that I found many people complaining they had experienced the same thing. That was when I realised it was a scam and gave up.”
The Facebook pages for both Konfambet and NigeBet remained accessible throughout this investigation despite complaints from users who alleged they had been duped.
Meanwhile, under Meta’s Gambling and Gaming Advertising Policy, businesses promoting online gambling or gaming services must obtain Meta’s written permission before advertising. The company also says advertisers must comply with all applicable local laws and provide evidence that their gambling activities are “appropriately licensed” or otherwise lawful in the jurisdictions where they operate.
Meta further states that gambling advertisers must comply with local regulatory requirements before they can promote such services on Facebook and Instagram. However, this reporter found a contrast in reality. Many illegal betting companies continue to market their products on Meta platforms for Nigerians with impunity.
Declared illegal, remains on Facebook
The two platforms were among 45 betting and gaming companies declared illegal by the Lagos State Government in September 2025.
At the time, the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) said the companies were operating without valid licences, in violation of Section 33(3) of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority Law 2021, which prohibits gaming operations in the state without the regulator’s approval.
The blacklist was expected to curb their operations. Instead, this investigation found that at least 30 of the 45 companies continue to maintain active Facebook and Instagram accounts months after the regulator’s announcement.
Many still publish betting odds, promotional offers and referral campaigns aimed at Nigerian users, while their pages remain publicly accessible and continue attracting unsuspecting punters.
Some accounts, including Awalife Naija, 24JBet and Paripulse on Instagram, even display Meta’s verified badge, a feature that can enhance an account’s credibility and make it appear more trustworthy to users despite the operators having been publicly identified by the Lagos regulator as unlicensed.
‘Massive Reach On Meta Platforms’
The companies have not only remained online but continue to command substantial audiences across Facebook and Instagram, according to this reporter’s findings.
A review conducted in May 2026 found that many of the betting firms blacklisted by the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) remained active on Meta’s platforms, collectively attracting more than 200,000 followers across Facebook and Instagram.
Among the largest audiences were Winpesa Limited (about 39,000 Facebook followers), 25 Lotto (34,000 Facebook followers), WhotoWhoto (26,400 Instagram followers), Top11 Nigeria (20,800 Instagram followers), Awalife Naija (about 16,000 followers across both platforms) and BettyBingo (over 14,000 Instagram followers).
Other operators, including WoskyBet, SquadCo, CubeBet, 24JBet, Naira Million, Big Shot Lottery, Sokabet Nigeria, Lottomania, Helabet, WaddiBet and Stake.com, also continued to maintain active Facebook and/or Instagram pages despite appearing on the regulator’s blacklist.
Users Allege Unpaid Winnings, Frozen Accounts
A review of user comments and complaints posted on the social media pages of these blacklisted betting companies shows a recurring pattern of customers alleging unpaid winnings, failed withdrawals, frozen accounts, and poor customer support.
On BettyBingo’s Instagram page, a user identified as @didi_aniekan pleaded with the company to release funds he allegedly owes.
“Betty Bingo release my money oooN110k(110,000 Naira).”
Another user, @treasure_chime_16, also reported being unable to access her account.
“I swear, cos I can’t access mine, like I don’t understand.”
One of the more detailed complaints came from @fem_tapwa, who alleged that an agent of the company persuaded him to fund his betting account with the promise of assistance before cutting off communication.
“Your agents made me fund my Betty account. They said they’ll guide me how to play. Immediately I paid, he stopped replying me.”
BettyBingo’s Instagram account responded publicly to the complaint, apologising for the experience and asking the user to continue the conversation privately.
“Sincere apologies for the inconvenience. Please send a DM.”
But another user, @lammybeautyhair, replied beneath the exchange, alleging a similar experience.
“Same here ooo, he(BettyBingo’s agent) stopped talking to me too. Scam everywhere.”
This reporter also found similar complaints on Paripulse’s Instagram page.
One user, @tonia_olisah, alleged that the company failed to honour a withdrawal request.
“@paripulse_ng send me my money. Since on the 16th that I placed withdrawal, you people refused to send me my win.”
Nigerians Accuse Kofambet Of Fraud Over Unpaid Winnings Worth Over N10million
Beyond social media, this reporter reviewed discussions on Nairaland, one of Nigeria’s largest online forums, where users also complained about Konfambet, another company included on the Lagos blacklist.
In August 2024, months before the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority publicly blacklisted the betting company, a Nairaland user identified as Judek2 shared screenshots of conversations exchanged with the company’s customer support while seeking help over an unpaid balance.
According to the post, the user claimed a friend had been unable to access approximately 6,500 USDT, estimated at more than N10.5 million at the time.
He wrote: “A friend is seeking for advice and help on how to get his money from Konfambet.
“It’s been since the beginning of this year(2024) and Konfambet have not paid him. It’s beginning to look like scam. They have frustrated him to the edge of losing his mind.
“Total amount is about 6,500 USDT on the account… In this time of hardship, this money can change someone’s life.”
Other forum users responded with similar allegations.
A user identified as UDIH2020 wrote:
“I am also facing same thing. Several times I attempted withdrawal of N63,000, sadly all were rejected. When I chat them they keep telling me next Monday, next Monday that never ends. This is sad.”
Another user, Ugooo2023, also alleged that his withdrawal requests had not been honoured.
“Konfam Bet is a scam. They are holding my N145,000 and when I send message on live chat they tell me the same thing for 12 days now.”
Following the complaints, Judek2 returned to the forum and blamed regulators for what he said was their failure to protect betting customers. He accused the agencies responsible for overseeing the industry of ignoring complaints while operators continued doing business unchecked.
In the post, he wrote: “Nigeria’s betting industry has grown rapidly over the years, but the regulators have failed to keep up. The Lagos State Lottery Board (LSLB), which many people looked up to for consumer protection, has abandoned its responsibilities, leaving customers at the mercy of unscrupulous bookies.
“The Nigeria Lottery Regulation Commission (NLRC), which is supposed to be the apex regulator, has been the worst of them all. Its customer service is practically nonexistent, and complaints from consumers are met with silence. That lack of accountability has created an environment where some bookies can allegedly scam customers without consequences.”
He also criticised the Oyo State Gaming Board and the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers (AON), saying they had become “inactive” and were no longer providing effective oversight.
According to him, the lack of regulation had left consumers exposed and weakened confidence in the industry.
Konfambet was later included in the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority’s list of illegal betting operators. But a review by this reporter found that the company and 29 others remain active online.
Its Instagram page still has about 2,769 followers, while its Facebook account has another 2,600 followers, giving it continued access to thousands of Nigerian users months after it was blacklisted by the Lagos regulator.
Experts Question Why The Accounts Are Still Active
Experts who spoke with this reporter said the continued presence of blacklisted betting companies on Facebook and Instagram highlights a disconnect between regulatory action and enforcement by global technology platforms.
Digital policy analyst and Co-Founder of West African Digital Rights Defenders, Kehinde Adegboyega, said operators publicly declared illegal should not be allowed to continue promoting their services unchecked.
“If a regulator has identified operators as illegal, there should be systems to reduce their visibility or stop them from advertising. This is also about how platforms enforce their own policies across different countries,” he said.
Consumer rights lawyer Aisha Usman said the companies’ continued visibility poses consumer protection risks. The legal practitioner warned that users may wrongly assume the operators are legitimate simply because they remain active on widely used platforms with thousands of followers.
She noted that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 protects consumers against deceptive business practices, adding that regulators and technology companies should work more closely to ensure businesses declared illegal do not continue operating freely online.
Lagos Gaming Authority Sidesteps Questions On Meta, Enforcement Against Blacklisted Betting Firms
In an email response to this reporter, the Principal Legal Officer of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA), Kemi Adebiyi, did not directly answer several questions about the continued presence of blacklisted betting companies on Facebook and Instagram.
Among other things, this reporter asked whether the Authority was aware that many of the operators it declared unlicensed were still using Meta’s platforms to promote betting services, whether it had contacted Meta over the accounts, what enforcement actions had been taken since the blacklist was published, the challenges it had encountered in enforcing its directive, and what advice it had for members of the public who might unknowingly patronise the listed operators.
Instead of addressing those questions, Adebiyi reiterated the Authority’s commitment to regulating the gaming industry and combating illegal gaming operations.
She also said publishing the blacklist was part of the Authority’s enforcement strategy to notify the public and other stakeholders about the licensing status of gaming operators.
Her response, however, contained one notable disclosure. According to Adebiyi, after the blacklist was published, “some operators have taken steps to engage with the Authority with a view to regularizing their operations and ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.”
She did not identify the operators involved or say whether any of them had since obtained valid licences.
The response also did not indicate whether the Authority had contacted Meta over the continued operation of the companies’ Facebook and Instagram pages, sought the removal or restriction of the accounts, or taken any additional enforcement action against operators that remain active online despite being declared unlicensed.
Following the response, this reporter sent a follow-up email seeking clarification on the unanswered issues and as of the time this report was filed, the Authority had not responded to the follow-up email.
‘Meta Remains Silent’
The continued presence of the blacklisted betting operators also raises questions about how Meta enforces its own gambling policies on Facebook and Instagram.
To seek clarification, this reporter sent detailed questions to Meta through its media contact, [email protected], and copied [email protected], a member of the company’s communications team. Among other things, this reporter asked whether Meta was aware that the operators had been declared illegal by the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, whether any of the accounts had been authorised to promote gambling content, how the company enforces its gambling policies where local regulators blacklist operators, and whether it intended to review or restrict the identified accounts.
This reporter also sought to know whether Meta had reviewed the verification status of accounts belonging to operators that had been declared unlicensed by the Lagos regulator.
Despite repeated follow-up emails and reminders, Meta had not responded to any of the questions as of the time this report was filed.
By: Abdulwasiu Olokooba
This article was published under the Tech Justice and Platform Accountability Project of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), with support from Luminate. ”
(SaharaReporters)