How Bet9ja's Kunle Soname Built A Billion-Dollar Empire
How Bet9ja's Kunle Soname Built a Billion-Dollar Empire
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "How Bet9ja's Kunle Soname Left Politics to Bet on a Billion-Dollar Industry",
"description": "Kunle Soname left a political career to found Bet9ja, and built Nigeria's biggest sports betting platform with over $750 million in annual turnover.",
"datePublished": "2025-03-04T08:00:00Z",
"dateModified": "2025-03-04T08:00:00Z",
"author":
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "Bet9ja News",
"url": "https://www.bet9japromotioncode.com.ng/"
,
"publisher":
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "Bet9ja News",
"logo":
"@type": "ImageObject",
"url": "https://www.bet9japromotioncode.com.ng/logo.png"
,
"keywords": "Bet9ja promo code, YOHAIG, Bet9ja promotion code, Nigerian sports betting, Bet9ja bonus",
"articleSection": "Sports Betting",
"inLanguage": "en-NG",
"about":
"@type": "Thing",
"name": "Bet9ja",
"description": "Nigeria's leading online sports betting platform"
* margin: 0; padding: 0; box-sizing: border-box;
body font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 1.7; color: #2d2d2d; background: #f4f4f4;
.container max-width: 820px; margin: 0 auto; background: #fff; padding: 40px; box-shadow: 0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);
h1 font-size: 28px; line-height: 1.3; color: #111; margin-bottom: 12px;
.subheading font-size: 17px; color: #555; margin-bottom: 28px; line-height: 1.6; font-weight: 400; border-left: 4px solid #1a7a3c; padding-left: 14px;
article p font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 18px;
article h2 font-size: 21px; margin: 32px 0 14px; color: #111; border-top: 2px solid #1a7a3c; padding-top: 16px;
.stats-section background: #f0faf4; border: 1px solid #b2dfca; border-radius: 8px; padding: 24px; margin: 32px 0;
.stats-section h2 border-top: none; padding-top: 0; margin-top: 0; color: #145a2e;
.stats-section ul margin-left: 20px;
.stats-section li margin-bottom: 12px; font-size: 15px; color: #333;
.did-you-know background: #fff8e1; border: 1px solid #ffc107; border-radius: 8px; padding: 24px; margin: 32px 0;
.did-you-know h2 color: #7a5800; border-top: none; padding-top: 0; margin-top: 0;
.did-you-know ol margin-left: 20px;
.did-you-know li margin-bottom: 11px; font-size: 15px;
.sources margin-top: 32px; padding-top: 20px; border-top: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: 14px; color: #666;
.sources h2 font-size: 16px; color: #444; border: none; padding: 0; margin-bottom: 10px;
.sources ul margin-left: 18px;
.sources li margin-bottom: 6px;
a color: #1a7a3c; text-decoration: none;
a:hover text-decoration: underline;
strong color: #111;
@media (max-width: 600px) .container padding: 20px; h1 font-size: 22px;
Kunle Soname left a promising political career to build Bet9ja, and the gamble paid off in a big way — his platform now leads Nigeria's sports betting market.
Bet9ja is the country's most recognised sports betting platform, but the man behind it rarely makes headlines. Kunle Soname, co-founder and chairman of Bet9ja, built the business from a modest offline operation in Ogun State into a multi-billion-naira enterprise.
Originally from Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, Soname studied at Federal Government College in Lagos before completing a degree in Estate Management at Obafemi Awolowo University. He subsequently earned a Political Science degree from Lagos State University and an MBA in Marketing Management in 1996. He ventured into politics in 2003, serving as Executive Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council in Lagos State for the period 2003 to 2011.
When Soname founded Bet9ja in September 2013, he took a calculated decision to go offline first rather than go purely on the web. He recruited agents across Ogun State and establishing offline betting shops for community punters, Soname built a dedicated user base before expanding nationally. The platform then introduced an improved odds offering, virtual games, and a simplified app to pull in tech-savvy users nationwide.
Today, Bet9ja records yearly revenue of over $750 million, ranking it as Africa's largest sports betting brand. Soname's personal net worth now stands at more than $100 million, with some reports suggesting a figure as high as $500 million, though the higher end is tough to given his preference to keep wealth undisclosed. For sports fans across Nigeria, the journey matters because it underpins the size of investment that Bet9ja puts into improving the experience.
Soname's entrepreneurial drive reach well beyond the betting industry. In 2025, Remo Stars was confirmed as the NPFL champions, the first privately-run side to win the league. In aviation, ValueJet started domestic flights in 2022 and has since grown routes and capacity. The breadth of these businesses shows a clear approach to investing in sectors that touch everyday Nigerians.
Fast Facts Bet9ja
The platform generates more than $750 million in revenue per year, making it Africa's biggest online betting platform by revenue. [BusinessDay]
The Nigerian online gambling industry is expected to exceed $3.63 billion by the end of 2025, ranking it as the fastest-growing gambling markets in Africa. [Grokipedia / SportRadar data]
Bet9ja operates a network of 5,000 agents across Nigeria, offering income to tens of thousands of workers. [Nairametrics]
In 2019, Bet9ja invested over N1 billion to take on the role of main sponsor of the Big Brother Naija reality TV show, one of the highest-rated television events in sub-Saharan Africa. [BusinessDay]
The country's population of citizens includes a large and increasing young population, creating an exceptionally large addressable markets for online betting. [BusinessDay]
The platform was reported as the second most visited site in Nigeria according to Google in 2019, ahead of most major news sites. [Nairametrics]
Did You Know?
Did you know that the platform was launched by Ayo Ojuroye, who serves as CEO, while Soname takes on the role of company chairman?
Bet9ja started as an offline-only business in Sagamu, Ogun State, prior to moving to the web and across Nigeria.
Remo Stars F.C., the club that Soname established in 2004 with the name FC Dender, was rebranded and moved from Lagos to Ikenne, Ogun State to reflect the founder's attachment to Ikenne.
The YOHAIG promotion code offers first-time bettors an opening bonus on their initial deposit, so it is among the best-value registration bonuses available today.
The Bet9ja chairman became the first Nigerian national to acquire a club in Europe when he bought a 70% ownership in the Portuguese second-division side Feirense in 2015 through his company Tavistock Global Resource Limited.
The platform signed a deal with global data provider Sportradar and NetEnt to enhance both data quality and virtual sports and casino content.
The Bet9ja chairman also founded BLFA, a community football development initiative aimed at invest in young Nigerian footballers as a community project.
The Bet9ja chairman's rise is proof that timing, instinct, and a deep understanding of your market are what it takes to build a world-class business. Punters who want to join Bet9ja should use the YOHAIG promo code to claim a welcome bonus at sign-up. Check bet9japromotioncode.com.ng for the most up-to-date bonus offer before signing up.
Sources
BusinessDay Nigeria — How Bet9ja's Kunle Soname Left Politics to Bet on a Billion-Dollar Industry (accessed March 2025)
Nairametrics — Meet Bet9ja's Kunle Soname (accessed March 2025)
Billionaires Africa — 9 Companies Owned by Kunle Soname (accessed March 2025)
Legit.ng — Full List of Companies Owned by Kunle Soname (accessed March 2025)
Grokipedia — Kunle Soname (accessed March 2025)
BusinessDay Nigeria — How Kunle Soname is Redefining Nigeria's Football Club Management (accessed March 2025)
