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How to Start an Online Casino Website? What It Really Takes to Build a Gambling Platform —A Better Alternative to This Crazy Idea

Last updated Oct 29, 2024
Oct 29, 2024 gambling business

Clients often come to us, excited about the gambling industry, saying things like, “I’m going to build my own online gambling platform!” They believe it’s easy, thinking they can set it up on Shopify or WordPress without realizing the actual complexity and the significant initial investment involved in making a gaming website. Some say, “We’ll have our platform ready in three months,” only having a basic idea of what’s really required, estimating it’ll cost them around fifty thousand dollars or so.

The thing is, when we talk to clients about how to start an online gambling website, we often end up explaining that the market for iGaming platforms exists for a reason. It’s not some kind of scam or anything like that. If building a platform were as easy as taking a couple of months and investing fifty thousand dollars, then why would some platforms charge anywhere from twenty thousand to two hundred thousand euros just for the setup fee? On top of that, they take a revenue share, usually around five percent. Doesn’t that make you think?

how to start a gambling platform

But even with all that, some still think they can get it done in three months with fifty thousand dollars. The reality, though, is quite different. I believe it’s important to explain what it truly takes to make this happen and to offer a better alternative.

With over 500 licenses issued with a near 100% success rate, we at License Gentlemen bring more than five years of specialized expertise to streamline the gambling license process. We’ve seen it all—what works, what doesn’t, and why some ventures succeed while others stumble.

Our experience equips us to guide clients through the complexities of the gambling business, helping them establish and scale their enterprises effectively while managing costs and minimizing operational risks.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to start a casino online and what it truly takes to build a successful gambling platform. We’ll also explore why there might be smarter alternatives to diving headfirst into this challenging venture. So, if this sparks your interest, grab a cup of tea or coffee, and let’s dive in.

What It Really Takes to Build a Gambling Platform: How Much Does It  Cost to Start an Online Casino Website?

When it comes to development costs and starting a gambling business, the biggest chunk of your initial budget will likely go toward building the online platform itself whether you’re focusing on an online casino website that includes sports betting, poker, or other gambling features. If you’re deciding between developing an in-house online gambling website or outsourcing to experienced software development providers, it’s essential to have skilled developers who can create a secure, scalable, and smooth-running platform. To succeed in the online gambling industry, you need a robust core architecture, user-friendly interface, reliable payment systems, and seamless game integration.

how to start a casino online

Development time should be split into two parts: what you can control and what you can’t. For example, your team can control coding speed when everyone works according to a software development framework. 

However, developing such a complex infrastructure as a platform also involves third parties. One major third-party aspect is licensing. Every platform has to consider licensing, and before your team even plans what the platform will look like, they need to understand whether they’ll use international licensing or be locally licensed in multiple countries. We’ll discuss this later, but the key point is that licensing time and development time for compliance aren’t things you can fully plan. 

Another third-party factor is integrating third-party solutions. It’s not just your team working on something; software developers like game providers have to work with you too. But let’s face it: our project is never their top priority—it’s just another project right? Something you plan to get done within a week? Trust me, it’s not that easy. Even signing an agreement with a software provider can take one or two months, and then there’s the integration part when you create online casino.

Now, about the investment you’ll have to make into developing your platform, I usually explain that to get to a point where you have a basic product—where everything works, even if it’s just a pilot version—it could take you at least one and a half years and probably around one and a half million dollars, amazing han?

There won’t be any fancy features or nice buttons; tons of work will have to be done manually because those features haven’t been developed yet.

That one and a half years represents time spent on development, salaries paid to developers, and other fees and invoices you’ll have to pay along the way. So that’s one and a half million dollars and one and a half years for something basic. And the work on the platform never stops, let´s not forget this!

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how to start an online gambling site

Online Casino Development: Hidden Costs of Building an Online Casino Platform

When it comes to creating an online casino platform, there are costs that you expect, like software development, licensing, and employee salaries. But keep in mind that then there are the hidden costs that can sneak up on you if you’re not aware. Below are some of the more critical ones every online casino operator should be aware of:

Payment Integration

For instance, payment integration is a significant hidden cost. Every platform must be able to work with various payment providers to accept payments from different clients. This isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. You have to integrate a payment gateway into your platform, and the platform needs to communicate with the payment gateway to accurately reflect all the data—like how much a player won, how much they bet, and how much they deposited. This involves separate agreements, compliance requirements, and development time, all of which add to the cost. It’s a must-have for every online casino site, so make sure you’re prepared for this investment.

Security and Compliance

Another crucial area in how to start a gambling website is security and compliance.Your platform needs to be secure from the get-go. This means investing in security software and hiring security engineers to make sure your system can’t be hacked. All data—whether it’s player information, payment details, or game statistics—must be encrypted and protected behind a strong firewall. Sometimes, you’ll need certifications from organizations like GLI or iTech Labs, who will assess your platform’s security and recommend improvements. Even something as simple as a weak password can be a vulnerability. Imagine a player using “QWERTY12345” and someone hacking their account to steal all their winnings. That’s a serious issue you need to prevent.

To avoid this, operators need to implement strong security measures like two-factor authentication, email and SMS confirmations, and strong password requirements. But be careful not to overcomplicate things for your users. While security is essential, the user experience should remain smooth and accessible. This balance between security and simplicity is another hidden cost—investing in security without compromising the overall usability of your online platform.

Game Content

When it comes to setting up your online casino, game content is one of the key elements that can make or break your platform. This isn’t just about having the right games; it’s about dealing with casino software providers like Evolution, Pragmatic, Play’n GO, NetEnt, and many others. The integration of each software provider comes with its own set of challenges and costs.

Every time you integrate a new game provider, it’s not just about signing an agreement and adding games to your platform. It involves software development time and money. Engineers will need to handle the integration process, and they don’t come cheap. Plus, as a startup, it’s often tough to secure direct agreements with big-name providers. They might not see you as a serious partner right away because, let’s face it, you’re not generating revenue for them just yet.

If you do manage to sign a deal, say with Pragmatic, you should know that the integration instructions for them will differ completely from, say, Play’n GO. Each provider has its own approach, logic, API keys, and ways of communicating game data like balances and player information back to your platform. This makes the integration process complex and time-consuming.

On average, you’re looking at around 2,500 euros per software provider integration. So, if you plan to work with 50 game providers, that’s 50 times 2,500 euros, which adds up to 125,000 euros. That’s a huge hidden cost! To make things more manageable, integrating with an aggregator can be a smart move.An aggregator will provide you with multiple software providers through a single integration, saving you time and money. It’s a more efficient way to get started while you build relationships with individual providers for better deals and percentages over time.

Customer Support Setup and Risk Management (Fraud Detection and Prevention) 

But the costs don’t stop there. Once your platform is live, you need to think aboutcustomer support and risk management. Players expect instant support, whether it’s through a ticketing system or live chat. These systems need to be integrated directly into your platform, and the customer support team needs to be paid. If not, how will you manage chat support on your site? Integrating ticket systems and online chat isn’t just a feature—it’s a necessity.

Risk management is another critical area. Companies like Sumsub and Greco specialize in fraud detection, using advanced frameworks to identify and expose cheaters or those looking to exploit vulnerabilities in your online casino platform. Integrating these systems requires additional software development, not just from your team but also from the risk management software provider. It’s another hidden cost that many overlook.

CRM Integration

When you’re setting up an online casino, integrating aCustomer Relationship Management (CRM) system isn’t just a nice to have—it’s essential for understanding your players and optimizing your marketing strategies. But let’s be honest, it’s not as simple as just plugging in a CRM next to your platform.

First, you need to decide which CRM software suits your needs. You’ve got options like customer.io for basic setups or more advanced solutions like FastTrack, Xtreme Push, or Optimove if you want deeper insights and capabilities. Whichever you choose, it’s crucial to get all the documentation from the CRM developer to ensure your platform is set up correctly. You’ll need to connect all the hooks—things like player balances, email templates, notifications, and more.

The CRM will want to know everything about your players and your games—how much they bet, their favorite games, and how often they play. It’ll process and analyze this data to help you segment your audience and tailor your marketing strategies to attract the right players. This means your CRM isn’t just sitting next to your platform; it’s fully integrated, communicating back and forth with your system to give you valuable insights.

For instance, imagine I’m a player who likes to spend two hours every Wednesday playing online. Your CRM should track that behavior—what time I start, what games I play, and even how my session flows. Do I warm up with crash games like Aviator and then move on to blackjack or slots? This kind of data lets you personalize your marketing. Maybe you send me a notification after my usual two hours, offering free spins on a new slot game because you know I love them. That’s how you keep players engaged and coming back for more.

However, integrating a CRM isn’t just about installing the software. It involves connecting every part of your platform—fromplayer account management (PAM) to tournament results. Each connection requires development time, which can add up quickly. You need your platform to be ready for this integration right from the start, with filtering mechanisms in place to collect and process every bit of information.

Server and Bandwidth Costs

Now, let’s talk about server and bandwidth costs. Mostonline casino sites prefer to host their platforms on the cloud, and for good reason. Players come from all over the world, and cloud hosting helps optimize traffic for different regions. Imagine your server is based in Malta, but you’ve got players in Brazil. If you’re not using the cloud, those players could experience serious lag. Games load slowly, and it’s a frustrating experience that could drive them away.

The cloud solves this by distributing the pressure, ensuring that your players in Brazil get a smooth, optimized experience, just like those in Europe. Of course, more traffic means higher costs. As your casino grows and you generate more traffic, your hosting expenses will go up too. But that’s a nice problem to have—it means more revenue. So, it’s a rule of thumb that you should be willing to spend more on hosting as you grow. Plan for at least 1,000 to 3,000 euros per month to start, and increase that budget as your traffic and revenue grow.

Bug Fixes and Platform Maintenance

When you’re running an online casino, bug fixes, and platform maintenance are two areas that can quietly drain your budget. No matter how well you build your software, bugs will show up—especially in a complex ecosystem like a gambling platform. Thinking you can magically avoid them is just wishful thinking. So, it’s crucial to be prepared for these issues and see them as opportunities to improve the platform.

Every time a bug appears, you need to have a dedicated software development team or at least a person who focuses on identifying and fixing these issues. This team will prioritize bugs and work through a backlog to ensure your casino runs smoothly. Because, let’s be honest, a glitchy platform isn’t just annoying; it can really hurt the player experience. You want your players to enjoy a seamless experience without downtime or hiccups, so you need to be proactive about fixing bugs, whether they’re related to scalability, data processing, or integration issues.

And here’s the catch: these fixes often require cooperation with your partners—game providers, customer support systems, risk management software, and CRM tools. That means you’ll need someone on your team who can keep the lines of communication open and ensure everything is running smoothly across the board. It’s not just about keeping your own house in order; you have to work closely with your partners to maintain the quality and performance of your entire operation.

Localization Costs (Games, Payment Systems, and Support Materials)

Now, let’s talk about localization. Imagine you’ve launched your online casino in Spain, and it’s doing great. So you think, “Hey, let’s expand to Latin America!” After all, they speak Spanish too, right? Well, not quite.

The Spanish spoken in Chile or Mexico is different from the Spanish spoken in Spain. If you approach these markets with the same language and style you used in Spain, your audience will notice—and not in a good way. They’ll see you as an outsider, not someone who understands their culture. And when you’re running an online casino, building trust and rapport with your players should be your top priority.

Localization isn’t just about translating words;it’s about adapting your entire platform and communication style to fit the local culture. That means translating marketing content, landing pages, game instructions, customer support materials—pretty much everything. And it’s not just a one-time task. As you expand to new regions, you’ll need to keep localizing your content to fit each specific market.

This can be a significant hidden cost. Depending on how many countries you want to target,you could be looking at tens of thousands of euros for proper localization. Take India, for example, it has 122 major languages. If you’re aiming to go beyond just Hindi and English, the effort required grows substantially, and so does the investment.  

Skilled translators who understand both the language and the culture will need time to adapt everything, from game descriptions to customer support scripts. And don’t forget the games themselves—everything, including in-game text and dashboards, needs to feel local and authentic.

In short, while it’s easy to focus on the obvious costs like development and salaries, don’t overlook these hidden expenses. These other measures are critical to your platform’s success and require careful planning and investment from the very beginning.

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Create a Gambling Website: Getting Things Moving - The Way to Go

It could take you at least one and a half years and probably around one and a half million dollars to learn how to start online gambling site, amazing than? Let me share more about what my friend, a product owner I met in Dubai, told me when he was heading to fix a platform issue for a billionaire. He said: “Man, I would never build a platform from scratch. Never. It’s a really bad, expensive idea.” And to be honest, as a business owner, you never truly know if you’ll get the project you envision unless you’re 100% certain about the core of your team and have all the right people to crystallize your vision exactly as you planned.

Plus, maintenance, bug fixing, and continuous development might seem like hidden costs at first, but when you really step back, they’re not so hidden after all—they’re ongoing expenses you need to keep in mind. This alone can be tens of thousands of euros monthly because even after you develop your project and launch it, you’ll encounter many bugs and downtime. You’ll need to maintain and support your online gambling site throughout its entire lifecycle, as long as you are live and have clients.

So, working with a team that already has the platform done and it’s 80% of what you imagine is a much faster and cheaper path to success. You might have other plans—you may want to develop smart contracts, other coins, or other features for your online casino—but if you see that it’s 80% done, all you need is a technical expert to oversee the development of the remaining 20% before you go live.

This approach is just a much faster and cheaper way to succeed because you can get such platforms for 200,000 to 500,000 dollars, rather than spending one and a half million just to get maybe 40% of what you envision. So, if you’re looking to create a successful online casino business, this could be the way to go, and it’s exactly what we recommend.

How to Start a Gambling Platform: Building the Core Features of a Successful Online Casino Site

When you’re setting up your online casino, it’s easy to get lost in the technical details. But let’s not get too deep into the weeds. We’re here to give you a practical overview that’s relevant for business owners, not software developers.

Dashboard: Your Command Center

The dashboard is like your casino’s control panel. You can track the performance of your online gaming business in real time. Want to know how much revenue your casino generated this week? Or how many new players registered today? This is where you find all those insights at a glance.

You decide what’s important:

  • Track Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) daily, weekly, or monthly.
  • Keep tabs on active players and total player registrations.
  • Monitor deposit and conversion rates to see how many visitors become paying customers.
  • Review reports separately for your casino and sports betting platform operations.

The beauty of having a proprietary platform provider is that you can customize your dashboard. Pick the metrics that matter most to you and get a clear snapshot of where your business stands.

Online Gambling Platform Dashboard

Player Account Management (PAM): The Heart of Your Operations

When learning how to start your own casino, your Player Account Management (PAM) system is crucial for handling everything from user profiles to payment history and bonus tracking. This is where you get all the details about your players and their activities.

Here’s what you need to focus on:

  • Detailed Player Info: Collect IP addresses, usernames, and even MAC addresses. This helps prevent players from creating multiple accounts to exploit bonuses.
  • KYC Compliance: Make sure you have theright documents like proof of address or passport copies to meet regulatory standards.
  • Security Measures: Use the data you collect to detect and prevent fraud. If two accounts from the same device are trying to game the system, you can flag and freeze them before they cause any harm.

By feeding this data into risk management tools like some Sumsub or Greco, you can better understand your player base and keep your casino secure from bad actors.

Online Casino KYC Settings

Bonus Systems: The Lifeblood of Your Online Casino

Engaging your players is vital for your casino’s success, and bonuses play a significant role. A well-designed bonus system doesn’t just draw new players—it keeps them loyal and active, quite remarkable, don’t you think?

Strategic Player Management

Effective player management is crucial when learning how to start an online gambling site, as it goes beyond basic account handling. With the right system, you can offer tailored bonuses, organize free tournaments, or even top up accounts directly from the back end. Recognize and reward active players, or re-engage those who seem to be losing interest. Personalized attention helps you build a dedicated community.

Every online casino needs arobust bonus strategy. Whether it’s a welcome offer to attract newcomers or ongoing promotions to keep the excitement alive, bonuses are essential. Here are some effective types:

  • Welcome Bonuses: Perfect for attracting new players. For example, a “Deposit $100, play with $200” offer.
  • Loyalty Rewards: Show appreciation to your regulars with perks that recognize their loyalty.
  • Ongoing Promotions: Weekend offers, special holiday bonuses, or high-roller exclusives keep the engagement high.

It’s crucial to manage the fine print—like wagering requirements. For instance, if you offer a $500 welcome bonus with a 20x wagering requirement, a player needs to bet $10,000 before they can withdraw any winnings. This ensures your casino maintains profitability while offering appealing bonuses.

Online Casino Bonus System

Tournaments can be a game-changer for your casino. Offer them in multiple languages to reach a broader audience. The goal is to create engaging, fair competitions that provide players a genuine chance to win, while also benefiting your business.

Wagering requirements prevent bonus abuse, ensuring players engage with your online platform that allows users to enjoy fair play. Without them, players could simply cash out bonuses. For example, offering a $500 bonus without requirements means they could withdraw it immediately. Adding a 20x requirement ensures they have to wager $10,000 before any cash-out, protecting your business.

Your bonus system should be as flexible as your player management strategy. Monitor everything from free spin allocations to wagering fulfillment. This helps maintain the integrity of your gambling projects and ensures players have a fair experience.

Online Casino Wagering

Casino Game Management: Balancing Choices and Control

When you’re setting out to make a gambling website, having a diverse game selection isn’t just a bonus—it’s a necessity. You need to be able to manage your software providers effectively and even control specific games individually.

Now let’s say you want to offerdifferent games in different countries. You can make some games available only in India while blocking them in Brazil, and vice versa. This flexibility is crucial because different regions have different tastes and legal restrictions. Customizing your game offerings helps you cater to local preferences and stay compliant with gambling laws in your jurisdiction.

RTP, or Return to Player, is a key metric for tracking how a game performs financially. For example, if a game like Baccarat has an RTP of 98.76%, it’s paying out a decent percentage to players. But if you see a game with an RTP over 100%, it means players are consistently winning more than they’re losing, which could indicate a bug or an exploit. In such cases, it’s better to disable the game temporarily and work with the software provider to fix the issue before re-enabling it.

Online Casino RTP

Sometimes, you’ll notice suspicious activity from certain players, like consistently high wins in a particular game. This could mean they’re using strategies to exploit weaknesses in the game. Your risk management system will help flag these activities. If you suspect foul play, you may need to restrict that player’s access to the game, even if it means losing them as a customer. It’s a tough call, but protecting your business is more important, it’s all about good decisions.

Analyzing player behavior can also help you fine-tune your offerings. For instance, if you notice that a player is winning too often in a specific game, your risk management system might flag it for review. After investigating, you might decide to block that game for the player. It’s a delicate balance, but it’s essential for maintaining the integrity of your online casino provider.

In summary, game management is more than just offering a variety of traditional casino games. It’s about being strategic with your choices, customizing your offerings for different markets, and actively monitoring game performance and player behavior. This approach will help you keep your online casino both engaging and profitable.

Effective CRM and Risk Management for Your Online Casino

Now, we’ve already chatted about how important CRM is for an online casino, but it’s worth diving a bit deeper. Speaking about engaging, when you’re setting out to make a casino website, having a solid CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s crucial. Now, I’m not saying you need a top-tier, super-expensive system right out of the gate, but you should have something basic in place from day one. Think of it as your way of keeping tabs on your players, understanding their behavior, and personalizing their experience.

A good CRM lets you do more than just send out welcome messages. It’s about building a relationship with your players. For example, if a player registers, you can automate a welcome email, and maybe throw in a small bonus to get them started. But that’s just scratching the surface. With more advanced CRM tools,you can analyze player activity, segment them based on behavior, and target them with specific offers. If you see a player hasn’t logged in for a while, you could send them a “we miss you” bonus. The goal is to keep them engaged and playing.

There are plenty of CRM systems out there, but not all are built for online casinos. Options like Xtreme Push, Fast Track, and Optimove are specialized and powerful but come at a cost. If you’re just starting out, consider a more basic version that can handle simple tasks while integrating with more sophisticated systems as you grow. The important thing is to set a strong foundation for your CRM strategy.

Risk Management: Keeping Your Casino Safe

Next up is risk management—an absolute must. We’re talking about software that can detect suspicious activity, flag high-risk players, and keep your platform secure. Every online casino faces risks, from fraudulent activities to players abusing bonuses. You need a gambling solution that can catch these red flags early on.

The right risk management software can save you from a lot of headaches down the line. Tools like Sumsub or Greco integrate directly into your platform, monitoring transactions and player behavior in real time. Say you notice a player consistently hitting big wins on a certain game. This could be a sign they’ve found a loophole. A good risk management system will alert you so you can take action—like temporarily disabling the game or conducting a deeper investigation.

Balancing Risk and Player Experience

But here’s the thing: you don’t want to scare off your genuine players by being overly cautious. It’s a fine line. For instance, if a player wins big and your system automatically blocks them for a KYC (Know Your Customer) check, it can be frustrating for them. You need to handle these situations delicately. Have a clear, friendly process for resolving issues so players don’t feel like they’re being unfairly targeted.

Payment Systems and Customer Support: The Backbone of Your Casino

Payment systems are another crucial aspect. Players want fast and reliable payouts. You don’t want to be the casino where withdrawals are a nightmare, right? Ensure your platform supports multiple payment options—credit cards, e-wallets, even cryptocurrency if you’re open to that. And make sure your payment gateways are integrated seamlessly with your platform to avoid delays and errors.

Customer support is equally important. You’ll need a team that can handle everything from simple questions to complex disputes. Think about it—if a player has a problem withdrawing their winnings and they can’t get a quick response, that’s a red flag. Good support can turn a frustrated player into a loyal one. Invest in chat management tools and training for your support team to handle issues effectively and empathetically. This is a crucial part of your business needs and helps create a casino website that players can trust.

Content Management System (CMS): Keeping Your Site Fresh and Engaging

Your CMS is like the control center of your website. It’s where you manage the visual elements, promotions, and game content that players see. You want a system that’s easy to use but flexible enough to let you make quick updates without needing a developer for every little change.

For example, if you’re running a special promotion, you should be able to feature it on your homepage with just a few clicks. Or if a game provider releases a new slot game, you should be able to add it to your lobby and promote it across your site effortlessly.

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Alright, let’s talk about something crucial that many overlook—licensing and regulations. When you’re setting up an online casino, this isn’t the “fun” part, but it’s arguably the most critical. Without the right license, you’re not just risking fines; you’re risking your entire business. So, let’s break it down step-by-step.

Why Licensing Will Define Your Platform

Picture this: You have a great idea for a casino platform, and you’re ready to launch, but you forgot one little detail—your market doesn’t support some of your features, like crypto. Suddenly, all your plans are out the window. And that’s not just frustrating, it’s costly.

Before you start dreaming about flashy features and unique selling points, think about structure. You need to map out your business based on where you want to operate and what type of license you need.

  1. Market: Who are you targeting? What countries or regions? This will influence everything from game selection to payment methods.
  2. Licensing: Some licenses, like Anjouan, Curaçao,  Kahnawake, or Tobique  give you more freedom to experiment. Others, like the UKGC or Malta, have strict rules that can limit your options.

Regulations: These are the rules you must follow, and they vary wildly depending on your license. For instance, some markets don’t even allow crypto transactions. If your whole platform revolves around blockchain, you’ll be in trouble.

Don’t Skimp on Research

Let’s get real,  if you don’t do your homework now, you’ll pay for it later—literally. You need to understand not just the market and the players, but the entire B2B landscape. Talk to as many experts as you can. Trust me, every hour you spend on research or consulting are hours saved in the future.

I’ve seen it happen too often: people jump in, thinking they can fix any problem as they go. Two years and many times a few millions later, after attempting to fix so many issues that were beyond repair, they simply lost their motivation, they’re out of cash and stuck with a half-built platform that,  guess what? Nobody’s interested in buying because the platform isn’t at a stage where it can be profitable. It’s brutal—that’s a nightmare you want to avoid at all costs!

Two Roads: Global or Local?

So, when it comes to licensing, you’ve got two main options:

  1. International Licenses: Think Anjouan, Curaçao, Tobique or Kahnawake. These give you the freedom to try new things without too many restrictions. But be careful—just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. You still need to think about where your customers are and what they expect.
  2. Local Licenses: If you want to operate in a specific country, like the UK for example, you’ll need a local license. This comes with strict rules, but it’s worth it if you’re targeting a particular market. Just remember, local licenses are a whole different ball game. You’ll need to tailor your platform to meet very specific requirements, both technically and legally.

Whether you are developing your project for a local market, like the UK, or for the international online gambling market, the type of licensing will dictate how your entire project unfolds.

For instance, there are many things that need to align with international licensing requirements, like those from Curaçao, Anjouan, or the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, and even more for, let’s say, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) regulations. Teh cost of licensing can vary significantly, ranging from 30,000 to 150,000 euros. And that’s just for the license itself.

So, licensing should be your first consideration. First, you need to understand which market you’re building your online platform for. Then, you need to grasp the licensing aspects of that market. After that, you can plan your budget accordingly. You’ve done your research, right? Only then should you decide whether to ditch the idea completely or move forward and execute it.

Personally, we at License Gentleman focus on international licensing because that’s where most of the iGaming industry operates. International licensing will, of course, save you tons of money if you decide to build the project. It’s much more feasible to get this done with international licensing, especially in the beginning. You might consider moving to local licensing later on as you grow.

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Open an Online Casino: The UKGC Example

If you want to start your business and be compliant and regulated in the UK, the only way to do that is by obtaining the UKGC license. Before you even start building your platform, you need to ask yourself if it will be able to pass the UKGC’s rigorous audit process. It doesn’t matter if your platform is developed in-house or by third parties—if it’s not compliant, you’ll have to go back and rebuild.

The UKGC conducts a thorough review to ensure all the necessary compliance features, player protection tools, and technical standards are built into your platform. If they aren’t, you’ll have to go back, rework everything, and build those features in. That’s why it’s so critical to understand these requirements from the start. Having a step-by-step guide and knowing how to build your online casino in line with these regulations is essential for success.

Software Testing and Certifications

One key aspect of the UKGC compliance process is software testing and certification. Your software must be tested by an approved testing house, like GLI, ITEC Labs, orECOGRA. These testing houses have a strict set of rules that cover everything from password security to KYC features. They’ll go through a checklist to ensure your platform meets all the technical and regulatory standards.

Once your platform passes these tests, the testing house will issue a certificate. You’ll need this certificate when you submit your platform for the UKGC audit. Without it, you won’t be able to move forward in the licensing process.

If your platform doesn’t meet these requirements, you’ll have to go back and make the necessary changes. This could mean redoing large parts of your gambling content or software design, which can be both costly and time-consuming. So, it’s essential to get it right the first time. Whether you want to start with the basic features of an online platform or integrate advanced functionalities like live dealer games, everything must comply with these stringent standards to ensure smooth operations when launching an online casino.

Online Casino Platform - GamStop

Self-Exclusion Tools

The UKGC takes player safety very seriously. GAMSTOP is a national self-exclusion scheme that your platform must integrate with. Essentially, your online casino’s database needs to be connected to the GAMSTOP database. If a player self-excludes on your platform, they will also be excluded from all other casinos on the market connected to GAMSTOP.

Proper integration with GAMSTOP is crucial. It ensures that any player who wants to self-exclude can do so seamlessly, affecting their access across all participating platforms.

Responsible Gambling Features

One of the key aspects to pass the UKGC audit is tohave solid responsible gambling tools in place. Your platform needs to make it easy for players to set deposit limits, self-exclude, or get reality checks. These aren’t just optional features—they’re mandatory.

Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. If a player bets large amounts—let’s say, £2,000 to £4,000 or more—you need to step in and check their source of funds. Do they have a steady income? Are they in danger of losing more than they can afford? You have to dig deep.

And if someone is spending even larger sums, like £100,000, you’re looking at a high-risk player. In this case, you need to verify where this wealth is coming from. Is it legit? Is it sustainable? This isn’t just for compliance but to protect both the player and your business.

Security Standards

When it comes to security, the UKGC doesn’t mess around. It’s not just about having a secure platform; you need to be fully transparent with your users. GDPR is a big deal in Europe, so you have to be clear about what you’re doing with cookies, how you’re handling user data, and if you’re sharing it with third parties.

This isn’t something you can wing. You’ll need legal experts who know the UK laws inside out. They’ll guide you on what’s required, and then your developers will have to build these features into your platform’s code. It’s a team effort to make sure everything’s up to standard.

Ongoing Monitoring and Compliance Audits

Once your platform is set up, the UKGC will keep a close watch. They’ll performregular compliance audits to ensure everything is up to standard. Even if you’ve been developing new features or tweaking things, they want to check that you’re still playing by the rules.

Why does this matter? Well, if you decide to cut corners or turn off certain features to save costs, the UKGC will spot it. They don’t take this lightly. Regular audits are their way of making sure you’re not only meeting regulations but also protecting your players.

If you’re under an international license, the game changes a bit. There’s less pressure, fewer audits, and a bit more freedom. You don’t have to match the strict standards of markets like the UK. That’s why many platforms opt for international licensing—it’s quicker, cheaper, and a bit less hassle.

Balancing Innovation with Regulatory Compliance: Staying Ahead Without Breaking the Rules

Innovation is exciting, but it can’t come at the expense of compliance. If you’re targeting a market like the UK, every new feature, and every big idea has to pass through the regulatory filter first.

Thinking of launching your own coin? Or maybe a unique marketing feature? You’ve got to check if the rules allow it. If not, all that effort could go to waste. So, your best bet is to plan carefully. Make sure your ideas align with what’s allowed before you invest time and money into development.

If the regulations don’t support your idea, it’s okay to put it on hold. Keep an eye on how the rules evolve. When the time is right, you can dust off those plans and bring them to life. This way, you’re not wasting resources on something that’s destined to hit a wall.

Online Casino Compliance

The Complexity of Integrating Payment Gateways and Financial Systems in Your Online Casino Business

Starting an online casino is no small feat. One of the biggest hurdles? Payments. Handling multiple payment methods, and currencies, and ensuring everything flows smoothly can get complicated quickly. But, if you’re up for the challenge, it’s absolutely doable. Here’s what you need to keep in mind.

Supporting Multiple Payment Processing Methods

Your platform has to cater to players from all over, each with their own preferred ways to pay. It’s not just about credit cards or PayPal—though those are important—it’s about making sure you’ve got a payment gateway that can handle everything from fiat to crypto without breaking a sweat.

Pretty standard, right? Everyone’s got a Visa or MasterCard in their wallet. But it’s not just about accepting these cards. You’ve got to make sure your payment processor can handle all the fraud checks, secure processing, and any region-specific quirks. Choosing a reliable partner for this is key because if your system hiccups, it could cost you.

E-wallets like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller are blowing up, and for good reason—they make deposits and withdrawals super easy. But don’t just pick any e-wallet provider. You need ones that are popular and trusted in your target markets. And make sure they’re fully integrated, so there are no hiccups when players want to move their money around.

Now we’re getting into tricky territory. Supporting crypto—Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, you name it—requires a solid system that can handle these transactions without a hitch. You need to convert these cryptos into something your games can use, keep up with fluctuating exchange rates, and factor in all the little transaction fees. It’s a lot to juggle, but if you get it right, you’re golden.

Handling Multiple Currencies

Players from different parts of the world will want to see their money in a familiar format. Brazilian Real, Canadian Dollars, Euros—you name it. Your casino might be set to USD by default, but your players should be able to see their balances in their currency of choice.

Managing all these currencies means your platform needs to be smart about real-time conversions. It’s got to factor in exchange rates, fees, and show the right balance. Imagine a player tops up with 100 USDT—they’ll want to see the equivalent in their local currency, minus fees. If your rates are off, they’ll notice—and they won’t be thrilled.

Cryptos add another layer to this. Not all games accept digital currencies directly, so your system might need to convert them to fiat for gameplay. That means handling exchange rates, commissions, and ensuring players see the correct values no matter what game they’re playing.

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User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI): The Foundation of Player Retention

When it comes to running an online casino,user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) are game-changers. I mean, think about it. The first thing your players see when they land on your site is the design. If it’s clunky or confusing, they’re not going to stick around. So, let’s break down what makes for a killer design and why it’s worth the investment.

Simplicity is key. It’s tempting to go all out with flashy features and complicated designs, but that’s usually a trap. Players want to find what they’re looking for without jumping through hoops. If they have to click five times just to top up their account, they’re going to get frustrated and leave. The goal? Make everything accessible in two, maybe three clicks. Think of it like shopping on Amazon—select your item, click buy, and boom, done. That’s the level of simplicity we’re aiming for.

Online Casino Business Examples

Now, let’s talk about the look. Visual appeal is more than just making something look good. It’s about making sure your site feels modern and trustworthy. You’ve probably noticed that big players in the market—those who spend millions on marketing—are always updating their designs. That’s because tastes change and technology evolves. So, what looked amazing a few years ago might seem outdated now. It’s smart to study the designs of successful casinos and see what’s working for them. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Take what’s proven to work, tweak it to match your brand, and make sure it’s appealing to your target audience. This doesn’t mean copying, but being inspired by layouts, colors, and features that are already converting well.

Fast loading times are non-negotiable. Seriously, in this day and age, no one’s going to wait for your site to load, especially if they’re on mobile. If your site takes more than a few seconds to appear, you’re going to lose players faster than you can say “jackpot.” And it’s not just about your website speed; games need to load quickly too. This is where your platform’s architecture comes in. If you’re serving customers in, say, Brazil but your servers are all the way in Malta, that’s a problem. You need to think about where your servers are located and whether your platform can handle high traffic from different regions. And don’t forget about your software providers—those games need to load just as fast as your site.

The point is, every little delay adds up. So, optimize your site, streamline the design, and make sure everything from payments to game loading times is lightning fast.

Smooth Navigation

Getting the navigation right on your online casino is crucial. It’s all about making sure players can find what they need quickly and without frustration. If the site feels like a maze, they’re not going to stick around.

  • Logical Menu Structure: First off, your menu needs to make sense. It should be clear and intuitive, with categories and subcategories that are easy to understand. Players shouldn’t have to dig around to find a game or feature—they should be able to get there in a click or two. Take a look at what the big players in the industry are doing. You’ll notice they keep things simple and straightforward, often breaking down their menus into logical sections like “Slots,” “Live Casino,” and “Promotions.” This helps players jump from one section to another without getting lost.
  • Search Functionality: Good search functionality is a game-changer. Imagine a player wants to find a specific game but can’t remember the exact title. They should be able to type in just a few letters—like “Evo” for Evolution Gaming—and instantly see a list of matching games. This not only makes it easier for them to find what they’re looking for but also keeps them engaged and happy. If your search function is clunky or doesn’t offer predictive suggestions, you’re going to lose people fast.

Mobile-friendly Design: Most of your players will probably be using their smartphones, sohaving a mobile-friendly design is non-negotiable. Everything that works on your desktop site should be just as smooth and responsive on mobile. Think about those moments when someone has a few minutes to kill—maybe they’re on a break at work or waiting for a bus. They’re going to want to jump into a game quickly, have some fun, and then get back to whatever they were doing. If your site is laggy or hard to navigate on their phone, they’re not coming back.

Seamless Game Experience

Now, let’s get into the actual game experience. This is where players will spend most of their time, so it needs to be flawless. From loading times to controls, every little detail matters.

No one likes waiting for games to load.If it takes more than a few seconds, you’re going to lose players to competitors.This is where working with your software providers is key. Make sure they know your target markets so they can connect your platform to the right servers. If you’re targeting Asia, for example, make sure the games are loading from Asian servers to keep everything running smoothly.

 Players want to be in control, and that means everything should be easy to use. Want to switch games? That should be a click away. Need to exit a game? There should be a clear and simple way to do that without jumping through hoops. You don’t want to overload them with too many options or make them hunt around for the basics. Keep it clean and straightforward.

 Consistency is key, whether someone is playing on their phone or desktop, or jumping from live casino to slots. Everything should look and feel cohesive. If your platform feels different across devices or game types, it’s going to confuse and frustrate players. The goal is to create a seamless experience that feels familiar no matter what they’re doing. When players know what to expect, they’re more likely to stay and enjoy themselves.

Personalization and Customization

So, personalization and customization are no longer just nice to have—they’re essential. Every player has their own preferences, and if your platform can’t cater to them, they’re going to find one that does. We’re talking about more than just offering a variety of games. It’s about making each player feel like the platform was built just for them.

Online Casino Personalization

Think about it like this: every player should have their own unique dashboard, tailored to their gaming habits. Imagine John from Canada logs in, and he’s immediately greeted with a selection of slots from his favorite provider, while Jack from Malaysia sees table games like Baccarat, because that’s what he loves. It’s a bit like YouTube recommending videos based on your viewing history. If you can achieve this level of personalization, you’re already ahead of the game. This is where AI and machine learning tools come into play, analyzing player behavior and preferences to create that individualized experience.

Just like how Netflix suggests movies and shows, your casino should recommend games based on a player’s past choices. If someone has been playing a lot of Pragmatic Play slots, show them the newest releases from that provider. If another player enjoys live casino games, highlight the latest offerings in that category. The more relevant your recommendations, the more likely players are to stay engaged. And this isn’t just about keeping them entertained; it’s about building loyalty and encouraging longer play sessions without being pushy.

Online Casino Personalized Bonuses

Bonuses and promotions should also be personalized. If I’m a player who loves crash games and I log in every Wednesday for a quick session, then offer me a promotion that fits that habit—maybe a free deposit after my first two minutes of play. Timing is everything. If you offer the right bonus at the right moment, there’s a good chance I’ll stick around for another ten or fifteen minutes, maybe even top up my account, and continue playing. This isn’t just about throwing offers at players; it’s about understanding their behavior and tailoring promotions to fit their specific habits. It’s a small effort that can lead to a significant increase in your GGR (Gross Gaming Revenue).

Testing and Continuous Improvement. 

You know, there’s no such thing as a “perfect” design. You might have something that looks great right now, but trust me, there’s always room to improve things, right? That’s why it’s so important to always keep testing and improving. You’ll discover little changes that can really bump up those conversion rates, keep your players hooked, and even make your brand stand out more. It’s not just about making things look pretty—it’s about crafting a player experience that keeps them coming back.

  • A/B Testing: If you’re serious about this, you’ll need to be always testing, that’s where A/B testing comes into play. It’s like having two versions of your site and seeing which one resonates better with your audience. For example, show one version to a segment of your players and another to a different group. This way, you can find out which design drives more engagement or spending. Your platform needs to handle this easily because these insights are gold for making data-driven decisions.
  • Player Feedback: Don’t underestimate the power of just asking your players what they think. Even something as simple as a quick chat with customer support can give you insights that no data ever will. You’ll learn what they love, what bugs them, and what they’d like to see next. It’s like having a direct line to what your players want, and using that to shape your platform can really set you apart.
Online Casino Feedback Module

Continuous Updates

 You know how it goes—there’s no “finish line” here. Every time you tweak the design or add a new feature, something else might break or need fixing. It’s just part of the deal. Regular updates keep your platform running smoothly and make sure your players are happy. The key is to make sure each update actually improves the experience, rather than making things complicated.

Online Casino Launch Budget

Scaling Your iGaming Platform: How to Plan for Growth from the Start

Scaling your online casino is one of those things that can make or break your business. It’s not just about handling a handful of players when you first launch. Your platform should be ready to smoothly manage 10,000 or even 100,000 players without a hitch. Let me share a real example to show why this is so crucial.

Let me share a story. I had this client who spent two years building their online casino from scratch. They were really focused on creating a fantastic sportsbook and tacked on the casino almost as an afterthought. During testing, everything seemed smooth, but when they went live and thousands of players started joining, the whole thing just fell apart. The site was so slow that no one could even place a bet.

They tried fixing it on their own for six months. Then they came to us for help. We had a solution, but it would take another six months and a lot more money to implement. Unfortunately, they just didn’t have the resources to continue. They had to shut everything down after investing two years of work. It was truly heartbreaking.

The big takeaway? You’ve got to think about scaling right from the start. You need to plan for how your platform will handle real traffic, not just the small group of testers you’re working with initially. It’s easy to think, “I’ll worry about that later,” but by the time “later” comes, it might be too late.

And it’s not just about losing players if your site crashes under the load. Imagine all the money you’ve spent on marketing to bring those players in. If they get frustrated and leave, that budget is gone, and so are your chances of getting them back. They’ll just find another casino that runs smoothly, and your platform will be left in the dust.

Now, I don’t want to sound like I’m all doom and gloom here. There’s a solution—start planning for growth from day one. Yes, you’ll still need to make adjustments as you go along. Yes, you’ll have to fine-tune things as you scale. But the more you anticipate these challenges early on, the less stressful and costly it’ll be in the long run.

So, be smart about it. Plan ahead. Think about scalability from the get-go. It’s one of those things that, if done right, can save you a ton of headaches and keep your casino running smoothly as you grow. 

Choosing the Right Team for Your Online Casino Platform: Why Experience Matters

One of the more important choices is who should you trust to put your online casino platform together. If you’re thinking about outsourcing, don’t just look at price tags. You need a partner who’s been in the trenches and knows the industry inside and out. Would you trust your project to a general IT or security systems company that has never developed a single gaming platform? Kind of like hiring a carpenter to build a spaceship, sounds a bit silly, doesn’t it?

Going with an inexperienced team can lead to costly mistakes. You might think a small team can fix things as you go, or that adding features like crypto support later on is no big deal. But these are not simple add-ons. If your platform isn’t designed with these functionalities from day one, you’re looking at a complete overhaul down the line. And that’s not just a headache; it’s a massive waste of time and above all, money. We’re talking about possibly doubling your initial investment just to make things work properly.

Planning Is Everything

Think of your platform as a house. You wouldn’t start building without blueprints, right? You’d want an architect who’s designed homes before, not just someone who’s good with tools. The same goes for your online casino. The planning stage is where you should be investing in top-tier talent, people who know the gaming industry, understand compliance, and can foresee potential pitfalls.

We’ve seen people lose millions because they didn’t think ahead. They picked the wrong developers, cut corners, and ended up with a platform that couldn’t scale or support new features. Trust me, it’s painful to watch, and even more painful to be the one writing those checks to fix the problems.

A good development team should understand more than just code. They need to grasp the nuances of the gaming industry, from customer behavior to regulatory compliance. Without this insight, you could end up with a beautiful-looking platform that doesn’t function properly or, worse, violates legal requirements.

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What to Consider When You Build a Gambling Website: In-House Development Pitfalls

Now, teams work on their platforms for years. Thinking you can get it all done in, let’s say, three months? That’s just not realistic because development is an ongoing process.

Teams working on the platform are at it for two, three, five, or even ten years, building everything they have and handling all the integrations. That’s what shapes the product into what it is today. But here’s the thing: what it is today is never enough. Markets change, regulations change, games change. Tons of things that didn’t exist will pop up in just a few months—bonus systems, tournaments, game integrations, new offers, you name it.

Now, in-house development often seems like the magic solution many come up with when they decide to start a casino business, but it usually doesn’t work out. It might succeed for a tiny fraction of those who start this venture. People realize that the team they need is more than just a few developers. Until the platform is done and running smoothly, there can be as many as 300 developers working on it. Development costs never stop. Over one and a half years, you might spend one and a half million dollars; over two, three, or four years, it’s just a matter of doing the math.

Let me share another story. You might remember I mentioned my friend earlier—the product owner I met in Dubai. Well, last year, we were sharing a taxi, and I asked where he was headed. He told me he was going to see a billionaire who had been building their platform for three years and had invested five million dollars already, but they just couldn’t get it done. He was going to analyze, advise, and consult on what to do. That’s the complexity we’re talking about.

In-house development gives you more control, sure, but it comes with added costs—recruiting, salaries, and ongoing management. People get sick, find other jobs, resign, and then you have key positions vacant. You have to find replacements, and they need time to adapt and be trained. This needs to be planned from the very beginning.

The team you build needs not just software development knowledge; they need experience in building gambling platforms. They might have developed IT systems in the past, but when faced with a gambling platform project, they might fail miserably because they don’t know the gambling market or the foundational technology. They might overlook many critical aspects.

So, the core of your team should have experience working with online casino sites and building them. Otherwise, you could face many bad consequences—like your platform never being scalable or ending up with poor code. We’ve had calls from software development teams with no experience in the development of online gambling platforms. Six months in, they’ve wasted tons of the entrepreneur’s investment money, and now they reach out to us saying, “Listen, we know we’ve missed so many things. Could you please explain about licensing, regulation, how this thing works, how to integrate games, what data to send back to the platform?” They don’t know so many things, often even the basics, including the best tools.

These guys did it wrong because their main idea was probably to close the client and then figure things out. But along the way, they wasted time and the client’s money, which is, of course, unacceptable, to say the least. So if you decide to go with an in-house development team, make sure they have experience, that you have a business plan, and that you understand the scale of the project—you’ll have to connect hundreds of people during the development of this platform, and it should be a never-ending process for you.

Online Casino Business Budget

So Is Building from Scratch the Right Move?

Now the Million Dollar question: Is building your online casino from scratch really the best option? It’s tempting, right? You get full control, your own brand, your own platform. But it’s also like deciding to walk across a desert. You’d better be sure you have enough water, food, and resources to make it to the other side. Otherwise, it’s not just a tough journey—it’s an impossible one.

Think about the budget, time, and human resources you have. Building a platform from scratch without knowing the business inside out is a huge risk. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and many just don’t make it. You’ve got to be prepared to go through a long, hard road before you see any real success. Picture it like this: you’re trekking across a desert, hoping to reach that oasis where resources, like cash flow, are plentiful. But you can’t get there if you run out of water halfway, right?

Creating the platform is just the beginning. Even when you’ve built it, only 50% of the work is done. The other 50%? That’s making sure your online casino actually succeeds. You need to generate cash flow—that’s the fountain of water that keeps your business alive, covering all the investments you’ve made, not just financially but at the end of the day emotionally too.

So, before you jump into building your own platform, really think it through. Do you have everything you need for this long journey? If not, it might be smarter to consider other options or ways to enter the market. Building from scratch sounds great, but only if you’re fully equipped for the journey ahead.

Online Casino Turnkey vs Proprietary

Proprietary Platform - The Best Alternative to This Ambitious Idea?

But what’s the alternative to this ambitious idea? Good question! As we mentioned earlier, you could go with a proprietary platform! This means partnering with a team that actually sells you the source code and keeps working on the project, developing it, building the code, and adding the features you need.

The main reason companies decide to get a proprietary platform is that they want to be different. They want to choose and control their own destiny and future, building things nobody else has. The second reason is they want independence. They don’t want to rely on another team like a turnkey platform or, worse, a white-label platform, which by the way is complete nonsense.

With turnkey solutions, you don’t make the rules. They have their own developers and plans, and what they build may not align with your plans. Your idea to build something might never materialize because they have a backlog of ideas and code to work on for the next one or two years. Finding time for your project is unrealistic because they support dozens of other clients, and it’s just not a priority.

So, these two ideas—costs and choosing your own destiny—are the main drivers for building your own platform, the source code you can control. Now, outsourcing this development might seem like a fine option. You might think, “I can go on Fiverr or Upwork and find five or ten developers to build the platform.” As I explained, this is a very bad idea because the team you’ll need will involve dozens and dozens of people that you’ll have to hire and fire repeatedly. There might be 300 different developers working on the project over time.

They might have the wrong idea, and it’ll take another one or two years for them to actually learn. Along the way, they’ll spend your money as they learn, burning through a lot of it. After three to six months, you might realize the project isn’t moving anywhere, and you’ll have to close it. So, outsourcing in a very general way isn’t good—it’s just not the most effective approach.

A different aspect is when you’re buying proprietary code from a team that has been working on this market for many years, and they don’t just abandon the project. They’re not a team you outsource one by one; they have a well-tuned team that has worked together for months and years. They have the hiring process in place, the knowleadge, and they’ll be there with you. If we consider this as outsourcing, then it’s definitely a much better idea.

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How to Avoid the Software Development Nightmare

Over the years, I’ve had countless calls with business owners, product developers, and industry specialists. I’ve seen the heartbreak of people pouring their resources into building their own platforms, only to see those dreams fall apart. Even experienced operators who’ve built multiple platforms will tell you: it’s often better to buy a pre-built solution that’s already 80% ready.

In fact, these experts—those who have been through this process—often say they’d never build their own platform from scratch again. The time, complexity, and cost make it a tough journey. Ten years ago, building from scratch was your only option.

The price of ready-made platforms can vary greatly. However, nowadays, you can get a fully functional one starting at around €200,000, depending on your needs and where the developers are located.

A highly developed platform from a top team could cost over a million euros, but as I mentioned, you can also find good options for €500,000 or even €200,000. It all depends on the complexity and the developers’ location. Developers in Asia, for instance, can provide the same quality at a much lower cost than those in Europe or the U.S.

Buying a good source code that meets 80% of your requirements can save you millions and years of development time. But there’s a big catch: don’t fall for the trap of thinking you can buy the source code and then hire a small team to maintain and develop it. It’s like buying a spaceship and hoping you can fly to Mars with just a user manual. It doesn’t work that way.

You need a team that knows every detail of the platform, especially when things inevitably go wrong. And trust me, they will. You can’t expect a handful of developers to manage it all. That’s why, when you buy a platform, it’s crucial to have the original development team offer ongoing support and maintenance. They’ll be there to fix bugs, handle updates, and develop new features based on your needs.

If you want to train your own team eventually, that’s fine. Just make sure the original developers are around to guide them until they’re up to speed. This way, you’re not left stranded with a platform that nobody knows how to run.

The Reward of Full Control: Leveraging Custom Features and Ownership

When you have your own platform, everything changes. You’re not just another online casino operator—you’re in complete control. This means you don’t have to deal with the limitations and costs that come with white labels or turnkey solutions.

With a white label, you’re basically just running the marketing. You don’t own the platform, and you end up paying hefty fees—sometimes up to 50% of your revenue. It’s not the best deal, especially when you consider the lack of control.

Turnkey gives you more control, like having your own license and some say in operations. But you’re still renting the platform, paying a percentage of your earnings, and limited by their partners and features. It’s a better option, but not ideal if you want real control over your business.

This is the holy grail. Full ownership means you’re in the driver’s seat—literally and figuratively. You’re not paying anyone a cut of your revenue, and you can run things your way. It’s a bigger upfront investment (we’re talking €200,000 and up), but you’re building something solid that you control completely. You choose your partners, your tech, your marketing—everything. You don’t have to ask anyone’s permission to make changes, and that’s powerful.

Yes, it’s more expensive in the beginning. But think about what you’re getting. You’re building an asset that will be valued much higher than a business that just leases a platform. When you own everything, your business isn’t just about current profits; it’s about the potential for the future. Buyers see that you’re not just another operator—you’re a true owner, with a unique product and a brand that’s yours from top to bottom.

So, if you’re in this for the long haul and have the budget, full ownership is a no-brainer. It’s like investing in real estate instead of renting. You’re building equity, creating something that you can grow, sell, or keep for as long as you want. You’re not just setting up a casino; you’re creating a business that’s truly yours, with all the freedom and control that comes with it. And in this industry, that’s pure gold.

If you’re ready to take that leap, I say go for it. It’s a bigger commitment, sure, but the rewards—both financial and personal—are huge.

Conclusion

Starting an online casino from scratch is a daunting task. While the allure of full control and customization is tempting, it’s essential to recognize the immense complexities involved. From the initial website design to integrating multiple types of gambling games, the process is fraught with challenges that can derail even the most determined ventures. We’ve highlighted the significant costs, both hidden and upfront, that can exceed several million dollars just to get the basics in place. The journey doesn’t end there—continuous development and maintenance require ongoing investment, making the cost to build and sustain a platform substantial.

In this article, we’ve walked you through the reality of building a gambling affiliate platform. We covered everything from the technical development needed for features like live games and payment systems to the intricacies of navigating licensing requirements. The key takeaway is clear: while owning your platform offers unparalleled control, the path is long, complex, and not for everyone.

If you’re passionate and may want to start your own gambling online venture, we encourage you to consider all options carefully. For many, leveraging a pre-built solution tailored to your needs is a smarter move. It allows you to make your online business operational faster, without sacrificing quality or compliance.

License Gentlemen offers comprehensive solutions to simplify this journey. Our team is dedicated to streamlining the licensing process and providing robust support so you can focus on what truly matters—delivering an exceptional betting experience. Visit License Gentlemen to learn more about how we can help your platform thrive, ensuring compliance while enhancing the appeal of your gambling offerings. Take the next step with us and turn your vision into reality.

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Maxim is the founder of LicenseGentlemen.com
We help our small and large clients with online gambling licensing, platforms and payment system providers. After more than 300 successful licensing projects, we know exactly what problems every startup faces. We help our clients get the license quickly, choose the best platform and connect all payment methods so they can focus on their business.
We also produce free content you can find on this blog or on YouTube.

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    We help businesses to get a license fast. So they don’t wait for months but can launch in a matter of weeks.