Open Online Casino
Online gambling has always been one of the most lucrative and desirable areas to explore for business owners regardless of whether they have experience in the field. In order to open a successful online casino that will benefit an owner and bring pleasure to customers, one needs to follow the proper sequence of steps paying serious attention to all details. As an online casino software provider, SoftSwiss is glad to share its experience to help future online casino owners avoid common mistakes that may impede business launch, inflate budget or even close the business down.
- Answer (1 of 18): 1. Choose reliable software providers Acquiring a high-quality gambling software is by far the most crucial step in opening an online casino, as it will both set and determine its performance expectations, so securing a deal with the trusted softwareb provider is an absolute mu.
- SlotsUp is the next generation gaming website with free casino games aimed to provide the review on all online slots. Our first and foremost goal is to constantly update the slot machines demo collection, categorizing them based on casino software and features like Bonus Rounds or Free Spins.
Launched by experienced online casino operator Genesis Global, who is also responsible for the successful Casino Joy site, Casino Gods is an eye-catching modern casino site with an entertaining mythological theme and is licensed by reputable regulators the MGA and the UKGC. Just follow these simple steps to initiate the process: Visit the ZeroEdge Bet website Fill in the easy application form Send your Zerocoins to bankroll That’s all it takes to start your own cryptocurrency based online casino and have it up and running under the ZeroEdge domain in less than 5 minutes. Brittany G won $48.00 in Lock It Link Night Life; peter j won $47.50 in Double Patriot; Elizabeth A won $7.70 in King of Slots Touch; Mariya S won $116.51 in Great Guardians; Bonnie R won $236.80 in Twin Spin Megaways Touch; Lorraine L won $573.50 in Cleopatra; Barbara R won $31.40 in Legend of the Pharaoh; Maryann S won $2,016.58 in China Shores Quick Strike; Kelli H won $7.00 in Spinata.
Step 1. Preparation
a) Legal issues
Online gambling is subject to licensing, thus an essential thing is to think about choosing the jurisdiction and obtaining a license. There are two main venues where it can be done: offshore countries and the European Union countries. Each has its pros and cons – budget, time, reputation. Usually, it takes from a couple of months to a year to obtain a gaming license, for example, 6 months in Malta.
The next step after choosing the jurisdiction is to register a legal entity – a gaming company, opening a bank account, and making agreements with payment system providers which will make the legal and financial infrastructure complete.
As an alternative to this method, there is a white label solution scheme which means leasing of software together with the gaming license and financial infrastructure from a software provider and operating your casino under your own brand but with the ready-to-use infrastructure. Such a scheme protects from excessive legal and banking bothers but involves additional costs.
b) Software
As soon as all legal issues are investigated separately or simultaneously, it is time to choose a professional online casino software provider. While searching the market it is wise to evaluate the price and quality balance. Besides the attractive design and a set of popular games, a quality product shall also include a reliable gaming platform that allows for effective management of casino business and includes the following components:
• CMS
• Player management system
• Bonus and promotions management system
• Game management system
• Payment system management interface
• Cashier system
• Reporting engine
• Support of different roles for administrators
• Affiliate management system
• Anti-fraud system
• Retention email system
The regular software and game updates, hosting, and technical support shall also be part of the provider’s package. Professional suppliers always take the responsibility for the full technical support of the after-launch product operation.
The software package that includes all of the above components might be on the upper edge in terms of costs, but the financial investments are worth it because as a result, you get a reliable partner ready to support you during the whole project life cycle. Be aware of the fact that buying a cheaper solution might result in double spending in the future.
c) Marketing planning
An effective marketing strategy is a key point to online casino success. At this stage, it is strategically correct to make a rigid competitor’s research. First of all, it will provide you with a full picture of the market: who the leaders are, what strategies they use, what return on investment they get, etc. Thus, knowing the game rules allows creating a unique offer that customers won’t be able to decline. Using the method of benchmarking plays perfect for the good of online casino success, and what is more important, it is free. Plan your marketing strategy by adopting the best practices of promotion, advertising, and brand development.
If a company starting an online casino is operating a land-based gaming business, it is crucial to bring the existing clients to play in Internet-casino by offering attractive bonuses and thus developing loyalty and respect to the website. Any know-how are always welcome but be aware of wrong calculated ideas from the mathematical point of view.
The next move is to contact internet marketing companies or individuals specializing in online gambling: SEO agencies, email marketing companies, media resources providing casino overviews, etc. This will help define the best offers on the market and choose the right partners before the website is ready to launch.
At this stage, it is also time to think about your future bonus policy and affiliate marketing strategy, as well as check if the selected software provides the appropriate technical opportunities.
d) Budgeting
Once the costs for legal issues, software and marketing are defined, it’s time to plan your budget. The best option for startup companies is to set the budget at least for the first year of operation, whereas for experienced companies who are entering the igaming market, the budget shall be defined for as long as possible. Don’t plan your budget after setting up the online casino website, plan it before. If you are a startup-company you have to understand that your costs will be higher. Your goal is to earn trust of players from the beginning. Existing land-based brands already have trust.
Below there is an approximate expenses separation a future casino owner shall have in mind while developing a detailed budget within a business plan.
| Pre-Launch expenses | After-Launch expenses, 1st year |
| Company set up – 3-7% | Company running – 5% |
| License set up – 10-30% | License fees – 1-10% |
| Software set up – 25- 35% | Software support – 10% |
| Staff hiring – 10-20% | Games Providers – 5% |
| Pre-Marketing – 15-20% | Marketing – 50% |
| Other costs – 5-15% | Staff – 20-30% |
At the pre-launch stage, the biggest budget share shall be devoted to software setup in order to provide future users with a quality product. But after the launch, it is vitally important to address half the funds to casino marketing and promotion.
Step 2. Launch
The time frame for an online casino launch depends on both, business owner and software provider. Usually, it takes up to 3 months for the provider to set up the software. It includes website design, platform, and games set up, custom settings, and possible individual features. The business owner may speed up the process of launch by providing regular feedback to all questions that designers and programmers might have. Any issue can be resolved if discussed in time.
Besides, the business owner shall timely address the issues discussed above:
• Obtaining a gaming license;
• Opening a corporate bank account and merchant account;
• Making agreements with payment system providers.
Setting legal and financial infrastructure is the task that only the business owner can accomplish. In SoftSwiss we provide consulting services (best options, contacts, etc.) on such points but we can’t guarantee success as the whole responsibility lies on the business owner. You will have to collect a bunch of documents for lawyers and banks like certified passport copy, utility bill copy, certificate of non-criminal records…
Step 3. Marketing
The secret of the most popular and successful online casino success and popularity is not about the top-notch design or billions of games included. The best online casinos are simply designed and contain 500 games on average at the beginning. The secret is in responsible marketing strategy implemented on all stages of the project. The online casino market is an extremely competitive one: first, it is very hard to break into it, and then it is even harder to take a firm stand. Thus, a company has only one chance to win a fierce race among competitors. Below is a list of points that are vital for any online casino that is planning to be prosperous.
• Positioning – Gather professional marketing team and develop strategic and tactical development phases, announce your goals (business, company, brand), and mission. Determine what niche you would like to step in, how you are different from the competitors, what unique features your casino has, and what steps you are going to make further.
Use only quality games from trusted game providers. You can start your casino with a limited number of game providers, with a focus on games based on HTML 5 technology. This technology allows users to enjoy rich graphics games and enhance the overall experience of playing casino games on mobile devices. At SoftSwiss, among our own high-quality HTML5 games we offer game content from well-known providers, such as Amatic Industries, Microgaming, NetEnt, and we are sure about their quality.
• Prelaunch advertising campaign – Announce your casino, inspire your potential customers to wait for its launch; use all possible methods: online advertising, presentations, publications, etc.
• Online casino promotion after launch – Use SEO, online advertising, banner networks. Everything will work in such a competitive market.
• Client attraction and retention campaign – Establish an efficient support service or 24h call-center which your customers can address at any time. Take care of your clients by making navigation through the website: create “How to” sections or FAQs, write manuals on how to play the games, provide demo versions, make everything clear and understandable.
Develop a bonus system, make auctions and entertain and reward your customers all the time.
Remember! Only business owners can establish the right content on the page. The software provider should give you the possibility to work with the content, but not create the content.
•Implement affiliate networks – Develop contacts with partners which will be an impetus to online casino development.
Additional Step 4. Bitcoin casino
Forward-looking online casino software providers offer Bitcoin as an alternative payment system for their solutions. Online casino owners all over the world appreciated such advantages of Bitcoin casino as significant savings on license application costs and monthly fees, increased customer loyalty, fast payment processing and many more.
As an acknowledged Bitcoin casino expert, SoftSwiss would like to recommend all potential Bitcoin casino owners to get a clear understanding of the cryptocurrency, research the peculiarities of Bitcoin gambling, and learn how transactions work by making a couple of bets at an existing casino. Understanding the core of the payment system is essential in business, moreover, it will help to build a strong marketing campaign and further manage the Bitcoin casino. Contact SoftSwiss for professional advice on Bitcoin casino launch.
Managing an online casino is hard work but with all legal and financial issues resolved in a timely manner, quality software chosen, and a strong marketing strategy in place, it can be successful. The demand for online casinos will increase – specialists predict 40% growth of this market segment in the nearest year. Following all the steps described above will help a newly made online casino to develop sustainably and outweigh the competition. Good luck!
Also, learn how to start an online casino with SoftSwiss.
It is undeniable that the Internet is taking over the traditional media: news articles are published online, photos are shared on social media, not kept in family albums, and tickets to concerts can be bought through the computer, forget the lines. The entertainment industry is evolving as well, and we are not only talking about streaming services rivaling the television. And we at Maxpay are here to look at the situation more in-depth.
The first online gambling sites emerged in the middle of the 1990s, but have become more common in recent years. In 2019, the global online gambling market was estimated to be $53,7 billion worth with Europe as the biggest market accumulating $22 billion. It is expected that in the next 7 years this industry’s global CAGR will be 11,5%, that’s $127,3 billion by 2027.
Casinos are the second most popular form of online gambling in Europe, accounting for 32% of the market share in 2018. Online casinos were only surpassed by online sports betting (42,5%) but had left lotteries (12,6%) and internet poker (5%) far behind.
Sounds reassuring, but does having an online casino is more promising and secure than the offline one? You see, there are benefits for both internet casinos’ owners and their clients.
The former don’t have to buy or rent space for the real-life casino, the number of employees is significantly smaller, no worries about utility tax or potential robbers. And the customers don’t need to visit another country or drive for hours to get to a casino – they can visit one from the comfort of their homes any time they want. And considering that right now most of the countries are under quarantine due to COVID-19 pandemic, opening an online gambling service seems like a much better idea. For instance, an Israeli firm Optimove reported a whopping 225% increase of people who started playing online poker for the first time, after the pandemic struck. Also, consider that even after the lockdown is over, many people will be cautious about visiting land-based casinos, prioritizing safety.
How much money do you need to open an online casino?
Now, if you are determined to start an online casino, you first need to figure out how much does it cost. Let’s see what you’ll need to acquire:
License. The amount you will spend on a license depends on a country you get it in. You will need to spend around €115 thousand for an application and monthly fees, and that’s a pretty inexpensive option. Also, some jurisdictions require that you have a share capital minimum of €100 thousand. And don’t you forget about taxes.
Website. The prices for developing a website are extremely diverse as well, ranging from €2,7 thousand to over €10 thousand, as you will need a highly functional site that’s able to host lots of visitors at the same time.
Own Your Own Casino
Software. The more games and slots you’ve got – the better, but it comes at a cost. And if you want the games to be unique, you will need to buy a development package, prices are ranging from €100 000 to €500 000.
Marketing. Advertainment is vital, and online casinos are spending millions on it each year. As for the newcomers, we recommend you pay at least €600 to €800 thousand in marketing expenses in the first year.
In total, you will need to spend from 1 to 1,5 million euros to open an online casino. But keep in mind that if your strategy is well thought out the spendings will pay off.
How to start an online casino?
So, what do you need to know and do to open an online casino:
First and foremost, set your plans and strategy straight. To open an online casino, you need to figure out a lot of aspects, such as: what will your website look like and what unique features and games will it have, which countries would you like to target, will you need the help of industry experts or SEO-managers to promote your business, etc. If you took care of the planning, you can proceed with the next step.
Choose a gaming software provider. There are plenty of services with a variety of features, so make sure you are not going with the first one you find. The provider must be proven reliable, as well as have customizable software solutions, so you can make your casino look and feel the way you want to.
The selection of available games and slots may vary, some providers develop games themselves, while others offer packages of games from different developers. Either way, the more gaming options you choose – the better, as clients’ preferences differ. Be determined, ask questions, and test services before signing a contract with a software provider.
Get an online gambling license. Having a license is vital to your business, even though the process of obtaining one may be time-consuming. Operating an online casino without a license is illegal. Moreover, most banks and payment service providers will not agree to work with a non-licensed gambling business.
To get a license you first need to choose a country – a gambling jurisdiction – to acquire it from. There are still a lot of places where online casinos are not legalized, but every region has at least one country where you can get your license. For instance, in Europe, you can obtain one under the jurisdiction of Malta, Montenegro, the Isle of Man, Britain, Gibraltar, and others.
Remember that every country has its own set of rules and requirements for online casinos, thus a business owner should choose a jurisdiction with the best possibilities for their company. And also, don’t forget the taxes that also differ locally.
Open Online Casino Business
To get a license, you will need to gather all the required documents and make sure that your gaming software provider and site are compliant with the country’s regulations.
Choose a bank or payment gateway service provider to accept money from your clients. It would be better if a PSP supports multiple payment methods, as more people from different countries will be able to use your services.
Note that online gambling and casinos are classified as high-risk businesses, meaning that your company has greater chances to face chargebacks. Because of that, banks usually charge these types of business higher service fees to ensure the merchants are better protected from fraud. For instance, our payment gateway service provider, which is well-experienced in dealing with high-risk companies. Maxpay is partnered with an anti-fraud platform called Covery, which significantly minimizes the number of fraudulent transactions. We also offer chargeback representation services, meaning that we can process our client’s chargeback and give dispute recommendations.
And lastly, keep in mind that just opening an online casino is not enough for it to be successful – you need to have an impeccable and long-term PR and SEO strategies and be ready to encourage your most dedicated clients, as well as come up with new ideas for games and challenges. In the end, following these tips and rules might make your business highly profitable.
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Own A Casino
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