Online casino is a great business that can bring in big profits. But it requires a lot of investment and persistence to enter the market. And now our expert author and founder of CasinoReal site Antonio Matias will tell you more about all the details of the software. If you want to start a gambling business as an online casino operator, the initial investment will be very impressive, and the difficulties associated with licensing are huge. But this approach will ultimately bring huge profits. If you plan to start as an online casino partner, it will be easier and cheaper, but the profit will be smaller.

Step 1: Software Providers

Before you start building your site, you need to decide what online casino and gaming software (content) you will use. The software will run the site and will be the foundation of your gaming platform, helping you manage operations: payment processing, marketing, accounts, etc.

If software is the foundation of your site, then gaming content will be its facade. Games are what internet users will visit your site for and what they will interact with. That is why gaming content is one of the main factors when choosing a casino software provider. In this context, there are two types of providers:

• The first ones develop their own games. If you choose such a provider, you will probably pay lower fees and have more flexibility in customizing and integrating game content. But in this case, you will most likely not have a very impressive list of games and there will be restrictions related to the integration of games from other operators. A complete ban on cooperation with other operators is possible.
• The latter offer packages with game content from other providers (B2B model). This option will allow you to diversify game content and simplify bureaucratic issues a little (you need to sign one contract with one provider, not several separate contracts with each game content operator), but you will need to pay additional fees for intermediary services.

In addition to the cooperation model, you need to pay attention to the method of payment. Usually, according to this criterion, suppliers are divided into those who ask for a monthly fee (similar to a monthly rent + percentage of profit), and those who do not require a monthly fee and provide source code files after purchase, giving maximum access to the software and complete data confidentiality. In this context, suppliers can be divided into three categories:

• Net Entertainment, Playtech.com and Micro Gaming are the top three online casino software providers, accounting for over 60% of the market. Your site should feature games from at least one of these developers, as their products instill a sense of reliability and fairness in players. The cost of cooperation with them is from 10,000 euros per month + at least 15% royalty.
• 1ClickGames.com, EveryMatrix.com, Finnplay.com — suppliers working on the B2B model. In addition to their own solutions for launching online casinos, they offer games from 10 third-party developers. Usually, this is a fairly impressive set of games — from the most popular to very niche ones (they even have binary options).
• CasinoWebScripts.com and similar providers offer a budget option for cooperation. The buyer receives the source code for the software to launch the casino and the game, as well as the opportunity to use this software for 100 years without monthly payments and royalties. The buyer pays once and chooses games from a fairly impressive list (from 150 games), and also orders the development of new games based on their ideas, if there is such a desire. The services of such companies cost from $ 100,000. Updates and lifetime support are usually included in the basic package.

Once you have decided what type of software vendor you need, don’t rush into making a choice. Research the best ones. Request information and contract templates from all potential partners so you can compare them before making a final decision. And never hesitate to ask questions that concern you and interest you.

Step 2: Game Content

When choosing gaming content, you need to focus on three things: variety, ease of integration, and quality of games. In terms of variety, the casino should provide the opportunity to play popular slots, baccarat, bingo, blackjack, roulette, poker, and bingo. In addition, you can connect software for bookmakers and give users the opportunity to bet on sports.

In terms of integration, you need online casino software and gaming content that can be easily combined via API. Where API (application programming interface) is a set of IT methods by which gaming software is integrated into work systems. The speed and reliability of games, as well as the security of their payment functions, depend on the quality of integration. In terms of game quality, you need to pay attention to the following things:

• Graphics. The interface and game graphics should be clear and of the highest quality (Full HD or Ultra HD 4K). If the graphics are bad, players will have a negative user experience, will try to find an alternative and will most likely find it in just a couple of clicks.
• Sound effects. Realistic and unique effects can create the right atmosphere and thus increase player involvement. Which in turn will help them play longer.
• Game animation. Movement and bright effects attract attention. And with their help, you can replace the real reward with graphic effects that can stimulate dopamine receptors (motivation to play) almost the same way as a reward in the form of real money.
• Interface. Should be convenient, understandable and respond to player-friendly key combinations (speeds up the game, thus increasing the number of roleplays).
• Mobile games: They bring up to 75% of the total revenue of online casinos, so it is highly recommended to choose cross-platform games that can be launched both through a browser and a mobile application.
• Branded games. Games based on famous movies, books, games, stories bring in big profits. But the problem is that such game content usually has a short “shelf life”, so it needs to be constantly updated.
• Security: This feature can only be fully tested after the online casino is launched, as it is most affected by the compatibility of casino software, game content, API, user devices, platforms, etc. Therefore, it is recommended to use game content from companies with a good reputation.

Update games and adapt them to current trends in pop culture. Use themes from movies and TV series. It will be useful to visit the otzovik website and check what they write about and their popularity among users. For example, in 2014, the gambling software developer Microgaming released two types of Game of Thrones slot machines: with 15 and 246 ways to win.

According to Statista, the final season of the series was watched by more than 13 million people. Considering that 26% of the world’s population has gambled at some point in their lives , it’s a rough guess that online casino sites featuring the game attracted 3.38 million new users.

Step 3: Game Licenses

If you choose a B2B provider, you will most likely receive a sublicense along with the software, which will allow you to legally conduct your gambling business without having to go through licensing yourself. This will save you a lot of time and money, but ultimately it is better to get your own license to ensure that your casino brings in maximum profits.

As a rule, there are 4 classes of such licenses on the market:

• poker, baccarat, bingo and other games of skill, in which the outcome depends on the player’s skills;
• lotteries and casinos using RNG (random number generator);
• bets on sports and other significant events (presidential elections, Nobel Prize awards, court decisions, etc.);
• gaming slots.

If you plan to open not only an online casino , but also a bookmaker’s office or a lottery, in some countries you can get a single document for all these types of activities. If there are no such plans, you need to apply for separate licenses for each type of activity.

The cost and speed of obtaining a license depends on the country. The most comfortable conditions and low prices are in offshore zones, but registration there may entail problems with reputation and tax authorities. A license in the Eurozone, the USA and Australia will not cause such problems, but it will cost significantly more. Thus, a casino license in Curacao or Costa Rica will cost 30,000 – 40,000 thousand dollars per year, in the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Republic of Malta or Romania – more than 150,000 thousand euros per year.

The cost of such a license includes both the cost of the document itself, which must be obtained from the government agency, and a number of related payments. Some of them are one-time, while others must be made at certain intervals. As an example, we can consider the distribution of costs for obtaining a license in Curacao (a federal subject of the Kingdom of the Netherlands).

But that’s not all there is to it. The Curacao Internet Gaming Association (the gambling regulator in Curacao) requires a dedicated server to be installed through which all your casino transactions will be processed. This will cost you an additional $15,000 per year to maintain. Other countries may have additional costs, so do your research before choosing the jurisdiction of your online casino.

Step 4: Payment Gateways

Once you have a license for your site, you need to set up payment options to be able to accept funds from players, pay out prizes, and withdraw money from the casino to your bank account. As with game content, there are two options: build cooperation with each payment service separately or use the services of providers (aggregators), with the help of which you can connect dozens of payment gateways under one contract.

It is better to work through providers, as it is easier, faster and even more profitable. Providers work with large volumes of transactions, so banks and payment services take less commission from them. Here are some of the most popular payment service providers in the gambling and gambling industry:

• Click2Pay. A simple and convenient system for depositing and withdrawing funds, which reduces this process to one step. Money is debited and withdrawn to a bank account. The system does not work in some countries, including the USA.
• Neteller. One of the most popular payment service providers in the gambling market. It operates in 160 countries, uses a six-digit transaction confirmation code, and can deposit/withdraw money directly to a Neteller account or bank card.
• Webmoney. One of the most complex methods of depositing/withdrawing funds. Very popular in Eastern Europe due to the largest number of local partners (banks, payment services) in the region.
• Skrill: The platform is available in 185 countries. It is simple, secure, and can collect money directly from credit cards or bank accounts.
• Visa and MasterCard. The most famous payment service providers in the world. They operate in more than 200 countries and have contacts with almost all banks and digital payment systems.

According to Zippia, 420 million people will use cryptocurrency in 2023. To meet their needs, provide the ability to pay in BTC, ETH, USDT, and TRX, or add your cryptocurrency as a bonus system. We advise you to play at online casinos only with a poruguay payment card – casino online mbway.

Similar to traditional payments, there are 2 ways to work:

• Create your own blockchain payment solution
• Use a cryptocurrency gateway such as Coinify or BitPay

In the first case, your system generates a unique wallet address for sending digital currency in the corresponding blockchain network. In order to develop such a FinTech solution, you need to provide a reliable BackEnd and blockchain infrastructure.

In the second case, your site contacts the API gateway, which processes the payment. The gateway verifies the transaction and sends the funds to your account. In order to integrate a cryptocurrency gateway, you need to connect the API and create an account on the site of the selected option.

Step 5: Create a website

Once all the preparatory stages are completed, you can proceed directly to the development of the online casino web platform. For this, it is better to hire a development company, since the site needs to be done professionally and quickly. The software provider will most likely recommend a technical partner to you, but you do not have to agree with their recommendations. After choosing a technical partner, you and he should:

• Develop a design.
• Decide on the functionality.
• Decide on the game content.
• Create a project budget.

Over the past 6 years, the Merehead team has been creating successful projects in the field of mobile and web development. 83% of our clients from North America, Europe and Australia become regular customers. Use Merehead’s experience to create a gambling site. Contact us using the form below and find out the details of the work!

Step 6: Marketing Policy

For investments in online casino development to pay off, you need players. A lot of players who will leave money on your site and positive reviews on social networks , on specialized forums and in the media. To attract a large number of players to the site, you need a good marketing strategy, in which you need to pay attention to such points:

• Positioning. Find what will make your project stand out from the competition and why users should choose your site, that is, what is its real value for players. Why this is important and what you need to pay attention to in this matter is well described in the book “Positioning. The Battle for Minds” by Jack Trout and Al Ries.
• Pre-launch advertising campaign. Announce the launch of your casino a few months before the end of development. Inspire potential customers to wait for its launch through advertising, presentations, promotions, discounts and bonuses. If possible, involve media personalities in the launch, who will create a buzz in the media and social networks.
• Post-launch promotion. Use online advertising, SEO, banner networks, influencer marketing to maintain interest in your online casino and attract new players.
• Customer retention company. Create a 24/7 call center, technical support service. Create sections on the site with instructions and answers to frequently asked questions. Provide demo versions of games with which players can try out the content. Develop a system of bonuses, promotions and other incentives for loyal players.
• Implementation of affiliate programs. At the start, you need fairly favorable conditions for attracting referrals in order to significantly expand your customer base. Over time, when your site becomes famous, the conditions for attracting referrals can be revised.

The success of an online casino directly depends on how many players use your platform. Therefore, effective marketing is the most important aspect of creating a gambling site. The advertising campaign should be universal and use as many marketing approaches as possible, such as promotion in social networks, SEO, affiliate marketing.