How to start an online casino in 5 steps?
1. Acquiring a gaming license
Obtaining a gaming license is one of the main requirements for a business to start an online casino. With a license, an organization can legally provide gaming services, open a bank account, and cooperate with casino software providers. Additionally, obtaining a gaming license allows platform operators to enhance customer credibility.
Speaking of jurisdictions that allow online gambling, casino operators can obtain a license from the UK, Curacao, Malta, Antigua, Gibraltar, Denmark, Belgium and other countries.
Let’s review some popular licenses:
- Gibraltar. In order to obtain a license, a company has to exhibit a business plan and proof of financial stability while transacting only through Gibraltar banks. Licensees must pay 1% of their annual income, but not less than £85,000.
- Curaçao. The cost of a gaming license generally does not exceed $150,000. The island does not tax casino winnings and ongoing expenses are low. The licensing process usually takes 1.5-2 months, which is quite fast. However, there are some restrictions, for example, casino website owners must place servers on the territory of Curaçao. In addition, license holders have to pay corporate tax of 2%.
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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Issued under the Gambling Act 2005, the Gambling Commission is responsible for regulating commercial gambling in Great Britain. Brittany. Representing one of the world’s largest authorities to control gambling, the UKGC requires licensees to pay a fee when a casino founder applies. In order to provide online casino services, it is also necessary to pay an annual fee.
The price of a license depends on its type and other factors. Basically, the UKGC charges a fee between 15% and 50% of the Gross Game Revenue (GGR), depending on its amount. To receive a license from this authority, companies must demonstrate a business plan, prove their financial solvency, and not confirm any criminal convictions.
- Kahnawake. Introduced in 1996, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission allows organizations to obtain a license (called a Customer Provider Authorization) to open a casino online in Canada. The license charges the first annual fee of $40,000 and the annual renewal fee of $10,000. In addition, casino website operators have to pay software inspection costs amounting to $15,000.
When choosing a license to open an online casino, it is essential to consider the countries in which it is valid, the terms of cooperation, the duration of the license, the price, the time of review of the presentation and other aspects. . Business owners should note that some countries legislate against online casino gambling, including France, Poland, and most US states.
However, thanks to With the latest changes in legislation, more than 15 US states have already allowed the provision of online gambling services.
2. Target Reliable Casino Software Providers
To start an online casino and attract an audience, a company needs to add numerous games like poker, roulette, baccarat, bingo, slots and blackjack. There are two options for incorporating games into a casino website. The first way is to choose a casino software provider that offers application programming interfaces (APIs) for game integration.
The most popular providers are Vivo Gaming, NetEnt, Ezugi, Pragmatic Play, Evolution Gaming, EGT Interactive, Playson, Betsoft, Digitain and TVBET. Evolution Gaming, for example, contains over 40 games that are optimized for users to play on desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones (iOS, Android). To reinforce security, the system uses an SSL protocol.
Founded in 1996, NetEnt is another trusted provider of casino software. Compatible with web and mobile devices, NetEnt allows users to access more than 220 games with graphics, animations, video intros and sound effects.
The second approach is to develop games tailor-made for an online casino platform. Although this approach is more expensive, it allows software engineers to create an immersive user experience and ensure the highest level of security.
By using blockchain technology, an organization can protect itself against hacker attacks, as well as prevent fraud and data breaches. Also, with custom development, it is generally easier to achieve scalability, fault tolerance, and uninterrupted performance of a casino website.
3. Choose Casino Game Content
Since most users enjoy being able to play different games, a company should offer a diversity of gambling content.Basically, an online casino platform should offer the most popular games like poker, roulette, and baccarat. However, in order to meet the needs and expectations of customers, it is advisable to carry out an audience analysis before creating a casino website.
If you’re creating custom games, you can start by adding three or five and then gradually add new content. In case you decide to choose a casino software provider, it is important to consider the supported game content, certifications, terms of cooperation, and technical support.
4. Design a Casino Website
When creating a casino website, it is important to focus on the user interface (UI) / experience (UX) design. Design appeal has a direct impact on customer engagement and thus return on investment (ROI). According to Adobe, 38% of users are likely to stop interacting with a web solution if the design is unattractive. SWEOR reports that the first impressions of visitors entering a website are 94% design-related.
Analysts also note that respondents react negatively to factors such as lack of navigation aids, fine print, awkward search, excessive text, and pop-up ads. Additionally, SWEOR reports that 94% of negative comments are associated with website design, while a modern and intuitive user interface contributes to improved user satisfaction. Therefore, creating a user-friendly design of an online casino platform should be a top priority.
In order to develop an attractive design, it is crucial to:
- Create an intuitive user interface. Online casino players must power to easily find what they need.
- Offer a seamless UX, comprising smooth navigation, a convenient search system, and a simple menu structure.
- Ensure consistency across all operating systems and devices, including smartphones and tablets.
- Implement a unique brand style. With a custom UI/UX design of a casino website, a business will be able to stand out from the competition and increase brand awareness.
- Choose a color theme taking into account the psychology of color perception (for example, blue is associated with trust and reliability).
To make a casino website with attractive design and content, it is essential to hire a reliable provider of UI/UX design services. At Arateg, our software experts will carry out competitor analysis to determine their strengths and weaknesses, and also reveal what attracts customers the most.
5. Create and test a casino website
Before creating an online casino, a gambling business owner must identify the functionality key for the first version of the product. . To do this, a company has to analyze the needs of the audience. Here at Arateg, for example, we can help clients develop impact maps and user personas that show what actions different parties (players, dealers) should be able to perform when using an online casino platform.
Additionally, our business analysts create user stories that describe product features from the end-user perspective, for example: “As a player, I want to have access to games like poker, bingo, baccarat, etc. , as well as deposit and withdraw funds.”
Once the development of the online casino is finished, there comes a stage of quality assurance (QA), vital to building a website that meets the requirements of the casino. project. Thanks to quality control, software experts provide solutions that are characterized by high usability, performance, reliability and maintainability. With testing and debugging, you will avoid potential bottlenecks and security vulnerabilities.
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