The short answer
To start an online casino business you need four things: a gambling licence for the markets you want, casino software (a platform with games, payments and a back office), payment and compliance partners, and enough budget for marketing in the first year.
How much does it cost to start an online casino? From tens of thousands of dollars for a lean white label casino launch, to well over $1 million for a licensed brand on a custom-built platform. Licence fees, platform model and marketing make most of the difference.
The fastest route is a white label casino, which can go live in roughly 4–12 weeks. Holding your own licence on a turnkey casino solution takes longer, mostly because licensing and payment approvals set the timeline.
10 steps to start an online casino
- Choose your markets and players.Decide which countries you will accept players from, plus languages, currencies and product mix: casino, sports, crypto or all three. Your markets decide your licence, payment options and marketing rules.
- Choose a gambling licence.International brands often start with Curaçao or Anjouan. Malta and the Isle of Man suit European-facing brands. Some countries, like the UK and Ontario, need their own local licence. See the licence cost table.
- Choose white label, turnkey or custom.This is the biggest decision for budget and speed. See white label vs turnkey vs custom.
- Set up the company and banking.Register the operating company in the right jurisdiction, open business accounts and prepare ownership, source-of-funds and key-person documents. Regulators and banks ask for these early.
- Choose your casino software provider.The platform runs player accounts, wallets, bonuses, payments, KYC and reporting. Compare providers on markets supported, game and payment integrations, back office quality, source-code options and total cost, not only setup fee.
- Add games and content.Most operators connect slots, live casino and table games through a casino game aggregator. Add a sportsbook or original games if they fit your audience. Game providers approve each operator, so start onboarding early.
- Set up payments.Gambling is a high-risk category for banks, so expect higher fees and rolling reserves. Combine cards, local methods, open banking and crypto behind one casino payment gateway.
- Put compliance in place.Integrate KYC, AML screening and responsible gaming tools, appoint compliance staff, and write your terms, privacy and responsible gaming policies.
- Build the brand and marketing plan.Your brand, website, welcome offer and VIP programme decide how players see you. Plan acquisition across affiliates, SEO, content, CRM and paid channels where the law allows.
- Test, launch and operate.Run end-to-end tests of sign-up, deposits, games, bonuses and withdrawals. Soft launch to a small audience, fix issues, then scale marketing.
Online casino licence costs in 2026
Licence fees vary widely. The table below shows the main fees published by regulators, plus reported figures where a regulator does not publish a schedule. Fees change, so confirm with the regulator or a licensing lawyer before you budget.
| Licence | Application | Annual fee | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curaçao (CGA, B2C) | €4,592 | €47,450 | Annual fee is a €24,490 licence fee plus a €22,960 supervisory fee. Local substance rules are enforced from 1 April 2027. |
| Anjouan | Reported in base fee | ~€17,800 (reported) | Popular with crypto brands. The regulator’s own fee schedule was not available to us, so treat as an estimate. |
| Malta (MGA, B2C) | €5,000 | €25,000 | Plus a monthly compliance contribution, for casino from 1.25% of revenue (min €15,000 a year). Minimum share capital €100,000. |
| Isle of Man | £5,250 | £36,750 | Full online gambling licence. Sub-licences cost less. |
| Kahnawake | Ask regulator | US$20,000 | Covers up to 6 domains, then US$500 per extra domain. |
| United Kingdom (UKGC) | £8,185+ | £7,000+ | Fees rise with gross gambling yield. Remote gaming duty is 40% of profits from April 2026. |
| Ontario (AGCO) | Included | C$100,000 | Per site, per year. You also sign an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario. |
Sources: MGA fee guidance, Isle of Man GSC fee sheet, UK Gambling Commission, AGCO, Kahnawake Gaming Commission, Curaçao fees as reported by AGB. Checked November 2026.
What changed for new operators in 2025–2026
- Curaçao replaced the old master and sub-licence system with direct licences from the Curaçao Gaming Authority. Local substance requirements apply from 1 April 2027.
- United Kingdom raised remote gaming duty from 21% to 40% in April 2026, and new licence fees took effect on 1 October 2026.
- Kahnawake moved to a per-domain annual fee in April 2025.
- New regulated markets keep opening, with more Canadian provinces and European countries moving to local licensing. Check your target market before choosing an international licence.
Do you need your own licence? Not with a white label casino: you operate under the provider’s licence and pay through a revenue share. With turnkey or custom software, you hold your own licence.
How much does it cost to start an online casino?
Your total cost depends on three choices: the licence, the platform model and your marketing budget. Here are the main cost lines and the ranges operators typically see in 2026.
| Cost line | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| White label setup | ~$5k–$50k+ | Plus a revenue share, commonly around 25–35% of GGR in 2026 contracts. Check whether it is charged on GGR or NGR, and any monthly minimum. |
| Turnkey platform | ~$80k–$200k | Upfront, plus a lower revenue share or monthly licence fee. You also pay your own licence. |
| Custom platform | ~$150k–$700k+ | Full ownership of code and IP. Budget for ongoing development and hosting. |
| Game provider fees | ~10–15% of GGR | Charged by each studio on the revenue its games generate. Aggregators usually add a small extra share. |
| Payment processing | ~1.5%–15% | Wide range for gambling merchants, often with rolling reserves. Crypto is usually cheaper. |
| KYC checks | ~$1–$5 per check | Published self-serve plans start below $1 per check with monthly minimums; enterprise iGaming pricing varies. |
| Marketing | Largest line | Often the biggest cost. Cost per depositing player can reach hundreds of dollars in competitive regulated markets. |
Platform, game, payment and marketing ranges are indicative market estimates from 2026 industry reports and vendor pricing. Always get written quotes.
Example first-year budgets
| Route | Launch in | Upfront | Ongoing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White label | 4–12 weeks | Setup fee only | Revenue share + marketing | Testing a market with a small budget |
| Turnkey + Curaçao licence | ~2–4 months | Platform + €52k licence (year one) | Licence, lower revenue share, staff, marketing | A long-term brand with its own data |
| Custom + EU licence | 6–12 months | Development + licence + capital | Team, hosting, compliance, marketing | Funded operators and new product categories |
Want a number for your plan? Tell us your markets and model and we will send a realistic cost range within one business day.
White label vs turnkey vs custom casino
| White label | Turnkey | Custom | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licence | Provider’s | Your own | Your own |
| Time to launch | Fastest | Medium | Longest |
| Upfront cost | Lowest | Medium | Highest |
| Revenue share | Highest | Lower | None to the vendor |
| Player data & payments | Shared with provider | Yours | Yours |
| Product control | Branding and promotions | Front end and configuration | Everything |
| Source code | No | Optional purchase | Yes |
Many operators start on a white label casino, prove the market, then move to a turnkey solution under their own licence. If your idea is a new category, such as a prediction market or betting exchange, a custom build is usually the right call.
How long it takes to launch
- Discovery and planning: 1–2 weeks to agree markets, licence path, model and budget.
- Licence: from a few weeks to several months depending on the regulator and how complete your documents are. Usually the longest step.
- Platform and branding: weeks for white label, a few months for turnkey, longer for custom.
- Games and payments: run in parallel; provider and payment approvals can take several weeks each.
- Testing and soft launch: 2–4 weeks before full marketing spend.
Starting a crypto casino
A crypto casino follows the same steps, with a few differences: you need wallet custody (hot and cold wallets), on-chain AML screening, provably fair games, and game providers that accept crypto. Payments are usually cheaper and faster, but licence choice matters: not every regulator accepts crypto-only operations, and banks may still be needed for fiat on-ramps.
Mistakes to avoid
- Budgeting only for software. Marketing and payment reserves usually cost more than the platform in year one.
- Choosing a licence before choosing markets. The licence must fit where your players are.
- Ignoring revenue share terms. Compare GGR vs NGR, minimums and exit terms, not just setup fees.
- Starting payment onboarding late. High-risk payment approvals take time; start in parallel with licensing.
- Treating compliance as paperwork. Weak KYC, AML or responsible gaming controls can cost you your licence and payment partners.
Launch checklist
- Target markets, languages and currencies agreed
- Licence applied for (or white label agreement signed)
- Company, bank accounts and ownership documents ready
- Platform provider and launch model chosen
- Game providers and aggregator approved
- Payment providers live, including withdrawals
- KYC, AML and responsible gaming tools tested
- Terms, privacy and responsible gaming policies published
- Brand, website, welcome offer and VIP programme ready
- Affiliate programme, SEO and CRM plans in place
- End-to-end tests passed and soft launch complete
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an online casino?
Can I start an online casino with no money?
How long does it take to start an online casino?
Do I need a licence to start an online casino?
Which online casino licence is cheapest?
How do online casinos make money?
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Gambling laws, licence fees and taxes change; confirm the rules for your markets with the regulator and a qualified adviser before you invest. Figures checked November 2026.