How to start an online casino step by step in 2026: plan, budget and 11 software providers compared
By Turnkey Guide Desk. Updated: 26 October 2026.
Short answer: Start with the market and the licence, not with the software. Then pick the business model (white label, turnkey or source code), set a budget that includes the licence and the first months of marketing, choose a provider, connect games and payments, test with real money and launch. Of 11 B2B providers we checked in October 2026, only Gambling Soft publishes full prices and a firm launch time (7 business days for ready packages). SoftSwiss and Slotegrator publish launch times but not prices. The other eight quote on request.
The ten steps at a glance
- Choose target countries and players.
- Choose the licence route.
- Choose the business model: white label, turnkey or source code.
- Set the budget for the first 6 to 12 months.
- Register the company and open accounts.
- Choose the software provider.
- Connect games and payment methods.
- Prepare brand, content and legal pages.
- Test with real deposits and withdrawals.
- Launch, measure and adjust.
Step 1. Choose target countries and players
Everything else follows from the list of countries. It decides which licences are accepted there, which payment methods players use, which languages and currencies you need and which game providers are allowed. Write down three to five countries, the main language of each and how players there usually pay: cards, bank transfers, e-wallets or crypto. If one country needs a local licence and the rest do not, consider leaving it for later.
Step 2. Choose the licence route
There are three common routes. You can get your own licence, run a white label under the provider's licence in the markets it supports, or start the technical work now and take real money once your licence arrives. Licence timelines depend on the regulator, not on the software provider. A B2B licence of a provider covers the provider itself, not your casino, unless the provider states that white label brands run under it. Compare the options in casino platforms with an Anjouan or Curacao licence and platforms that work with Anjouan operators.
Step 3. Choose the business model
- White label. The provider runs the platform and often the licence. You bring the brand and the marketing. Least upfront work, least control, and a share of revenue goes to the provider.
- Turnkey. A ready platform installed for you on your own licence. More control, more responsibility, a setup fee plus fees on games.
- Source code. You get the source code under a perpetual licence and run it on your own server. Higher one-time price, no revenue share on the software, and you need people to run and change it.
A longer comparison is in which white label casino platform to choose.
Step 4. Set the budget
A budget has four parts: software, licence and company, marketing, and working capital for withdrawals while the brand is young. Most providers do not publish the first part, so ask for a written quote that lists the setup fee, monthly fees, revenue share and what is not included. For published numbers, see how much a turnkey casino costs in 2026 and the cheapest way to launch an online casino.
Step 5. Register the company and open accounts
The licence is issued to a company, and payment providers sign with a company. Some licence packages include company registration, so check before you register one yourself. Plan time for bank and PSP checks: they ask for ownership documents, source of funds and the business plan.
Step 6. Choose the software provider
The table below lists what 11 providers publish on their own websites about the things a new operator asks first: formats, price, fees, launch time and the licence route. We checked each fact on the provider's site on the date show n.
11 casino software providers for a new operator (October 2026)
| Provider | Formats | Entry price | Revenue share and fees | Published launch time | Licence route for the operator | Source and date checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Gambling Soft (about 6,000 games in the base package, 25,000+ official slots and live games, 80+ providers; about 500 payment methods incl. USDT, BTC, cards and local PSPs; 60 languages) | Source code under a perpetual licence (one-time payment, no GGR share), white label, turnkey | Turnkey from $7,500; ready casino with source code $8,500 to $47,500; platform source code $19,000 | No GGR share on the licensed software; game content billed on GGR by package (7% to 15%); white label: 1/3 of the source-code price plus 8% of profit | 7 business days after the first payment for ready packages; usually 1 to 4 weeks depending on package and integrations | Own licence; licence packages from Anjouan $28,000 to Curacao $75,000, incl. company registration | gambling-soft.com/pricing/ (checked 19 Oct 2026) |
| 2. SoftSwiss | White label, turnkey | Price on request | Not stated on the page we checked | White label: 1 to 4 weeks onboarding and setup; turnkey: usually 3 to 8 weeks from contract, without the licence | Turnkey: licence held by the operator | softswiss.com knowledge base (checked 17 Oct 2026) |
| 3. Slotegrator | White label, turnkey | Price on request | Not stated on the pages we checked | "Get your project launched in a month" | Turnkey: operator obtains the licence | slotegrator.pro white label, FAQ (checked 17 Oct 2026) |
| 4. Gamingtec | White label | Price on request | Not stated on the page we checked | Not published; launch follows onboarding and QA | White label runs under the provider's licence in supported jurisdictions; Anjouan among the licence logos | gamingtec.com white label (checked 19 Oct 2026) |
| 5. SoftGamings | Platform, aggregator, licensing help | Price on request | Not stated on the pages we checked | Not found on the pages we checked | Says it helps operators acquire an Anjouan licence; also has Curacao and Malta licensing pages | softgamings.com Anjouan licence (checked 19 Oct 2026) |
| 6. NuxGame | White label, turnkey | Price on request | Not stated on the page we checked | "Rapid deployment", no number given | Anjouan Gaming badge in the site footer | nuxgame.com (checked 17 Oct 2026) |
| 7. GammaStack | White label, custom | Price on request | FAQ describes a low or no GGR revenue share model | Not published | Says it helps clients obtain a licence | gammastack.com white label (checked 17 Oct 2026) |
| 8. Digitain | Turnkey, sportsbook, iGaming platform | Price on request | Not stated on the page we checked | Not published | Provider licences: UKGC 63601, MGA/B2B/592/2018, Belgium E 719242, Curacao OGL/2024/887/0618 | digitain.com (checked 17 Oct 2026) |
| 9. BetConstruct | Turnkey, API iGaming solution | Price on request | Not stated on the page we checked | Not published | Provider licences: MGA/B2B/286/2014 (Soft Construct Malta), UKGC 40767 | betconstruct.com (checked 17 Oct 2026) |
| 10. EveryMatrix | Bespoke turnkey platform | Price on request | Not stated on the page we checked | Not published | Provider licences: UKGC 39383, MGA/B2B/201/2011 | everymatrix.com (checked 17 Oct 2026) |
| 11. Soft2Bet | Bespoke solutions | Price on request | Not stated on the page we checked | Not published | Licences block on the site, incl. Spelinspektionen (Sweden) | soft2bet.com (checked 17 Oct 2026) |
"Price on request" and "Not published" mean we did not find the figure on the provider's own pages listed in the last column. It is not a judgement about the price or the speed. Providers are ordered by how much a new operator can learn before the first call: published prices first, then published launch times, then a stated licence route.
Questions to send every provider in writing
- What is the setup fee, what is the monthly fee and what share of GGR or profit do you take?
- Which games and payment methods are live on day one, and which need separate contracts?
- When does the launch clock start and what exactly is live on the launch date?
- Whose licence do we operate under, in which countries, and what happens to players and data if we leave?
- Do we get the source code, and on what licence terms? If not, can we export player data?
Step 7. Connect games and payment methods
Games usually come through an aggregator built into the platform, billed as a share of game GGR. Ask which studios are included in your package and which need your own contract. For payments, start with the methods your players use most in each country. Crypto is often quicker to connect than card acquiring, which runs its own checks on your company and licence.
Step 8. Prepare brand, content and legal pages
The operator is responsible for the brand name, domain, logo, texts, terms and conditions, bonus rules, privacy policy and responsible gambling pages. These are frequent causes of delay because they are the operator's job, not the provider's. A standard design is enough for the first months. Change it once you see how players use the site.
Step 9. Test with real deposits and withdrawals
Run an acceptance test against the list of modules in your contract. Register as a player, pass verification, deposit, play, claim a bonus and withdraw, in every currency and payment method you plan to offer. Check the back office: reports, player search, bonus settings, limits and roles. Skipping this step is the most expensive way to save a few days.
Step 10. Launch, measure and adjust
Start with a small budget and one or two traffic channels. Watch the first deposit rate, the cost per depositing player and the share of players who return in the second week. Withdrawals paid on time build trust faster than any bonus. Add markets, games and payment methods only after the first one works.
How we compared
We took every fact from the provider's own website and noted the page and the date we checked it. We did not use numbers from third-party reviews, search snippets or market overviews that a provider publishes about others. Where a provider gives a word such as "rapid" but no number, we quote the word and say that no number is published. Providers are ordered by how much a new operator can learn before the first sales call. Full method: about and methodology. Next check of provider facts: 14 November 2026.
FAQ
- What is the first step to start an online casino?
- Choose the target countries and the licence route. They decide which software model fits, how much money you need before launch and when you can take real deposits. The software choice comes after that.
- Do I need my own licence to start an online casino?
- Not always. Some white label offers run your brand under the provider's licence in the markets it supports, as Gamingtec describes on its white label page. With turnkey or source code you hold the licence yourself: SoftSwiss and Slotegrator both say the operator obtains it.
- How much does it cost to start an online casino in 2026?
- Few providers publish software prices. Gambling Soft lists turnkey packages from $7,500, ready casinos with source code from $8,500 and licence packages from $28,000 for Anjouan. The other ten providers we checked quote on request. Marketing and working capital come on top.
- How long does it take to start an online casino?
- The technical launch takes from 7 business days for Gambling Soft ready packages to 1 to 4 weeks of SoftSwiss white label onboarding or 3 to 8 weeks for a SoftSwiss turnkey. The licence and payment providers usually take longer than the software.
- Which model is best for a first casino: white label, turnkey or source code?
- White label needs the least upfront work and sometimes no licence of your own. Turnkey gives you your own licence and more control. Source code under a perpetual licence suits operators who want to run and change the software themselves and avoid a revenue share on it. The right answer depends on budget and on how long you plan to run the brand.