How Much Does It Cost to Start an Online Casino in 2026?
The cost to start an online casino depends less on one price tag than on four choices: how you get the platform, which licence route you take, which markets you serve and how much you spend to win players. This guide breaks the budget into one-time and recurring costs, shows how rental, purchase and rent-to-own change the numbers, and gives you a year-one budget sheet to fill in.
We write it as a platform provider that offers all of those commercial models. OHS Gaming builds white label, turnkey and custom iGaming platforms, and our white label casino projects start from $25,000. Every market figure below links to its published source. This guide covers online casinos only, not the cost of building a land-based casino.
How Much Does It Cost to Start an Online Casino?
Starting an online casino costs a platform fee, a licence route, game and payment fees, a compliance and support team, a player liability reserve and a marketing budget. With OHS Gaming, the platform starts from $500 a month on rental or from $25,000 for a white label casino or a platform purchase. Licence fees and marketing come on top.
| Launch route | What you pay for the platform | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| White label | From $25,000 with OHS Gaming | Operators who want a branded casino on a ready platform |
| Rental | From $500 a month with OHS Gaming | Startups and MVP launches that want a low upfront cost |
| Buy | From $25,000 with OHS Gaming | Operators who want to own the platform as a long-term asset |
| Rent-to-own | Part upfront, the rest in monthly payments credited toward ownership; a typical industry structure is 20 to 40% upfront over 12 to 36 months | Growth-focused operators who want an ownership path |
| Custom enterprise | Custom quotation after scoping | Large operators and multi-brand groups |
Your proposal depends on scope, markets and integrations. To see the numbers for your plan, request a proposal.
What Drives the Cost of an Online Casino?
Six choices set most of the budget. Make them before you ask for quotes, so every provider prices the same plan.
- The platform route. White label, turnkey or custom, and whether you rent, buy or rent to own. Our guide to how white label casino software works explains the first choice.
- The licence route. Your own licence carries application and annual fees; trading under a provider's or partner's arrangement, where the regulator allows it, carries contract terms instead.
- Your markets. Each market adds its own licence, tax, payment and language requirements.
- Games. Game provider fees usually scale with the revenue the games generate, so a bigger lobby is not a fixed cost.
- Payments. Card, wallet, bank and crypto methods each carry their own processing fees and onboarding work.
- Marketing. Affiliates, content and paid media where it is legal. This is usually the largest line.
White Label Casino Cost: What the Fee Covers
A white label casino fee pays for a ready platform under your brand. With OHS Gaming, white label casino projects start from $25,000. Our white label iGaming platform page shows the platform itself.
What OHS Gaming white label launches include
OHS Gaming white label and turnkey launches include:
- Platform setup.
- UI customisation.
- Payment integration.
- Provider integration.
- Deployment assistance.
- Post-launch support.
What to confirm in any white label proposal
Packages differ between providers, so ask each one to confirm in writing whether these are included or charged separately:
- The player account system, wallet, bonus tools and back office reports.
- Game content through a casino game aggregator, and how game provider fees are charged.
- The payment methods already connected, including crypto casino payments if you need them.
- Hosting, monitoring and security.
- Support hours and response times after launch.
One provider's published pricing example
White label pricing is not standardised, and providers publish different structures. As one example, the platform provider Gamingsoft writes in a published article on white label revenue share that most white label revenue share agreements range from 10% to 30% of net gaming revenue, and that a hybrid arrangement might include $20,000 to $30,000 in setup costs, a $2,000 to $4,000 monthly fee and a 10 to 12% revenue share. These are one provider's figures, not an industry benchmark and not OHS Gaming prices. Ask every provider for its own structure and model it on your revenue forecast.
One-Time Setup Costs
One-time costs are paid before the first player deposits. Who pays for each depends on your contract, so check this list against every proposal.
| Cost | What it covers | Who usually pays |
|---|---|---|
| Platform setup or purchase | Setup, branding and configuration, or buying the platform outright | You, to the platform provider |
| Licence application | The regulator's one-time fee for an operator (B2C) licence, for example EUR 4,592 in Curacao (plus EUR 150 per beneficial owner) or EUR 5,000 in Malta | You, if you hold your own licence |
| Company formation | Incorporating where the regulator accepts the company | You |
| Front end and design | Design beyond the standard template, translations and content | You, to the provider or your own designers |
| Extra integrations | Payment methods, games or tools the provider has not integrated yet | Agreed in the contract |
| Game and RNG certification | Testing required by your licence | Agreed in the contract |
| Player liability reserve | Cash held against player balances before go live | You |
Monthly and Recurring Costs
Recurring costs decide whether the casino pays back, so model them for at least the first year.
| Cost | How it is usually charged | Who usually pays |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | A monthly fee, a revenue share, or both, depending on the deal | You, to the platform provider |
| Game provider fees | A share of the revenue each studio's games generate | You, often through the aggregator |
| Payment processing | A fee per transaction, set by each payment provider and method | You |
| Identity checks | A fee per KYC check, charged by the verification provider | You |
| Annual licence fee | For an operator (B2C) licence, EUR 47,450 a year in Curacao, or EUR 25,000 a year in Malta plus a compliance contribution based on gaming revenue | You, if you hold your own licence |
| Support, payments and risk team | Salaries or outsourced service fees | You |
| Marketing | Affiliate commissions, content and paid media where legal | You |
Our guide to casino payment gateway costs explains how payment providers price gaming merchants.
Costs Outside the Platform Deal
The platform is only part of the budget. These costs sit with you whichever provider you choose.
- Licence in Curacao. An operator (B2C) licence under the LOK costs a one-time application fee of EUR 4,592, plus EUR 150 for each beneficial owner and qualified interest holder. The annual fee is EUR 47,450: EUR 24,490 to the National Treasury and EUR 22,960 to the Curacao Gaming Authority, with the first year charged pro rata. Source: CGA LOK fee schedule, version 2.0, 15 October 2025.
- Licence in Malta. A B2C gaming service licence costs a one-time application fee of EUR 5,000 and a fixed annual licence fee of EUR 25,000. Online casino games are Type 1 gaming services, which add a compliance contribution based on gaming revenue, with a yearly minimum of EUR 15,000 and a maximum of EUR 375,000, and a minimum paid-up share capital of EUR 100,000. Gaming tax of 5% applies to revenue from players physically in Malta. Source: the MGA licence fees and taxation guidance note.
- Licensing support. Our guide to licence costs by jurisdiction compares more routes, and our team offers licensing coordination with specialist consultants. OHS Gaming does not hold, grant or guarantee licences.
- Company and banking. Incorporation, a bank that permits gaming settlement, and a merchant account. Acquirers often hold a rolling reserve, which ties up cash.
- Compliance. Legal advice, AML and responsible gambling policies, and staff to run them.
- Marketing. Usually the largest line, and the one to plan month by month.
- Working capital. The player liability reserve and enough cash to run until revenue covers costs.
Online Casino Software Price by Commercial Model
How you pay for the platform changes the cost profile as much as which platform you choose. OHS Gaming offers four commercial models.
Rental
You pay a monthly fee instead of a large upfront price. With OHS Gaming, rental plans start from $500 a month. It suits startups and MVP launches: lower upfront cost, a faster launch and less technical burden.
Buy
You buy the platform and own it. With OHS Gaming, platform purchases start from $25,000. It suits established operators who want full ownership, more customisation and a long-term asset. Our casino software for sale page lists what you can buy.
Rent-to-own
You pay part of the price upfront and the rest in monthly payments, and your rental payments are credited toward ownership. A typical industry structure is 20 to 40% upfront over a 12 to 36 month term; your proposal sets the actual price, split and term. It suits growth-focused operators who want a lower upfront investment, a path to ownership and predictable cash flow.
Custom enterprise
A platform built to your specification, priced by custom quotation after scoping. It suits large operators, enterprise brands and multi-brand groups.
Hidden Costs and Contract Terms to Check
Most surprises come from the contract, not the price list. Ask every provider, in writing:
- Is there a minimum monthly fee or a minimum revenue share, and when does it start?
- Which game studios carry minimum fees or extra charges?
- How are change requests and new features priced?
- What does adding a market, a payment method or a currency cost?
- Are crypto payments included, and who pays network and gateway fees?
- Who owns the player database, the domain and the brand?
- Can you export all player and transaction data, in what format and at what cost?
- What are the notice period and exit fees if you leave?
White Label vs Turnkey vs Custom: Cost at a Glance
| Factor | White label | Turnkey | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Lowest | Medium | Highest |
| Recurring platform cost | Platform fee, revenue share or both | Depends on the deal | Your own team or a development partner |
| Control | Branding and configuration | High | Full |
| Speed to launch | Fastest | Medium | Slowest |
For the full comparison, read white label vs turnkey casino, and for turnkey pricing, our guide to turnkey casino costs.
Year-One Budget Sheet
Use this sheet to build your own year-one budget. Fill in the right-hand column from your proposals and quotes. It is a template, not a forecast.
| Budget line | Where the number comes from | Your figure |
|---|---|---|
| Platform setup or purchase | Your platform proposal | |
| Platform fees for 12 months | Monthly fee and any revenue share, modelled on your revenue forecast | |
| Licence | The regulator's published fees for your licence type; in Curacao, EUR 4,592 to apply and EUR 47,450 a year for an operator (B2C) licence, with the first year pro rata | |
| Company, banking and legal | Quotes from your corporate service provider and lawyers | |
| Game provider fees | Your aggregator's terms, applied to forecast revenue | |
| Payment processing and identity checks | Each provider's fee schedule, applied to forecast volume | |
| Team and support | Salaries or outsourced service fees | |
| Marketing | Your acquisition plan, month by month | |
| Player liability reserve | Expected player balances and pending withdrawals | |
| Contingency | A buffer for delays and price changes |
Our guide on how to open an online casino shows where each line fits in the launch plan.
How to Get an Accurate Proposal
A provider can only price what you describe. Send these details with your first request:
- Your target markets and the licence route you plan to use.
- The products you want: casino, live casino, sportsbook, sweepstakes or a mix.
- Your preferred commercial model: rental, buy, rent-to-own or custom.
- The payment methods you need, including crypto if you plan to accept it.
- The game studios or game types you want at launch.
- How much front end design and customisation you need.
- Any integrations you already have, such as a CRM or KYC provider.
- Your launch target and your budget range.
With those answers we can put a like-for-like number on your plan. Request a proposal from the OHS Gaming team.