You can launch an online casino in 2026 in 3–6 months with a budget starting at $100,000, not counting marketing. Making it profitable is much harder. Costs and timelines vary widely, and almost all of that variation comes down to three decisions: which license you get, which platform you launch on, and which markets you target.
Below we go through each of these decisions with figures, timelines and the mistakes we see among PFSER clients. This is the minimum setup for launching a viable product. Scaling will take more people, money and time.
Key takeaways:
- Without a gambling license you won’t get a bank account, payment methods or decent game providers. The license comes first and everything else is built around it.
- Anjouan and Tobique issue licenses the fastest, Curaçao remains the most balanced option, and Malta is the most demanding and the most respected in the EU.
- To launch, you need a team of at least 7–8 people, 3–6 months and $100,000 or more excluding marketing.
- Getting a license is easier than keeping it: regulators keep checking AML, reporting and responsible gambling after approval.
Where to start: four questions to answer before choosing a license and platform
It is impossible to choose a platform, license and corporate structure without answering these questions. We ask them of every client at the first consultation:
- Which regions do you plan to accept players from?
- Are you launching a casino only, or a casino together with a sportsbook?
- What are the citizenships and tax residencies of the shareholders and directors?
- What is your launch timeline and first-year budget?
Assess your traffic separately. If you have neither your own source of players nor a marketing budget, start with that question. For a general overview of licensing, see our article What Is a Gaming License.
Business models: White Label, turnkey or your own platform
The launch model determines both your budget and whose license appears on the website.
| Model | Whose license | Time to launch | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Label | The platform holder’s | 1–2 months | Affiliates with traffic who want to test the niche |
| Turnkey casino | Your own | 3–6 months | Operators building a brand for the long term |
| Custom development | Your own | 9–18 months | Teams with gambling experience and in-house developers |
We don’t recommend operating under the platform holder’s license. Your freedom is limited, you don’t control payment flows, and if the provider loses its license, you lose your business. That is why our clients either go straight to a turnkey model with their own gambling license or switch to it within the first year.
Choosing an online casino platform
A casino starts with its platform: it is the core around which the whole product is built. There are plenty of offers on the market, but most of them won’t let a project break even. The success of the entire launch depends on this choice, so the platform is selected after answering the questions above, not before.
We work with a wide range of platforms and stay in regular contact with their teams, so we can suggest several options that fit your regions and verticals.
What a platform costs:
- Setup: from $5,000 to $200,000. A platform with solid functionality can be found for $20,000–30,000.
- Monthly fee: $1,500–20,000. It usually covers technical support, hosting and additional modules.
- Revenue share: 0% to 15% of monthly GGR.
Once they see these numbers, many people want to build their own platform. Our advice is simple: if you have no gambling experience, don’t spend time and money on it. We’ll walk you through the pitfalls of custom development during a consultation.
When choosing, check that the platform supports your regulator’s requirements: reporting, responsible gambling limits and geo-blocking. The RNG and the platform itself are tested by an accredited lab (GLI, BMM, iTech Labs), and game providers only connect to licensed operators.
How much does it cost to start an online casino in 2026?
The cost items are the same for everyone; only the amounts change. Benchmarks for launch and the first year:
| Cost item | Benchmark | What affects the amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gambling license and regulatory fees | €17,000 to €150,000+ per year | Jurisdiction, license type, number of verticals |
| Company formation, director, office | €5,000 to €30,000 | Local substance requirements, number of companies in the structure |
| Compliance package and legal support | €10,000 to €40,000 | AML/KYC, game rules, T&C, responsible gambling policy |
| Platform | $5,000–200,000 + $1,500–20,000/month + 0–15% GGR | Turnkey or custom, modules, verticals |
| RNG and platform technical audit | €5,000 to €40,000 | Regulator requirements, testing lab |
| Corporate bank accounts | from $3,000 per account | Bank or EMI, number of companies |
| Payment methods | from $1,000 per method + PSP reserves | Geo, rolling reserves of 5–10% of turnover |
| Team (7–8 people) | depends on hiring region | Languages, support shifts, gambling experience |
| Marketing and traffic | separate budget | Geo, channels, affiliate rates |
Budgets are most often underestimated in two places: payment provider reserves and post-license compliance costs. Give each of them its own line. For comparison, SOFTSWISS advises budgeting €1 million or more for a full launch with serious marketing and the first year of operations.
How to choose a jurisdiction and license for an online casino
The license determines which banks and PSPs will work with you, which providers will connect, and which markets you can legally accept players from. Compare five parameters: acceptance by banks and payment systems, permitted markets, time to obtain, full first-year cost and local substance requirements.
| Jurisdiction | Time to obtain | First-year cost | Acceptance by PSPs and providers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anjouan | 1–2 months | from €17,000–25,000 | Limited, good for crypto projects |
| Tobique (Canada) | 1–3 months | Lower than Curaçao | Medium and growing |
| Curaçao (CGA) | 3–6 months | $55,000 in annual regulator fees + setup | Broad, the standard for international projects |
| Kahnawake (Canada) | 2–4 months | Medium | Good |
| Costa Rica | 1–2 months | Low | Low: not a gambling license in the strict sense |
| Isle of Man | 3–5 months | £90,000–150,000 | High |
| Estonia | 4–6 months | Medium + gambling tax | High within the EU |
| Malta (MGA) | 6–9 months | €80,000–300,000 | Highest in the EU |
Figures are current as of October 2026. You can find PFSER’s indicative prices for gambling licenses on this page, and we’ll prepare an exact estimate for your project during a consultation.
A popular structure: Curaçao + Cyprus
The most common way to enter the market is a Curaçao company holding a Curaçao license, plus a Cyprus company acting as the payment agent. Structures built around a Tobique or Anjouan license have become increasingly common as well.
The cost of this structure depends on the number of shareholders, the chosen platform, whether the documents for due diligence are ready, whether there is a business plan that meets the regulator’s requirements, and whether the client already has internal procedures and policies. Our specialists will prepare a personalized commercial offer.
Curaçao: the new LOK law
Since late 2024, Curaçao has operated under the LOK law, and licenses are issued by a new regulator, the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA). The sublicensing system is gone: every operator now receives a direct license and undergoes beneficial owner checks. Since October 2025, a B2C licensee pays the regulator $55,000 a year: a $28,400 license fee and a $26,600 supervisory fee. The regulator also expects real substance on the island and a working AML framework. See our Curaçao gaming license page for details, and our company formation in Curaçao service will help you set up the local entity.
Malta: the license for entering the EU
Malta’s MGA remains the benchmark for the European market. The application costs €5,000, the fixed annual fee is €25,000, plus a compliance contribution based on revenue. A B2C license requires paid-up share capital of at least €100,000, a local office and key personnel. It’s expensive and slow, but with this license banks, PSPs and top providers will onboard you without extra questions. Details are on our Malta gaming license page, and you can set up a company on the island through our company formation in Malta service.
Anjouan and Tobique: a fast start
Anjouan issues a license within a few weeks and costs several times less than Curaçao. The downside is that some banks and fiat PSPs are wary of it, so it is most often chosen by crypto casinos. Tobique (Tobique Gaming Commission) in Canada is also fast and affordable, and its acceptance among providers is growing. Both options work well for testing a hypothesis and starting to earn while you prepare a heavier license.
Other jurisdictions
For specific needs we also work with licenses in Antigua and Barbuda, Panama, Gibraltar, Alderney and Jersey. If you are targeting a country with national regulation (Brazil, the UK, EU member states), an international license won’t be enough: you’ll need a local one. In Brazil, for example, a license costs BRL 30 million for 5 years, and at least 20% of the operator’s capital must be held by a Brazilian resident.
How to start an online casino: 8 steps from idea to first deposit
- Define your markets and model. Check where online gambling is banned or requires a local license. Build a 12–24 month financial model with base and pessimistic scenarios: both the regulator and payment partners will ask for it.
- Choose a jurisdiction. Match your markets, budget and timeline against the table above. A typical path: Curaçao or Anjouan at launch, then Malta or a national license 12–18 months later.
- Incorporate companies and build the structure. The regulator wants a transparent ownership chain up to the ultimate beneficial owner. We help with company registration in the right jurisdiction and with trademark registration for your casino brand.
- Prepare beneficial owner documents. Passports, criminal record certificates, CVs of key persons and proof of source of funds. Most applications get stuck on the last item.
- Select a platform and game content. The platform must support reporting, responsible gambling limits and geo-blocking as required by your regulator.
- Put together the compliance package. AML/KYC policy, risk assessment, game rules, terms and conditions, privacy policy, responsible gambling policy and an appointed MLRO.
- Submit the application and respond to the regulator quickly. Follow-up questions about source of funds and structure come almost every time, and how fast you answer directly affects the timeline.
- Open accounts, connect payments and launch. While licensing is in progress, prepare the website, SEO, affiliate program and a bonus policy within the regulator’s rules.
Bank accounts and payment methods for an online casino
Every company in the structure needs corporate bank accounts. We always recommend at least two accounts per company so that operations don’t stop in case of force majeure. Opening one account with an institution that works with gambling costs from $3,000 on average. The bank or EMI must understand your business and know how to handle it; otherwise you can expect account freezes, blocked funds and hundreds of compliance questions. Learn more about our bank account opening service.
Some platforms include payment methods in their price, but more often they have to be connected separately. Connecting one method costs from $1,000 on average. What else you should know in advance:
- PSPs look at the license first. With Malta or Curaçao the choice of providers is much wider than with Anjouan or Costa Rica.
- Almost all PSPs hold a rolling reserve: 5–10% of turnover for 90–180 days. This is frozen money that has to be included in the budget.
- The set of methods depends on the geo: cards and e-wallets for Europe, local systems for LatAm and Asia, crypto where fiat is unavailable.
See also our services for merchant accounts and high-risk merchant accounts. If you plan to accept crypto deposits, check whether you need a separate crypto license.
The team you need to launch an online casino
To start operations you need at least 7–8 people. Gambling experience matters in almost every role: approaches from regular e-commerce often don’t work here.
Analyst
Analytics is the foundation of any gambling project. Some platforms have built-in tools, sometimes quite good ones, but in most cases you need your own independent analytics. A casino generates a constant stream of data, and collecting it isn’t enough: you need to interpret it correctly and know what to look at first. That’s why you need an analyst with an industry background, not just a general data analyst. A casino without working analytics is money thrown away.
Payments operations specialist
Fast withdrawals, resolving players’ deposit issues and handling payment method problems quickly have a direct impact on retention. This specialist should know the gambling industry and the specifics of your regions.
Anti-fraud specialist
Casinos and sportsbooks lead in user-side fraud. To avoid losing money right after launch, your team needs someone with anti-fraud experience in gambling. They will spot scammers, abusers, bonus hunters and other players trying to drain the casino.
Marketing and traffic
There are no universal recommendations here: everyone has their own channels, budgets and teams. But in terms of importance, marketing and traffic come second only to the platform.
Designers
Design increases conversion and keeps players engaged. You need at least two people: promos, creatives, landing pages, materials for social media, affiliates, email campaigns and A/B tests. Gambling experience is a must, as the niche is very specific.
CRM team
Keeping a player is cheaper than acquiring a new one. The CRM team builds and runs the loyalty program, plans bonus campaigns, and handles activation, retention and reactivation across channels. You need at least two specialists with industry experience; the size of the team depends on your regions and products.
Customer support
If you’re serious, build your own support team. Third-party services risk client data leaks, slow reaction to technical issues and poor understanding of your players, which hurts both revenue and reputation. Headcount depends on the number of regions, languages and time zones.
Compliance after getting the license
A license is not issued forever. In 2021, the Maltese regulator revoked Smart Operations Ltd’s license less than six weeks after granting it, for unpaid fees and breaches of its obligations. Similar stories exist in every jurisdiction.
After launch you must report to the regulator regularly, run KYC and transaction monitoring, apply player limits and self-exclusion, store data and pass annual audits. Some regulators require player funds to be kept separate from company funds, for example through a trust structure.
5 mistakes that cost time and money
- Choosing a license by price rather than by market. A cheap license without access to the right PSPs ends up costing more through rejections and downtime.
- Choosing a platform before deciding on the jurisdiction, then rebuilding integrations to meet the regulator’s requirements.
- Not preparing proof of source of funds in advance. This is the most common cause of delays.
- Copying someone else’s AML policies. The regulator notices the gap between documents and real processes.
- Not budgeting for rolling reserves and post-launch compliance costs.
How long does it take to open an online casino?
In our experience, it takes at least 3 months from the start of preparation to going live, and 4–6 months on average. With a Malta license, licensing alone takes 6–9 months; with Anjouan and a ready platform you can launch in 2–3 months.
FAQ
Can I open an online casino without a license?
You can launch a website, but it won’t be able to operate: licensed game providers, banks and PSPs don’t work with unlicensed operators. In a number of countries this carries criminal liability, and in Poland fines for participants in illegal gambling websites can reach $1 million.
What is the cheapest gambling license?
Among options the market accepts, Anjouan is the most affordable: the first year costs roughly €17,000–25,000. Tobique is also among the low-cost licenses. With both, connecting fiat payment systems is harder than with Curaçao.
How long does it take to get a gambling license?
From 4–8 weeks in Anjouan to 6–9 months in Malta. Curaçao takes 3–6 months on average from submission of a complete package.
Does my citizenship affect getting a gaming license?
In most offshore jurisdictions, citizenship alone does not prevent you from getting a license. However, for some countries due diligence will be stricter, and sanctions restrictions must be checked in advance for every beneficial owner and bank.
Do I need a separate company for each license?
Usually yes: the license is granted to a company registered in the same jurisdiction. To operate in several countries, operators build a group of companies under a common holding.
How much money do you need to start an online casino?
At least around $100,000 for the license, platform, bank accounts and payments, assuming the team works for equity at the start. Marketing isn’t included in this amount. A project with a full team and advertising requires several hundred thousand dollars for the first year.
Conclusion
To launch an online casino you’ll need a team of at least 7–8 people, 3–6 months and no less than $100,000 excluding marketing. The key decisions are made at the very beginning: markets, license, platform and corporate structure. A mistake at this stage costs months of rework.
PFSER helps entrepreneurs set up companies and obtain licenses in the gambling and financial sectors. We’ll choose a jurisdiction that fits your markets, incorporate your companies, prepare the compliance package, support your application through to approval, and help with bank accounts and payment methods. Have questions or need a consultation? Leave a request below, and a PFSER lawyer will estimate the budget and timeline for your project. Learn more about us.
