How To Start An Online Casino
- In this 21st century, in the world of digitalization casinos has replaced by the online casinos. Yes, as we all know that in this hustle bustle of live, no o.
- Another approach is to develop your online casino from the ground up, starting on a blank page, save for the idea that inspired you in the first place. This takes time, dedication, drive, ideally.
Starting an online casino which will cater for the needs of players in a particular country requires a significant research and preparation. Whether the market in the country offers significant development opportunities, what the legal situation in the gambling sphere is, which national peculiarities should be observed to make a casino as attractive to local players as possible, are all important questions to learn. Below are the key factors to pay attention to and some important tips for those who find the South African gaming market lucrative and wish to start their online business with the focus on players from this country.
Market
The online casino and sportsbook business is booming, and the revenues that a well-run online gambling platform can generate are a tempting prospect for investors and entrepreneurs. But how do you climb to the summit of online casino success? Before starting the long, hard ascent to the top, you’ll have to pin down the basics and gear up.
The South African gambling market has been known as one the largest and most lucrative markets in the world, attracting many operators to open up their land-based gaming facilities to the local players. Although the government has introduced quite rigid regulation in this sphere, it still accepts the fact that gambling makes a significant share of the country’s budget. In 2011, the GGR from the casinos in South Africa made 877 Mln Euro according to the official statistics for 36 licensed land-based casinos.
A recent report has shown that as many as 5% of the population in South Africa gambles. Although there is no official statistics showing which part of this rate belongs to internet casinos, it is widely known that more and more people turn to online gambling. This happens for a number of obvious reasons, such as a wider choice of games available, quick access to the casino with no need to travel away from home, guaranteed privacy which land-based casinos do not necessarily offer, various bonuses, as well as an extended number of payment options. All in all, the South African online gaming market is large and even with quite a number of well-known brands already present there, it is still very promising for new operators who decide to build an online casino.
Legality
Gambling in South Africa has always been facing certain restrictions and from 1965 until 1994 it was completely illegal. Only in 1996 after the change of the government, land-based casinos were legalized and the new National Gambling Board started regulating all types of gaming. As for online gaming, the Board issued 10 national licenses to local online gambling service providers. It now says on the official National Gambling Board website that playing online casinos is illegal except for the betting through the licensed bookmakers (which are only 10). However, since the online gaming has been taking a large share of the total gaming market in SAR, numerous casinos operating from offshore locations and possessing gaming licenses from other jurisdictions are present in South Africa and accept local players. Although such gambling is technically illegal, there have been very few cases of players’ prosecution or blocking of the online gaming websites accepting users from SAR. So now there are numerous online casinos, with many world-known names among them, successfully operating on the South African market and serving the needs of local gamblers.
For new operators penetrating the South African market, it is advisable to obtain a license from one of the reputable jurisdictions such as Curacao or Malta. Many local players are well-educated and when choosing an online casino to join, they look for a licensed resource to make sure that their interests are protected and that all games played are certified by a corresponding authority.
Payment methods
South African players who join online casinos mostly use their credit cards to fund their casino accounts. However, there are a number of players who prefer other methods, such as Neteller and Skrill wallets or prepaid cards like EcoCard. It is advisable to include all of the these options into the casino offering to make sure that you cater for the interests of all player segments.
It is obvious that the list of supported currencies should include South African Rand because for some players it is crucial not to deal with the conversion rates and always have a clear picture of how much cash they have on their account and how much they win.
Cryptocurrencies
A recent research has shown that the popularity of cryptocurrencies in South Africa is growing and the number of people relying on Bitcoin in their online payments is significant. Adding Bitcoin as an alternative payment method to your online casino will be a significant advantage and will help attract a bigger audience.
Casino Games
Tastes of the players from South Africa are similar to the tastes of those from other countries. The important thing is that a casino offers quality game content preferably from different content providers, so that every player can choose his favourite slot or card game.
The most popular games among South Africans are slots. They attract the audience by offering colourful design, exciting plot and various bonus features such as free spins. Among the card games, Blackjack and Poker hold leading positions. It is also highly recommended to include games with progressive Jackpot into the offering as they keep players well entertained and excited to come back to a casino.
Languages
There are two national languages in South Africa, and while most of the local players understand English, it might be a good idea to make your website bilingual and add Afrikaans to the list of supported languages.
Online Casino Marketing
Taking into account the specifics of the national policy regarding online gambling in South Africa, direct advertising and Google Ads are not viewed as possible marketing methods. Thus, when starting a casino targeting the SAR market, one should rely on other promotion strategies which are less market-specific and more common for international casinos: affiliate marketing, online articles and reviews, participating in ratings made by reputable digital gambling resources, etc.
Platform provider
In order to open an online casino which will operate for the South African market, or for any other markets, you need to take care of the technical matters. Finding the right service provider will be crucial and will help avoid unnecessary hassle while concentrating on promotion and marketing. Here are the key points to look at when choosing your technical partner:
– Software. The platform which your casino will be based on should be safe, secure and stable under high loads. It is always better to choose certified casino software developed by a reputable company which has been operating on the market for at least several years. Make sure that the software provides opportunities to add as many languages and payment options as you wish. If it has Bitcoin payment option already available, it will be a nice advantage. Learn the administration panel to find out about the casino management options such as bonus settings, player and payment management, etc., to make sure they meet your expectations.
– Games. Find out how many games are included into the package. Some providers include games by different game content developers into their offering, so you get a wide selection at one place.
– Legal support and financial infrastructure. Unless you have an intention to obtain your own gaming license, it might be a good idea to find a partner who provides a turnkey White Label solution. It means that you will be able to run your casino brand under the provider existing license and use a ready financial infrastructure for all payment transactions.
With all the necessary research made, software chosen and marketing strategy set up, you will be ready to launch your online casino and take your share of the South African market.
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How to start an online casino with SoftSwiss software
If you’re a fan of online casinos, why not turn that into your next side hustle? Starting an online casino business is something anyone can do, even if you’re new to entrepreneurship and betting.
Thanks to the Internet, any hobby you have can be monetized and even turned into a full-time job that allows you to be free from the 9 to 5. Online casinos are no exception.
Just like those spending hours every day on YouTube can start their own channels, become influencers, and even make millions, so can you turn your passion for casinos into your career.
Let’s see how.
How To Start An Online Casino In The Us
How to Start an Online Casino Business
1. Get to know the online casino industry.
For a start, learn more about the online casino market before you start a business in the niche.
The research phase of every new venture is important as it allows you to see the big picture, set the right goals, know who your audience is, and make a plan.
Usually, every business idea must be validated. With the casino industry, however, you don’t need to worry about that. Even though you’ll have plenty of competition, people are playing casino games more than ever.
If you provide them with yet another platform to do it on, they will happily head to your site.
To start a proper online casino business, it’s worth exploring the past too, not just how things currently are in the market.
How To Start An Online Casino In South Africa
2. Check out the competition.
In a competitive niche, it’s hard to stand out. You need to provide value to people and give them what they want.
Head over to the top sites for online casino games and learn all you can about them. You can find plenty of reviews about them too with both good and back feedback.
Each comment you read is important, especially if it’s in a forum and from a real person.
Aside from that, to make sure your online casino business is a success, you should see what each competitor is doing well and decide how you can do it even better.
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3. Understand the regulations.
Whether you’re doing business in the US or anywhere else in the world, you need to follow the regulations of the country you reside in.
Although you’ll be targeting people globally, your online casino business will be registered where you live. You will be paying taxes there and with that comes the responsibility of being an entrepreneur.
There’s also certain information you will need to include on your website too that will disclose your partnerships with third parties.
4. The main element of an online casino business.
The main elements of starting a business in the casino market are the online casino website you’ll build and the software you’ll choose.
This is crucial and will be one of your first business costs as the owner of an online casino business. The iGaming software provider you work with must be one that offers a great gaming management system, is reliable and has been in the field for a long time.
5. Become a better marketer.
The next step in your journey to starting an online casino business is to attract players and keep them on your site.
The more loyal they are, the better off you’ll be as they will gladly bring their friends too.
Constantly look for more exposure in order to attract new players. Promotions are a great way to grab their attention. From then on, your offer must be good enough and the user experience great to make them stay.
In the long-run, you should be looking for ways to give incentives to regulars so they can bring others on board.
Paying for ads, in the beginning, might be necessary, as well as investing in any other kind of advertising such as influencer marketing and content marketing.
Starting an online casino business might not be as easy as opening an online store or making money blogging. It might be a side hustle for you, but the more time and recourses you invest in your casino business, the more you will need to make it a priority and grow it as much as you can.