How To Start An Online Casino Business
If you want to earn huge money within a very short period of time, then you can consider starting a casino business. Starting and running a casino are big jobs. The business demands huge capital investment and definitely, it is not easy to run a casino. Here in this article, we have provided a comprehensive guide on how to start a casino business.
Actually, the casino comes to the gaming and entertainment industry. Basically, casinos arrange certain types of gambling activities. In casinos, customers gamble by playing games of chance, in some cases with an element of skill, such as craps, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and video poker. Most of the games come with mathematically determined odds that ensure the house has at all times an overall advantage over the players.
Currently, a modern casino is like an indoor amusement park for adults. The entire premise comes with musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers, lavish hotels, and elaborate themes that help draw in the guests.
Market Opportunity for Casino Business
As an online casino business operator, the ideal thing to do is to apply for a gaming license in the country or territory where you want to set up your online casino business. It usually takes from a few months to a year to successfully obtain a gaming license. Opening up an online casino is an attractive business idea for many entrepreneurs. The online gambling market is constantly growing and moves billions of dollars a year, but how do you get in on the action? We’ve put together answers to some of the most common questions people have about starting an online gambling business.
The casino market is very wide globally. Casinos are one of the major revenue-contributing segments in the global gambling market. The global casino market is highly diversified and competitive. It is because of the presence of a large number of regional and international vendors across the globe.
However, the industry experts are expecting growth at a CAGR of 15.25%. Some of the major casino markets in the world are the USA, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Canada, and Latin America. Basically, Macau, Las Vegas, Nevada, Singapore, France, Atlantic City, and New Jersey earn the highest revenue from the casino business.
Different Types of Casino Games
There are different types of casino games that are very popular nowadays. Some of the most popular casino games are
Slots
Basically, slots are a specific type of machine. It plays a number of different games. Here, a player inserts coins into the machine. Then they pull a handle or press a button. This causes the wheels to spin. When the wheels stop, the player gets paid based on the pattern of symbols.
Blackjack
It is a card game. Here, an individual can play the game with a dealer. The dealer deals out two cards to each player and keeps two cards. The dealer has one card face up and one down. The players take turns trying to get as close as they can to 21. The player calls “hit” to get a card and end their turn. A player can also call “double.” They can only get one card and their turn ends. If a player has two identically numbered cards, they can split.
Roulette
Basically, roulette is a table game. The table has numbers 0-36 and 00. It has additional betting for even-odd, red-black, low 18-high 18, low/middle/high 12 and for the first/second/third columns. The dealer spins the wheel clockwise. Then, they roll a ball counter-clockwise. The ball lands in a numbered slot on the wheel. All bets that correspond with the number win.
Poker
Poker is one of the popular casino games globally. It is also a game of five-card hands. Hands are ranked from lowest to highest. The order of hands is a high card, pair, two pairs, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, and royal flush. The player with the best hand wins.
Craps
Craps is a dice game. Here, the players make wagers on the outcome of the roll, or a series of rolls, of a pair of dice. If a seven or 11 turn up on the first roll of the dice, the shooter wins whatever they bet. If the shooter rolls two, three, or 12 on the first roll, they lose the money, but not the dice. When the person rolls a four, five, six, eight, nine, or ten that number becomes their “point.” The shooter keeps rolling until their “point” turns up again for a win or until the person throws a seven and loses the money and the dice.
Casino Business Plan Guide for Beginners
Starting a casino business requires huge startup capital investment. Therefore, you must craft a comprehensive business plan before getting into the business. Additionally, a professional-looking business plan document helps you in securing the start-up investment. Make sure to include a feasibility study that examines the demand for a casino and the justification of investment.
In the financial part of the plan, you must include the projected earnings, growth strategy, and marketing strategy. The below-mentioned points will definitely help you in creating a casino business plan of your own.
1. Licenses & Permissions for Casino Business
Licensing and permissions are the crucial aspects of starting this business. First of all, you have to check the commercial gambling regulations. Check if commercial casinos are legal in your state by checking the American Gaming Association’s website. Also, check the local regulations or zoning requirements for operating a casino business in your location.
Additionally, check the alcohol regulations. It is mandatory if you want to serve hard drinks to your customers. Finally, check the age restrictions. Actually, the exact minimum age varies by state. Hence, check your state’s restrictions and institute a policy of checking IDs at the door so that you don’t run afoul of your state’s regulations.
2. How Much Money You Need to Start a Casino
Starting a casino business demands capital investment in building the infrastructure, procuring equipment, arranging resources, and working capital investment. Therefore, it needs a large amount of money to start this business. Actually, a business plan will help you in getting finance from potential investors and banks including other financial institutions.
3. Register Your Casino Business
After arranging the finance, you must register your casino business. You will need to apply for a business license and employer’s identification number (EIN). Additionally, you will need to register with the IRS and any other regulatory bodies that have power over casinos in your area. Also, you will need to obtain a gaming license. It is advisable to engage a lawyer for getting everything done in the right way.
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4. Build Casino Infrastructure
In building the casino infrastructure the primary requirement is the floor area. You will need to secure the required land area for building the casino. In this type of construction, you must engage an architect for creating the plan and execution of the said plan. Before starting the construction, apply for a construction permit from the local Govt. authority.
After completion of the construction, you will need to prepare an interior floor plan. You must provide a comfortable gaming atmosphere for your patrons. Additionally, procure the gaming equipment from a reliable supplier. Some of the most important instruments are slot machines, video poker machines, roulette tables, poker tables, blackjack tables, craps tables, baccarat tables, chips, cards and card shoes, and safes. Don’t forget to purchase business insurance to protect your business from any unwanted losses.
Finally, you will need to hire human resources for operating the casino. It is advisable to hire an HR manager first. And plan a full-proof HR policy with a recruitment structure. Hire only skilled and experienced manpower for a smooth operation.
5. Security System in Casino Business
In the casino, there are large amounts of currency handled within the premise. Hence, it raises the possibility of happening crimes. Therefore, you will need to take security aspects very seriously. One of the most basic steps you can take is CCTV camera installation. Besides a specialized surveillance department, you will need to take care of the physical security too.
6. Promote Your Casino Business
Basically, the casino is an upscale entertainment business. So, you must promote your casino in every possible option you have. Make your casino inauguration a grand function. Aware of the media about the opening. Prepare a media kit for the reporters. Invite the celebrities on an opening day. Advertise the inauguration ceremony in both electronic and print media. Try to collaborate with travel and leisure holiday companies. Promote your casino business on the travel blogs too.
About the Author: 99businessideas.com led by Rupak Chakrabarty is committed to helping beginners, entrepreneurs, and small business owners in starting, managing, and growing their business. Our aim is to educate the entrepreneur on the various stages of entrepreneurship.
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To start an online casino one should consider the four main ways:
1. Design and implementation of casino software by your own forces
How To Start Your Online Gambling Business
This way presupposes the whole process of creation, implementing and marketing performed by yourself. This can cost millions of dollars to handle the issue of starting your own online casino by yourself.
PROS | CONS |
1. Full control over the casino | 1. Extremely expensive |
2. Source code ownership | 2. Approval from third parties necessary |
3. No Royalties | 3. Tough and expensive advertising and marketing |
2. Become a licensee of an online gambling software provider
This method means leasing online gambling software from a software vendor. This will be much less expensive in terms of money and effort. Usually online gambling software costs from $30,000 to $400,000 down-payment. In most cases you will be included into an already existing network, so less time and money will be spent by you. But software vendors work on a revenue share basis requiring from 30% to 70% of profits generated by you. Moreover, you’ll have to comply with certain rules set by the software vendor.
PROS | CONS |
1. Less money to start | 1. No full control over the casino |
2. Less effort for a casino set up and advertising | 2. Necessity to comply with rules of software vendor |
3. No need to be approved by third parties | 3. Monthly royalties |
3. Become an Affiliate of a licensee
This option is the least expensive. This scheme works as follows: you receive a casino website and make all marketing and advertising job and receive a small percent from a licensee. The average cost of such solution is from nothing to $10,000.
PROS | CONS |
1. Relative cheapness | 1. No control over business |
2. No responsibility | 2. Small profits |
3. No organization effort | 3. Full dependence on the will of a licensee |
4. Purchase Online Casino Software from a Developing Company
How To Run A Casino
This option can be considered one of the best ways to start your online casino. You purchase ready-made online casino turnkey solutions from a software developer. The software is installed on your servers under the domain name you choose. All technical aspects like server configuration, software customization, design, and payment systems implementing is done for you by the developing company. The approximate cost of the solution is $60,000-$500,000. After you have purchased you casino you are provided with control and management tools and become the only owner of an online casino with no revenue share necessity.
How To Start An Online Casino Business
PROS | CONS |
1. Full control over the casino | 1. Full responsibility |
2. No Royalty payments | 2. Licensing procedure done by yourself |
3. Custom made solution | 3. More effort on marketing |