Starting an online casino?

[rob3786]

Have any of you senior members thought about setting up or set up an online casino since being involved in the casino affiliate industry? What are the pros and cons?

[bb1web]

Hi Rob,

lots of blockades but applaud your innititative.

good luck friend.

[pgaming]

I did have one gincasino.com not sure whatever happened to it? My experience was less than positive. The software providers were just plain idiots. I haven't been in contact with them for over a year.



greek39/

[LiveCasinoPartners]

A year and a half ago, I had the great idea of starting an online casino. I had some limited internet marketing background so I though it would be feasible. I knew nothing (compared to what I knew now) about the industry.

I bought a software license from some guys here in Costa Rica, whom I won't name in a public forum. They took my fee and I started the white branded casino. I started marketing aggressively (non USA), and started making a few thousand after the first six months. I didn't have an affiliate program yet, but I wanted to build up a reputation beforehand. When the clients won, I paid them lightening fast regardless of deposit methods. I answered emails and responded to their problems or questions within 15 minutes during working hours and within the hour after hours.

The main obstacle I had was that the webcam casino software provider processed the payments and never gave me the proceeds. (As it turns out they are not paying some players that win at some of their casinos.) They maintained only four games, which made player retention hard. I eventually decided to close the casino and make a portal to reduce liability. My same clients today are grateful for the graceful exit.

I paid all outstanding bonuses regardless of play through requirements.

The casino makes about the same as you do, but you don't have the liability they do. I'd prefer to stay with portals myself. Actually, I'm almost doing just as good now as when I operated the white label.

[bb1web]

[QUOTE]I paid all outstanding bonuses regardless of play through requirements.
QUOTE]

very admirable!

[Doolally]

Of course the other option that you might like to try, perhaps as a test to see how you get on, is to use one of the white label sites that the likes of Earn United or United Partner Program can supply.

Although you don't own and run the casino, you can setup your own brand and market it. This leaves you the marketing and content generation and they handle the back-end, all without any risk to you.

I've just setup this one : http://www.cupidonlinecasino.com/en/index.html with United Partner. It was on a domain that was expiring and has some backlinks. This took about 15 minutes to get setup, it's all very quick and easy.

Of course, it looks a bit rough, but if you were serious, you could redesign the entire site with your own layout, graphics and content and just retain and use the download links they give you.

The Earn United one give lots more pages and content which you can amend than this one. This was better for a quick and dirty.

Commissions are the same as an affiliate account.

[rob3786]

Thanks guys for some very interesting advice very much appreciated.

[rob3786]

Who is the best for white lable platforms? whats st miver like? I see they are a sponsor of gpwa could you guys please send me information on your white label platform. thanks

[LiveCasinoPartners]

[quote=bb1web;491253]

I paid all outstanding bonuses regardless of play through requirements.
QUOTE]

very admirable!

It wasn't hard to do bb1web, only a handful of players at the time. I'm pretty sure these guys came back to my site latter, and followed my links for playing at my sponsored casinos.. It's funny how their depositing frequency and amount is like their fingerprint. This is another example of doing the right thing helps in the long run.

Of course the other option that you might like to try, perhaps as a test to see how you get on, is to use one of the white label sites that the likes of Earn United or United Partner Program can supply.

Doolally, I went to those sites and I really don't see an advantage over a casino portal. The commission structure is the same or lower than what we are used to. The second tier is the same. The only difference is that you are focusing on one specific theme. Remember also that the customer service and affiliate management is still in their hands.

I'd argue it's only worth it if you contracted directly with the software provider and had control over the finances, customer service, and affiliate management. Otherwise, I think that most of the white label programs are just another masked portal?

Is there something I'm not seeing?

[Doolally]

[QUOTE=WagerX;491314]

Doolally, I went to those sites and I really don't see an advantage over a casino portal. The commission structure is the same or lower than what we are used to. The second tier is the same. The only difference is that you are focusing on one specific theme. Remember also that the customer service and affiliate management is still in their hands.

I'd argue it's only worth it if you contracted directly with the software provider and had control over the finances, customer service, and affiliate management. Otherwise, I think that most of the white label programs are just another masked portal?

Is there something I'm not seeing?

You are correct however, they give the oppurtunity for someone to tackle marketing slightly different and direct users to an end site rather than a portal. It's not for everyone but offers a cheaper than pure white label option for someone that wants to dabble without the expense.

[rob3786]

Just done a bit of research into it, for the start up costs its not really worth it unless you have a killer bank balance as a new person to the business. Experienced affiliates could benefit from it as the rev share is better than what most affiliate programs offer. Me personaly I am going to stick as a casino affiliate for the time being, you need to build a great casino affiliate site first to really benefit from this business.

[Drunk Man]

Hi Rob,

I have this concise article for you that will explain all you need to do to become the owner of an online casino + the advantages/disadvantaged of being the bookie or just affiliate.

Thats the link if you want www.wwwpd.org/?p=37

[WinYourWayKyle]

When I first entered the industry I made the huge mistake of starting an online casino that was powered by FutureBet. My experience with them was less than positive, and when I started reading a lot of forums, and become more knowledgeable in the industry, I let the domain and hosting expire, and now the site is just a links page. After that, I strated doing affiliate marketing in online gaming with much more knowledge, and I do alright for myself now.

I know there is a lot of investment required to become "big" if you plan of starting a full scale online casino, with possible an affiliate program.

That is just my two cents...