White Label vs Turnkey Solutions: Which Fits Your Online Casino Venture

Looking to launch your own online casino but unsure which solution fits your budget?

Casino white label and turnkey solutions represent two distinct paths to entering the iGaming market, each with its own cost implications.

While white-label options offer a faster route with lower initial investment, turnkey solutions provide more control at a higher price point. The choice between these two approaches can significantly impact your business’s financial success and long-term growth potential.

Whether you’re a startup with limited capital or an established company ready to invest, understanding the cost structures of both options is crucial.

White Label Casino Solution

A white-label provider usually holds 2 licenses, a B2B license for the technology & games, and an Operator license (B2C) that enables operators to work under the white label license plus a fully developed platform. Those allow you a quick market entry under your own brand – but under full ownership and management of the white label provider. This pre-built system enables businesses to launch with minimal technical involvement, focusing primarily on marketing, traffic, branding, and player acquisition rather than backend development.

With white label solutions, the software provider maintains ownership of the license and core platform, handling critical aspects including:

• Technical infrastructure and hosting;
• Gaming licenses (operating under the provider’s license);
• Compliance, risk, and regulation requirements;
• Payment gateway integrations;
• Game content from multiple providers;
• Platform maintenance and updates;
• Payment’s providers;

This arrangement creates a partnership where the operator concentrates on marketing and player retention, essentially renting the infrastructure while presenting it under their unique brand identity. The time-to-market for white-label casinos typically ranges from 4-8 weeks, making them ideal for those seeking rapid deployment with a smaller initial cost.

Additionally, most white-label providers offer customer support services, anti-fraud systems, and player verification tools as part of their package, further reducing the operational burden on new operators.

Turnkey Casino Solution

A turnkey casino solution delivers a comprehensive, all-inclusive package for all your needs, and still provides you the complete control and ownership. Unlike white label, turnkey solutions provide all necessary components—software, games, and technical support—yet require you to be the owner and responsible for the license and manage the day-to-day operations independently.

With turnkey solutions, operators gain:

• Full ownership and control over the brand;
• Extensive customization capabilities;
• Complete access to player data and analytics;
• Freedom to integrate third-party services;
• Less revenue share- if any.
• Exclusive license owned by you;

The development timeline for turnkey solutions typically extends to 2-4 months, largely due to licensing requirements and more extensive customization work. This approach suits experienced operators or businesses seeking long-term independence and maximum flexibility.

Initial Investment: Setup Costs Compared

When examining the financial aspects of casino solutions, the initial setup costs present one of the most significant differences between white-label and turnkey approaches. The investment required can vary dramatically, affecting both your market entry timeline and long-term profitability.

White Label Setup Fees offer a more accessible entry point for entrepreneurs with limited capital, the Initial investments typically range from €30,000 to €75,000.

Most white-label providers offset lower setup costs with revenue-sharing models, typically requiring 15% of your casino’s revenue. This arrangement reduces initial capital requirements but impacts long-term profitability.

Turnkey solutions demand substantially higher upfront investment but offer greater financial independence. Setup costs generally start around €50,000 and can exceed €150,000, reflecting the comprehensive nature of these packages.

A standard turnkey implementation includes:

• One-time setup fee averaging €30,000;
• Lower revenue share arrangements, if any, with the providers;
• Complete ownership of the brand and data;
• No rolling reserve requirements by the provider.

Industry experts note that despite higher initial costs, turnkey solutions often provide better long-term value. The reduced revenue sharing percentage means you can “reinvest all your money in marketing and staff”, potentially accelerating your break-even point.

Hidden Costs to Watch For

Beyond the advertised setup fees, several less obvious expenses can significantly impact your total investment, about Turney:

• Turnkey: License acquisition and renewals: Gambling licenses vary dramatically by jurisdiction, from €80,000 in Curacao to €180,000 in Malta, with annual renewal fees adding €45,000-€70,000.
• Turnkey: Compliance and auditing: Expect to allocate €10,000-€40,000 annually for regulatory compliance, especially important as gambling regulations evolve.
• Turnkey: Technical support and maintenance: post-launch support can add €1,000-€15,000 monthly, an unavoidable expense regardless of which solution you choose.
• Turnkey: Security measures: Implementing robust security systems adds €10,000-€30,000 to initial costs, with ongoing monthly expenses of €1,000-€3,000.

White label:

• White label-specific costs: Many providers require “rolling reserve fees” and deposits to maintain liquidity, potentially tying up significant capital.

The true cost of launching an online casino extends well beyond advertised setup fees. Therefore, calculating your total investment requires careful analysis of both immediate and ongoing expenses, as well as factoring in your anticipated revenue growth and marketing budget.

White Label Revenue Share Models

White-label providers typically operate on a revenue-sharing basis, taking a percentage of your casino’s gross gaming revenue (GGR). This arrangement creates a permanent partnership where:

• Revenue share percentages typically range from 10% to 15% of GGR;
• Higher revenue-sharing fees cover the provider’s licensing, support, and maintenance costs;
• Providers may require a “rolling fee” that remains for one month before recalculation;
• Some agreements include additional fees for premium games, payment processing, or advanced features;

This model reduces your profit margins but allows for lower upfront investment. Consequently, white-label operators must excel at marketing and player acquisition to generate sufficient revenue to cover these ongoing costs while maintaining profitability.

Turnkey Flat Fee Structures

In contrast, turnkey solutions typically follow a different financial model:

• Operators retain a larger portion of GGR with minimal or no revenue sharing;
• Many providers charge flat annual fees that include design, hosting, security, and customer support;
• Setup fees average around €30,000 with revenue share percentages of 5% or less;
• Operators pay directly for staff, compliance, and operational expenses;

This structure provides greater financial independence and potentially higher profit margins once the business reaches scale. Indeed, the financial advantage becomes clear when comparing actual profit retention: a turnkey casino might earn €58,000 from the same operation that would net a white label operator just €2,000 after revenue sharing.

Calculating Your Break-Even Point

To determine which model makes financial sense for your budget, calculating the break-even point is essential:

1. Fixed Costs: Identify all monthly fixed expenses (hosting, support, licensing fees).
2. Variable Costs: Calculate costs that change with volume (payment processing, game provider fees).

For example, with a turnkey solution requiring €30,000 setup and 5% revenue share versus a white label solution costing €10,000 setup but 15% revenue share, the break-even point occurs at approximately €200,000 GGR. After this threshold, the turnkey solution becomes increasingly cost-effective.

Additionally, consider these operational expenses when planning your budget: Hosting services: €1,000-€10,000 monthly, 24/7 customer support: €5,000-€15,000 monthly, Marketing budget:  a minimum of €20,000 monthly, Security services: €1,000-€3,000 monthly.

Properly understanding these ongoing expenses helps avoid unexpected financial burdens that could threaten your casino’s viability. The optimal choice ultimately depends on your initial capital availability, expected player volume, and long-term business strategy.

Budget Impact of Ownership and Control

Ownership and control considerations dramatically impact your casino operation’s budget, influencing both short and long-term financial outcomes. The tradeoff between customization flexibility and cost creates distinct financial trajectories for each solution.

The financial benefits of turnkey ownership become particularly evident as a casino business scales. Without rolling reserve fees or revenue sharing, operators retain substantially more revenue. In fact, turnkey operators often retain their entire GGR minus standard provider fees.

When to Consider Switching Solutions

Many operators eventually outgrow their initial platform choice. Key indicators it’s time to migrate include:

• Revenue Thresholds: When revenue-sharing payments exceed what a platform migration would cost;
• Market Restrictions: When white label limitations prevent entry into lucrative new markets;
• Data Portability: Modern migration services can transfer up to 100 terabytes of operational data with precision;
• SEO Preservation: Professional migrations maintain your Google rankings and traffic flow without disruption;

Subsequently, the decision to switch platforms should balance immediate migration costs against long-term revenue retention opportunities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the decision between white-label and turnkey solutions is pivotal and should be guided by a clear understanding of your financial capacity, operational ambitions, and growth trajectory. While white-label models provide a low-barrier entry ideal for quick launches and limited budgets, turnkey platforms deliver greater long-term value through full ownership, scalability, and profit retention. As the iGaming industry continues to evolve, aligning your choice with both short-term feasibility and long-term strategy will be crucial for establishing a resilient, competitive, and profitable online gaming operation.

Or Reizis, Adv, Head of the Regulation Department at Porat Group, has guided hundreds of startups and large-scale companies from the idea stage to fully operational, profitable businesses. With a unique blend of legal expertise and business-oriented strategy, Or and the Porat Group team provide tailored solutions that drive real results.

Contact us today to better understand which solution fits your goals, explore our network of trusted partners, and take the first step toward launching your iGaming project with confidence.