So, you are thinking about starting an online casino? That is awesome. Honestly, the market is wild right now. But then you hit this first, huge roadblock almost immediately. Do you go for a turnkey solution or a white label one? It is like the fundamental question that shapes everything that comes after. And it also depends on your actual identity, what you are going to work with, and how much authority you are actually looking for.
Finally, it will really boil down to this fact: whether you are interested in building your own house right from the ground up, or you want to just move into a pre-furnished apartment and put your name on the mailbox? That is the vibe. You need to pick the right iGaming solution for your ambition level. I was talking to a friend over at Tecpinion about this exact dilemma the other day.
They were saying how their team often guides new operators through this choice, because it is not one-size-fits-all. For some, the speed of a white label is perfect, but for others who want to build a unique brand, only a turnkey setup will do. It is all about aligning the tech with the vision.
Okay, so what is the actual difference?
Right, let us therefore break it down simply because it is easy to get the terms confused.
- White Label – This is the “fast lane.” You are basically renting a fully-built casino platform from a bigger provider. You slap your logo and brand on it, and you are pretty much good to go. The upside? Speed. And way lower upfront cost.
The downside? Well, you are renting. You have to share a chunk of your revenue forever. And you cannot really knock down walls or redesign the kitchen, you know? Customization is super limited.
- Turnkey – Now, this is more like buying the blueprints and the materials to build your own house. It is a complete package—software, games, payments—but you get to customize it. You own it. The big plus? Total control and you keep all the profits (after that bigger initial investment, obviously). The minus? It costs more at the start and takes longer to set up since you are making it your own.
So, which one is for you?
I am sure that you must at least be honest with yourself. What is your budget really like? How soon do you need to launch? And are you a control freak? Like, do you need to have your hands on every single lever?
If you are cool with getting to market quickly and just focusing on marketing and players, white label is a legit amazing start. But if you have a very specific vision and the resources to build something truly unique from day one, then the turnkey route, even with its headaches, is probably your jam. It is a classic trade-off: speed and cost vs. control and ownership. No right answer can be just the right answer for you.
