Starting an Online Casino in Estonia

Starting any business, online or in the real world, seems daunting but the initiative is already memorable, and if you keep riding on that wave of entrepreneurship, your dreams will soon become a reality. Luckily for all interested in starting an online casino in Estonia, the local market has been heavily regulated since 1995, and there are no mysteries on how to get started. The demand for online casinos in Estonia exists as the total revenue was more than $134 million in 2020 and has steadily risen to over $190 million in 2023. If anyone wishes to be part of such a thriving industry, here is how you can get started.

1. Opening a company

The year is 2024, and the need to physically build a casino is long gone. Estonia had many years to adapt and refine its system to accommodate the shift towards online, and you can reap the benefits. First, you'll need to apply for and obtain the Estonian e-Residency, which is a very straightforward process. All you need to do is apply, pay the fee, and fill out the forms with proper documentation. Then, sit back and wait for approval, after which you'll get your digital ID card.

Many online casinos have started from such humble beginnings, and our iGaming Expert Vlad Grindu compiled a list of real money online casinos for US players who can enjoy welcome bonuses, great games, and superb support from online casinos who have already finished the process. Others must go to step two.

2. Registration and market exploration

Once you have your digital ID card, you've made the first step toward opening your online casino. A catchy business name that will attract your audience is necessary, and you must check with the Estonian Business Register if it's open to complete the registration. A good name and a future online casino niche that you wish to cover with games and services are crucial for your success, and you can look at how some crypto gambling sites have done the job.

Once you have found the perfect and available name, you'll need to fill out your company info and obtain a legal address in Estonia. The final application will go via the Estonia Company Registration Portal, and after paying the fee and waiting for about a week, you'll get your, hopefully positive, response. After that, it's off to your selected bank in Estonia to open the bank account, get your VAT, and you're ready for step 3.

3. Getting your gambling license

Estonia's casino market is heavily regulated, and thanks to their licensing system all potential casinos must go through. Thankfully, this is the last part of your birocratic step in opening an online casino, at least for now. To get your gambling license for your online casino, you can consult with the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (EMTA). One awesome aspect of getting a gambling license in Estonia is that it lasts infinitely, so your business can get passed and remain for future generations. Online casinos can provide a whole range of services and games.

Currently, in Estonia, the lottery remains the number one interest, but that only means that other forms of gambling, like sports betting, poker, slots, and other games of chance and skill, can fill the market demand. Depending on the field or fields you wish to cover, you'll have to apply for the operating permit for each type of gambling game you aim to provide. Thus, if you only wish to focus on a specific type or a niche, this step will go faster, and it will be cheaper. On the other hand, if you want to offer premium and full service, it will take a bit longer and will be more expensive, but you'll be able to cater to a much wider audience.

We suggest doing comprehensive market research in this step so that you can focus on your desired aspect. As the application must contain detailed information about shareholders, management, finances, anti-money laundering compliance, and KYC regulations, it's worth taking your time to know what market segment you'll cover.

4. The technical aspect

After all the major bureaucracy is done, it's time to get to the actual casino operation functions. You'll need servers, technical infrastructure, and a digital platform for your future online casino. The choice of platform, backend, frontend integration, payment solutions, and web functionalities require technical personnel and plenty of tech. Designing a home page, placing games, promoting your casino, establishing customer support, and keeping a close eye on all servers and functions is not a one-man job, and here, you'll have to employ many qualified personnel.

We agree that it's best to develop your systems and start from scratch, but that can be extremely expensive and time-consuming, so going with a white-label option could be the winning formula. You could start preparing your online casino site and functionalities while you apply and do all the paperwork, but the expenses of renting servers (or buying) and making everything from scratch could be more than one can handle. Using proven recipes and adapting them to your needs is a valid short-term solution, as you can switch to a homemade option later.

5. Game choice and promotion

Lastly, but most importantly, your online casinos must have some games. After applying for one or various gaming licenses, you can stockpile with appropriate games for your future users. This can be a fun and engaging step, as you'll finally be doing something concrete. You can experiment with game layouts, functions, welcome bonuses, develop your games, etc. If you have multiple game types on your online casino site, you can design the layout and promote them to a broad market.

We advise you to do site promotion only after you've obtained all the licenses and started on your infrastructure. That way, you'll know some definitive time frames, and you get to attract your core audience for the grand opening. 

First impressions are everything, and after you've done all the hard work with obtaining all the necessary paperwork and establishing a functioning site, you should focus on your launch day!