How easy is it to create an online gambling site? The answer depends on various factors such as the jurisdiction you are working in and the rules and regulations therein. Let’s look at the steps anyone trying to create a browser-based gaming business in the UK must take.
Licensing
One of the first steps to creating an online gaming business is receiving a remote gambling software license. This is true whether building a gambling website or an app. The developer must have a remote gambling software license whether they are working for the company that intends to run the website or are hired by a customer to develop the gaming product. This issue isn’t a challenge if you work with a software developer that already knows how to acquire this license.
Information Security Standards
Information security standards in the gaming business are very high and for good reason. Remember, you’re dealing with sensitive customer information. The state takes information security regarding financial information very seriously and it has incredibly strict rules for protecting payment account information, bank account information, and bank details. The gambling software license requires compliance with ISO/IEC standard 27001 on IT security, and this is only the start. Employees must be trained on how to protect customer data, customer data must be monitored and protected, and you must log all suspicious events or actual breaches.
The Gambling Industry – Its Rules
If the website or app is available for users abroad, country specific licenses may be required. Gambling sites are required to perform background checks on any potential gambler, and these sites cannot be accessible to anyone under age.
You cannot use copyrighted images of team badges on any site, which is something many don’t realise affects fantasy sports sites. You cannot use international event images like those for the Olympics, even if you’re offering bets on the outcome of the Olympic Games. Then there’s the fact that you can’t just use someone else’s code to build your own gambling website. The software licensing for back-end software for handling payments or running games is often complex and should be handled by a professional.
The Gambling Customer
The gambling industry sees many small businesses and large companies seeking to make money from it without understanding it. Gambling is not a ‘one size fits all’ model. Some gamblers like to try out their skills, such as fantasy sports betting or complex systems, while others try to win at digital versions of card games like poker and hi-lo. Others want the quick fun and convenience of online casino slots. And in each of these cases, the user interface and definition of a good design differ for each customer demographic. You shouldn’t try to create a direct digital replacement for going to the bookie and placing a bet, but instead, try to improve upon it so that your site or app beats out all the other online gambling opportunities available to potential customers.
Your online gaming business must be designed to suit the tastes and expectations of your customers or you’ll lose out to your competition.
