A turnkey casino solution is a ready-built casino platform (player accounts, wallet, back office, game content, payments and front end) that a supplier deploys for an operator that holds its own gambling licence. A white label is the same kind of platform, but the brand runs under the supplier’s licence.
That single difference, whose licence it is, drives most of the others: cost structure, control, which markets you can enter and how hard it is to leave.
Side by side
| Turnkey | White label | |
|---|---|---|
| Licence holder | The operator | The platform provider |
| Who answers to the regulator | Operator, for its licence; supplier for its technology | Provider, in law; the brand in practice |
| Upfront cost (SOFTSWISS estimate) | ~€60,000 to €100,000+ | ~€20,000 to €60,000+ |
| Ongoing fees | Flat fee or fixed revenue share, per SOFTSWISS | Higher revenue share, per SOFTSWISS and Gamingtec |
| Time to launch | Weeks for the tech, plus your licence timeline | Weeks |
| Choice of games and payment providers | Wider; operator can add integrations | Limited to the provider’s catalogue unless the contract allows more |
| Regulated national markets | Possible with a local licence | Generally not, where each brand must hold its own licence |
Cost figures are SOFTSWISS’s own estimates, from its white label vs turnkey article updated 15 October 2026. We checked vendor pages on 4 November 2026.
What vendors say turnkey includes
- SOFTSWISS describes its Turnkey Casino Solution as a platform “to run under an operator’s licence”, with 50,000+ games from 300+ providers through its aggregator and 300+ payment methods, and says it is compliant across 14+ regulated jurisdictions.
- Gamingtec’s turnkey page lists games, payments, CRM, affiliate tools and back office “under your own licence”, and describes pricing as a setup fee plus a monthly revenue share or fixed fee.
- NuxGame’s turnkey FAQ states plainly that turnkey software does not come with a licence: “A gaming license is issued by the regulator to your company, not to the software.” It offers legal help with the application.
Why the market is moving toward turnkey
Three published signals point the same way.
- National licensing. SOFTSWISS notes that national licences in the UK, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands do not allow white-label umbrella arrangements; each brand needs its own licence.
- Curaçao’s reform. Under the LOK (in force since 24 December 2024), an online licence is granted to a Curaçao company for domains “owned or controlled by the licensee” and approved by the CGA, and adding domains needs prior approval (CGA licence conditions).
- Supplier positioning. EveryMatrix’s site quotes an executive saying the company gave up its UK and Danish operating licences in 2019 to focus on turnkey delivery (EveryMatrix).
White label has not disappeared. BetConstruct, for one, still markets a white label that runs under its own licences. But a white label operator depends on the provider’s licence staying valid for its domains and markets, and that is now the main risk to diligence.
When each fits
Turnkey fits when:
- You are entering a market that requires a local licence (Great Britain, Ontario, US states).
- You want to own player data, choose your own payment providers and add studios.
- You plan more than one brand or market on the same stack.
- You can carry the licence cost and compliance team. Year-one regulator fees alone range from about €17,828 (Anjouan) to C$100,000 per site (Ontario); see our licence cost table.
White label fits when:
- You are testing demand in markets where the provider’s licence is valid for your domain.
- Budget is tight upfront and you accept a higher revenue share.
- You have marketing strength but no compliance team yet.
Plan the exit either way. Ask for the cost and timeline of migrating from white label to turnkey before you sign, because SOFTSWISS warns migration “requires new investment, compliance re-certification, and regulatory approval timelines”.
Questions for a turnkey vendor
- Which jurisdictions is the platform certified in today, and which games are certified for my target market?
- Is pricing a flat fee, a revenue share, or both? On GGR or NGR?
- Who hosts, and can hosting meet my regulator’s location rules?
- Which integrations are included, and what does an extra one cost?
- Who owns the data, and in what format do I get it if I leave?
For the money side in more detail, see white label casino cost, and for vendor comparisons, our iGaming platform providers page.
Written for readers aged 18 and over who work in or with the gambling industry. Help for gambling harm is listed on our responsible gambling page, including the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.