The Complete Guide: How to Open a Sportsbook Internet Business @ 2025
Sports betting is growing in popularity, and if you are wondering how to start, this is your place to learn and explore. Looking at this lucrative business, everyone must have thought about starting this website once.
11:33 am
Table of Contents :
If you are a passionate entrepreneur with an interest in sports, this is an excellent business opportunity. Sports betting is growing in popularity, and if you are wondering how to start, this is your place to learn and explore. Looking at this lucrative business, everyone must have thought about starting this website once. If you are a passionate entrepreneur with an interest in sports, this is an excellent business opportunity.
This industry is expected to grow even more in the coming years. However, you must consider the pros and cons of starting this business, just like you will explore for any other business. Therefore, this article will discuss everything you must know about starting an online sports website, such as getting a license, proper marketing, etc.
Starting your sports betting website may be complex but with complete guidance, you can design one and be successful and earn a lot of profit. Let’s get started.
What is a Sports Betting Website?
Sports betting, in simple terms, is a kind of gambling where you can place bets on the results of a particular sports event. Users can wager on their preferred player, league, event, or team to win cash prizes on sports betting websites. These websites provide a variety of leagues and events to choose from.
Users can choose the one they like by paying specific fees. You can find numerous sports on these websites, such as football, cricket, soccer, badminton, basketball, baseball, rugby, tennis, etc., making it engaging for you.
Cheat Sheet for Starting a Sports Betting Website
Here is a small cheat sheet to keep handy as your reference while designing your sports betting website:
Parameters | Options |
Domain name | Domain registrars, like Namecheap and GoDaddy |
Web hosting | Hosting services, such as SiteGround, Bluehost |
Sports betting software | Providers experts in betting software |
Affiliate marketing software | iGaming affiliate platforms |
Payment gateway | Stripe or PayPal |
SSL certificate | Comodo or Let’s Encrypt |
Legal compliance and licensing | Local regulations and legal experts |
Advertising and marketing | Online ads and digital marketing companies |
Customer support tools | Freshdesk or Zendesk – help desk software |
Reporting and analytics tools | Tableau or Google Analytics |
Outline Goals and Budget
Always do thorough research before you start the development process. This idea of starting an online sports betting platform should meet your needs and budget. Market research will also help you know and understand your competitors. Your main goal should be to concentrate on target users and objectives.
Deciding on Sports and Niche for Your Sports Betting Website
There are many major online brokers, such as 888sport.com, betway.com, and bet365.com, that offer bets on almost every sport you can think of. However, you should not create a website to compete with them as they are the prominent market players that have already been established in the business for a long time. Moreover, to start on their level, you will need a lot of money to design and market your website. But since you will be starting for the first time, especially if you have a limited budget, choose a sport or a niche and design your website around the same. If you target a niche, it will be easier to give a good user experience and create your brand image. So, you will need:- Create a website interface and design specific to the niche.
- Give your users unique promotions and offers specific to your chosen game. For example, if you start with football, give options to place bets on who will go out first, who will breach the rules, who will strike the opponent’s goal plane, how many yellow cards will be given, etc. Bets on the timing of the first blood, the number of ultra-kills in a match, and other events are required if this is the video game Dot 2.
- Design a marketing strategy specific to your niche. Since the target audience will be small, it will be better to target them through marketing campaigns.
Choosing the Right Development Approach
There are certain essential things, such as licensing, standardization, and software developers’ credibility, to consider while designing sports betting websites, and hence, it is a challenging development. In other words, gamers need to know that their funds won’t be taken, that their chances of winning won’t be tied up, and that the game makers will offer enough security against hacking or unwanted intervention. Therefore, you must develop your website using well-known names in the market. In the case of a sports betting website, customized development can allow you to add numerous features and will be great for marketing. Some approaches you can implement are:-
-
Customized Solution
Bet365 is a perfect example of a customized solution. The website is registered in Gibraltar, and the registration amount paid was 30,000 dollars. The website pays close to 100,000 dollars in taxes annually since it has many licenses, and sports betting is just one of them. Their website development costs around 80,000 – 100,000 dollars and the same amount for mobile app development. Additionally, they had spent a lot on promotional activities. So, if you want to develop a customized website such as Bet365, you will have to spend between 300,000 and 3 million dollars. Targeting a smaller niche will reduce your marketing costs, but it will have a minimal impact on development costs. The advantage, however, is that you will be the owner of the website with complete control. -
White-Label Solution
A white-label solution will cost between 10,000 to 350,000 dollars. This cost includes the website with limited customization and functionality options, payment processing, application, and promotions. So, it will be general design and guidance. However, in return, you must pay a certain percentage of gross profit. For people with limited budgets, this is the best option. -
Becoming a Licensee Licensee
Additionally, you can also opt to be a licensee licensee, the best budgetary approach where the website can be developed between 5000 and 60,000 dollars. You will operate as an agent under someone else’s license to bring in clients in return for a specific commission on their out-of-pocket costs. In other words, you’ll be promoting and driving visitors to another website. Irrespective of which option you prefer of the above, here are a few things you must ensure your software has: -
- A multi-currency payment gateway
- Software license
- CRM and customer support team
- More comprehensive coverage of different rates
- Understanding of how the betting system works
-
Deciding on Hosting and Domain Name for Your Sports Betting Website
For your sports betting website to be up and running, hosting and domain name is essential. It must be done right, as it is the foundation of any website. Let’s start with domain names that are easy to remember and relatable to sports betting. Some ideal examples are bet.com or sportsbook.com. You can see if the ideal choice is available or get help from a domain broker who may have some for sale. Remember to choose a domain that is short and catchy, as it will help in branding. Next comes the web hosting part. It is the place where website files will be stored and from where they will be accessible on the internet. It is better to go with a hosting provider that is an expert in managing high traffic. Go with a plan that offers a lot of bandwidth, storage space, and security features, like SSL encryption. You can even find betting software providers who can host your website on their platform, known as SaaS, where you won’t need a hosting provider but will need a domain. The website development process will begin once you have the domain name and hosting services. Remember, if you choose SaaS, it will have pre-built templates from which to choose. If not, search the internet for pre-made designs of betting websites that are compatible with the CMS of your choice.Getting Your Country-Specific License
A sports betting website cannot be operational with just a website, you will need licenses to operate and start it. Getting a permit is not easy as there are certain countries where online sports betting is prohibited, and somewhere, both players and entrepreneurs can get punished for operating and playing, particularly the ones in Asia and the Middle East. Whereas, in Europe, Poland is the only country where betting is banned. Therefore, you must first know which country follows what rules and regulations concerning gambling licensing. For instance, in the United States, online betting depends on state laws. So, if you want to operate a sports betting website, you must apply for a corresponding license. It can take anywhere between several months to a year, depending on the state or country, to get a sports betting license. Here are a few things to consider while choosing the jurisdiction:- State reputation, such as corruption, attitude to rates, and stability of the regime.
- Fiscal charges and taxes
- Licensing requirements for authorized capital and legal entities.
- Duration and cost of the procedure for obtaining a license.
-
Curacao
There are no categories for different kinds of casinos, slot machines, or bookies, and everybody gets the same type of license. Moreover, there are no strict requirements, making the process simpler and easy to apply. There is a 2% tax rate, which is lower than that of many other countries. It can be an excellent option as the government issues the license quickly to increase their tax revenues. -
Costa Rica
A stable nation that is pleased to grant licenses for the operation of betting businesses, but there are two requirements: first, locals must not use the company’s services, which is accomplished by banning all IP addresses from the nation; second, your firm must physically be present in the country. The license cost is 12,000 dollars a year with no exchange controls or tax liabilities. -
Isle of Man
You can get a gambling registration of all kinds in this country. The minimum cost of a gambling license is 50,000 dollars and also depends on the company’s structure and its form. If the company’s revenue is less than 20 million dollars, the tax is deducted at 1.5%. It is preferable to install servers in the nation of registration or to employ hosting providers’ services. Thus, there won’t be as many issues with jurisdiction and regulations safeguarding users’ rights and private data.
Collaborate with Sports Leagues and Data Providers
The next essential step is to partner with sports leagues and data providers, as you will require real-time statistics and data to set accurate lines and odds. It is best to form partnerships with top sports league providers, such as NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL, as they can allow you to use their team names, official data, and logos on your website. It helps build credibility and stand out from the competition. These deals can be expensive, and hence, you may need a lot of funding options. Besides, collaborating with data providers can also be good as they collect data, results, stats, and many other information from tournaments and leagues worldwide. You can partner with companies, such as Sportradar, Stats Perform, and Genius Sports, to get comprehensive access to data APIs that can easily integrate with your website and mobile apps. You will need real-time and accurate data for live betting and odds. This reliable data and partnerships are trusted sources. Using their data on your website can improve your user’s experience. Users will be more confident in odds accuracy and betting options with official visuals and data on your platform. If you set up a partnership early on, it can result in the success of your sportsbook. However, remember this user experience will come with a lot of monetary needs, but it is worth every money invested.Selecting Your Provider of Payment Services
You must also agree with different payment providers, making it easier for your players to deposit and withdraw money. Most website owners choose multiple payment options to give their users the best options. Simultaneously, it is essential to place a wager on payment providers who comprehend local situations and modify their offerings accordingly.
Let’s look at the top three payment providers for online betting business:
Parameters | Stripe | PayPal | Authorize.Net |
Fees | 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. No monthly fee bills | 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. Account fees – from $0 – $30 per month. | 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. Fee due – $25 per month |
Installation cost | None | $0 for most accounts and $99 for PayFlow Pro | $49 |
Chargebacks | If returned decided in your favor – $15 | Refundable if decided in your favor – $20 | Returned if decided in your favor – $25 |
Easy setup and integration | Easy plug and play with 51 sample API and ecommerce platforms for others | Easy plug and play with most ecommerce platforms and API for others | Easy plug and play with most ecommerce platforms and API for others |
Supported payments | Major credit cards, Apple Pay, ACH, Bitcoin checks, and Android Pay | Major credit cards and PayPal | Major credit cards and electronic checks |
Support | No direct phone contact but support through email or an online form with callback support | Customer care – Monday to Friday – 5 am to 10 pm, and Sat and Sun – 6 am to 8 pm for telephone and email support 24/7 phone, email, and chat support | 24/7 phone, email, and chat support |
Website | www.stripe.com | www.paypal.com | www.authorize.net |
These are just the top three, and there is much more that you can explore. You must choose the one that suits your region and the targeted audience. You can also opt for the one that uses cryptocurrencies.
Putting in Place a Sturdy and Secure Payment System
Any firm that wants to maintain its reputation, assure consumer trust, and manage transactions effectively must implement a reliable and secure payment system. Because cybercrime has gotten more sophisticated, protecting sensitive financial data is now not just necessary but also vital. You can implement SSL encryption to handle sensitive financial data. Some of the options are:
- Let’s Encrypt – This is an automated, free, and open certificate authority provided by the ISRG – the Internet Security Research Group. It offers the necessary tools to enable HTTPS on your servers.
- Cloudflare – Although it is a worldwide content delivery platform, it provides free SSL certificates to encrypt communication within your website.
- Comodo SSL – This is a paid platform offering different SSL certificates as per business needs. Different companies trust it and offer high-level security.
Additionally, for that extra layer of protection, you must also ensure all your users have a strong password with 2FA authentication for account access and bet placement. There must be a minimum of 8 characters, including a mix of letters, symbols, and numbers. Secure passwords, or passphrases, make it much more challenging for hackers to access accounts.
Conduct Audits Regularly
As conscientious proprietors of websites, consistently carry out routine security audits to identify any weaknesses in the system prior to hackers taking advantage of them. Audits ought to look for Threats from SQL injection, malware, unpatched software, and other problems. With each tool having a distinct function, there are several that can help with these audits:
- One of the most complete vulnerability scanners available is Nessus. It can detect security holes, incorrect setups, and malicious software that intruders use to access your network.
- The Zed Attack Proxy or OWASP ZAP An open-source web application security scanner is called ZAP. It assists you in identifying potential weaknesses that an attacker may exploit in your online application.
- Another all-inclusive tool for web application security testing is Burp Suite. It comes with a number of tools for examining, testing, and exploiting vulnerabilities in online applications.
- With the help of the network protocol analyzer Wireshark, you may record and explore network traffic interactively. This might help you see any odd trends or irregularities.
- OpenVAS stands for Open Vulnerability Assessment System. It is a robust vulnerability scanner with many features that provide a variety of tests and services to search for security holes.
Creating Marketing Plans
Once you have created the website and are done with the testing, you must submit it to the respective platforms, where people can either download or use it. However, before you submit it, ensure that there are no bugs or crashes. Do check the software compatibility, privacy policies, and minimum usability.
Then comes the most essential part of marketing, which will tell you the targeted audience of your website, what it does, and how you are different from others. This will help in making it easier for your product to enter the market and reach its targeted audience. You can also use different marketing tools, such as:
- Content marketing – Share informative and pertinent information, including podcasts, videos, and articles. Start your blog, conduct interviews with athletes, and provide news and commentary about betting.
- Search engine optimization – This enables you to top the search results with your website. Employ an SEO expert, utilize pertinent keywords, and include both internal and external connections.
- Affiliate advertising – It is a cooperative model where commissions are paid to affiliates for users they suggest. Work together with affiliates who have a sports and betting-related audience.
- Loyalty plans and bonuses – Deposit bonuses, risk-free bets, free bets, and better odds are some of the available options.
Advantages of Sports Betting Website
There is an excellent option – crypto-integrated sports betting software, which is pre-designed software to launch your website in just a couple of days. Here are some more benefits of starting a sports betting website business:
- It is the easiest method of investing and earning a considerable amount of money.
- This market is scalable and not limited to any specific location.
- The users increased significantly in the business, and hence, it is easier to attract them.
- Users can not only place bets on bookmakers but also against each other.
- This is also the most entertaining industry.
- Business owners have a better opportunity to earn revenue.
- The website can be taken globally.
In addition, there is a great deal of customization available to match your theme designs and company requirements. Thus, having sports betting software is necessary for creating a website that looks good.
How to Boost Your Online Sports Betting Business?
One of the easiest ways of boosting your business is by developing a sports betting app along with the website. It will help in enhancing your business and take it to the next level. You can occupy a large market and attract more users. However, people often ask a question – is sports betting legal?
We have already discussed the answer above, and remember, other countries are also looking to legalize it. Often, it is done, and it will open a lot of opportunities in the sports betting world and further enhance your business. While you plan on developing an app or betting platform, it is good to know your competitors, too.
Listed below are the top five apps that are ruling the market:
- CBS Fantasy Sports
- FanDuel
- DraftKings
- ESPN Fantasy Sports
- Dream11
How to Design a Betting Website’s Back-End Infrastructure?
Back-end infrastructure consists of betting processing engines, interaction with the payment gateway, and real-time update systems. Here are some elements of a back-end infrastructure designing process:
- Technology stack – You can use appropriate tools, such as frameworks, programming languages, and database systems like Flask, Python, and PostgreSQL.
- Microservice architectures – The program is divided into several services that are created, implemented, and scaled apart from one another.
- Orchestration and containerization – It improves the back-end infrastructure’s scalability. Orchestration tools are used to manage the program and its dependencies, which are packaged into a container through containerization.
- Cloud infrastructure – Backend development may be done more affordably, securely, and scalable with the help of services like Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services.
You can either opt for in-house or outsourced backend infrastructure development. In most cases, 24% of small companies prefer outsourcing since it is cost-effective and there is no need to hire people.
Features to Consider in Sports Betting Website
Let’s look at some of the features you must consider in your website:
User Panel Features
Listed below are some user panel features:
- Login – Your website must be able to authorize and register users in different ways – login and password, integration with social media networks, and email and password.
- Choosing bet – There should be a quick and simple selection process of teams, sports, events, and players to bet on. These things must also differ based on the sport the user chooses.
- Broadcasting matches and games – The users can watch the game live on websites and apps. This increases user engagement and experience and results in more revenue.
- Bid help – There should be a simple guide with videos and screenshots on how to bet and withdraw money. You can even create a tooltip to help the users.
- Player and team information – There should be an option to find information on different teams and players of their preferred sport. The information must be concise about achievements, results, strengths, and weaknesses.
- Match schedule – There should be a calendar showcasing all the future events for players to plan their betting. The schedule needs to be relevant; for example, the football match schedule needs to appear once the customer chooses football wagers.
- Bet type – It should depend on the user’s request and sports type.
- Communication channel with other users – Your website must have the option for players to communicate with each other in real-time to discuss events, bets, predictions, etc. This can be in the form of forums, chats, and groups.
- Bid results – The total amount wagered or won, as well as the history of sports wagering and the kinds of wagers placed.
- Payment system – The users must have easy access to deposit and withdraw money, and the payment gateways must be integrated with web and mobile apps.
- Multi-language support – To reach a wider audience, ensure you have multi-language support.
- Match summary – There must be detailed statistics for the team and players so that the users can analyze their betting options.
Admin Panel Features
Now, let’s look at some features from the admin panel point of view:
- Login – There must be several administrative tools for employees and owners. The former must have limited rights to manage and maintain your website.
- User management – The capability of keeping an eye on and controlling user accounts via a dashboard that provides access to all user data, including outcomes, quantities, rate types, and personal information.
- Input data from bookmakers – You must include match status, players, teams, and bets on them. Typically, bookmakers aggregate betting data to provide more precise information about the odds and payouts.
- Management of payments and winnings – It is necessary to monitor and regulate the amount of prizes manually in order to identify fraud, identify errors, and settle contentious situations.
What Rate Method to Opt for?
One of the most essential features of the betting site is the computation of the winnings and the chance of winning. Rate ratios and their relationship to likelihood and win amount should be made clear on the website.
- Thus, in a sporting event where a team has a 25% chance of winning, the odds are determined using the following algorithm: one whole and N tenths, where N = 100% / 25%. If the team has a 25% probability of winning, the amount of winnings from the bets on it is determined using the following formula: coefficient * rate. For instance, if the customer bets $100 and the coefficient is 1.4, they will get $40 (100 * 1.4) if they win. It’s the European system.
- The method is identical to the Hong Kong system; however, it is not 1.4; instead, it is shown at 0.4. This does not affect the likelihood or magnitude of the gain. The user will get the same 40% of the wager plus the whole amount wagered if they win. Fractional odds are used in the British system; an example would be 5/10. The number of units you must enter is shown on the right, and the number of units the user will earn is shown on the left. Thus, if the coefficient is 5/10, the user’s chances of winning are $80 ($100/10 number to the right) * 5 (the number to the left)) when they stake $100.
- Rates like “+150 and -250” are used in the US system. The win amount is shown on the left, while the number on the right indicates the amount to be deposited. For instance, in our scenario, you must wager $250 in order to earn $150.
- The Indonesian technique is comparable to the US algorithm; the main difference is that decimal fractions, such as +1.5 and -2.5, are utilized in place of integers.
- The Malaysian method similarly uses +/-signs, but it indicates the amount of the wager first, followed by the amount of the gain; for instance, -45 and +100 (you must wager $45 to win $100).
Estimated Income in Sports Betting Business
Most people gamble for fun purposes. This adds intrigue to viewing the competition. A sports betting site may actively develop by enticing friends through an affiliate scheme, as about 25% of all players put bets with friends. Sports betting websites often make between 2% and 4%. More people will utilize your platform if the percentage of the profit is smaller and the software interface is more engaging.
The survey states that the typical wager in Europe is between $50 and $70. With 1,000 active users per day based on these numbers, you can earn up to $1,000 every day:
$1,000 per day for 1,000 users * $50 * 2% or $2,800 per day for 1,000 users * $70 * 4%
Thus, you can achieve success if you launch a vigorous marketing strategy and can make more than $30,000 monthly.
Cost of Developing an Online Sports Betting Website
Like other software products, the sports betting website offers a variety of pricing points. Let’s look at the base prices of certain software products and other services.
The price range for an essential sports betting website is $10,000 to $20,000. It may take up to 2 months to create one. An enlarged admin panel, automated coefficient loading, and more than ten categories are just a few of the features that come with a more sophisticated project that will cost between $20,000 and $60,000 and can be designed in two to three months.
A website that will compete with premium platforms would require a development time of up to six months and a budget of between $60,000 and $120,000. The monthly installation expenses of such a system range from $800 to $2500, in addition to platform usage fees. The automated loading of odds and games is already included in this solution.
The majority of procedures are automated. You must choose a name, get a domain, and start working on the project right away.
Conclusion
There is a huge business opportunity to develop a sports betting website, and you can become a part of a multi-dollar business. However, the competition is very high, and hence you must do a lot of work to come to the top. Moreover, it is challenging to design this website. It cannot be achieved with just the idea and money. Therefore, you need a reliable software provider who can help you create one.
Explore Our iGaming Solutions
Sweepstakes Software
, Casino Game Development
, Online Casino Software Development
, Sportsbook Software Development
, Slot Game Development
, Provably Fair Games
, Telegram Casino Integration
, Crypto Casino Development
, Turnkey Casino Solutions
FAQs
It would help if you got the necessary permits in your county and any additional locations where you plan to operate before you can launch an online sports betting company. A sizable startup budget, live betting software, betting affiliate software, a steady stream of new players, and a committed team of employees are necessities for running the firm.
Although building a bookie website is a big undertaking, it can always be divided into manageable parts. To fuel your bet-placing activity, you’ll need management, a marketing and promotion department, a website, and bookie software.
Prish K, Head of Marketing at TRUEiGTECH, holds an experience of more than 10 years in the iGaming domain. Starting from strategic planning and digital marketing to team leadership and cross-functional collaboration, he is a master of his domains. For more than a decade, he has shown a promising commitment to fostering result-driven and creative work outputs. Beyond guiding newcomers and established iGaming operators with the right software solutions for their business needs, Prish also wants to share his industry expertise and knowledge through insightful blogs and articles.