Got a Killer Game? Where to Put It – Gambling Platforms vs Solo Site
We have been playing around this game thing at BandurArt a couple of times, and it is always great to see a beginner light up when he/she puts something together. You must have poured a ton of heart, sweat, and caffeine into the project. You got the math, the art is cool, and the RTP is cool. The actual hitch to any iGaming developer is, however, how this slick digital product gets into the real world. Consider it: choosing between gambling platforms or creating your own single site is not only technical. It is a gut check of your business, your stress, and frankly, your creativity.
Suppose you are a new novelist, you can have your book in a big library (the platform), or you can have your own indie bookstore (a standalone site) all by yourself? They are both legit, yet they are still somewhat different.
We can deconstruct it: a huge gambling platform is the giant, casino aggregator in which a billion games exist. They have the licenses, a huge user base, payment infrastructure figured out, and a ton of back-end infrastructure that you do not have to worry about. They simply put you on the hottest shelf in the busiest mall in the world. In the case you need a partner that deals with core tech, a well-built platform such as NuxGame can indeed flatten the learning curve.
Why Are Gambling Platforms Like a Dream (Or Not)?
Big gambling platforms seem like a dream when you are just starting out. Why wouldn’t they? They provide you with instant access and credibility. The brand is not you, but the new players are aware of it. That built-in trust is gold. It is a relief, it is an emotional relief, right? Instead of struggling to comply with PCI, maintain servers, or detect fraud, you can concentrate nearly all your efforts on making great games. Frankly speaking, that is a pain, and with a small team, it may seem like trying to halt a tidal wave with a teacup.
Benefits of using large gambling platforms:
- Huge Follower Count. Your game is immediately seen by thousands of already-interested bettors.
- Regulatory & Legal Shield. They have the licenses (Curacao, MGA, UKGC, etc.), so you do not have to maneuver through that legal minefield. That in itself is worth its weight in gold.
- Payments, Security Processed. Deposits, withdrawals, KYC, it is all in their current system. You do not have to create your own banking engine.
But, and you know there is a BUT, this convenience has its price. It is similar to leasing an apartment in a good location: the rent is very expensive, and you cannot paint the walls any color you want. You lose a massive chunk of the revenue to the platform; they are their house.
Moreover, when you are among hundreds of people, it is more challenging to stand out. You are not only competing against other studios, but also the marketing and promotion of the platform itself. It is congested, and your brilliant slot may be lost under flashy titles. You are not as much a creator as you are a vendor, you know?
The Charisma of the Standalone Site – Be Your Own Boss
Next, there is the other option: the independent site. It is aimed at the mavericks, the devs who desire absolute control and are not afraid to touch infrastructure. It is another thing to create your own dedicated site for your game or a small set of games. It is its final artistic and business freedom.
It is 100% of your revenue (less operating expenses, of course), and your brand is the only brand on the page. That’s a powerful feeling compared to using large gambling platforms. Your place, your regulations, your layout, it is the whitest of all the visions of your studio.
It is thrilling, yes, but here is the truth: it is also frightening. It is the distinction between selling to a publisher and self-publishing, not to mention a host of technology and legal requirements. It is particularly reasonable if you are into the creation of sweepstakes software games solutions (and popular no-deposit slots as well).
On the other hand, there is a reality check to consider. The following table shows perks and benefits coming with standalone sites for game dev teams compared to large gambling platforms.
| Challenge | Gambling Platform (Aggregator) | Small Standalone Site |
| Security | Already secured by the platform | Must secure it yourself |
| Marketing/Acquisition | Built-in player base | Starting from zero – every player is on you |
| Payment Tech | Seamlessly integrated, global payment options | Must integrate payment gateways on your own |
| Revenue Share | High cut (20% – 40%+ off each sale) | You take the lion share, usually 80-90% after fees |
| Time-to-Market | Fast. Integrate, test, and launch the new game | Should construct back-end, compliance, front-end |
Look, when you are a little studio or are just starting, all that back-end and legal stuff is a huge job. This is why many clever, smaller devs tend to be drawn to white-label or turnkey platforms. These middle-ground solutions provide you with your own brand and control the player experience, but they use the infrastructure of an established platform to handle payments, security, and the engine. It is a means of acquiring a storefront without constructing the entire mall in the background. It is an excellent means of retaining your brand voice without losing your head in paperwork and tech support.
Talking Tech: SDKs, APIs, and the Dev Grind
How does your game actually get to one of the gambling platforms, then? We are referring to APIs and SDKs as the nuts and bolts of integration. The large platform will drop an SDK or API endpoint. You feed your game logic into their system. It is a clean, laid-out pipeline.
That procedure is normally well-documented and predictable. They desire your game to run well, and thus, their support teams are rather keen on the integration process. It is less of a creative code, more of precision engineering – you are simply ensuring that your variables speak well to the server rules. It is organized, and frankly speaking, organization is a gift where real money is concerned.
You are the platform developer on a standalone site. You create the API that links your front-end game client to your personal back-end server. You specify the flow, the data packets, the security protocols – everything. It is complete freedom, all right, and then the bug list explodes. Just make the game suddenly become a full-fledged, secure, high-traffic financial transaction system that also supports a game. That is a huge difference to draw at the beginning.
The Vibe Check: Control vs. Comfort
This is the emotional part of it. Being a part of large gambling platforms makes you feel comfortable. You have a middleman to rely on, a great security net. You belong to a winning machine, and you can ride its wave. The downside? You lose a bit of control and your vision may be watered down by platform practices that do not suit you.
On the other hand, you can have absolute control with a standalone site. You determine the speed, the characteristics, the appearance, the gamer experience – all of it. It’s your baby, totally custom. That domination nourishes the soul of the dev. However, I am telling you, complete control can be a nightmare when you cannot sleep because of the thoughts about server load, compliance updates, and the next big promo. It is thrilling yet tiresome, a massive burden.
This was surely discussed in the BandurArt crew early on. Was it the security of a great network we desired, or the magnificent freedom of our own kingdom? We quickly understood that we were playing the game because it felt right and not because we had a server farm. It is an individual choice, but it is always reduced to a single point: where do you want to devote your scarce resources and energy? Would you like to become a master game creator or a master system administrator?
A Few Hints for Choosing Gambling Platforms (If Following This Route):
- Don’t overrate your marketing strength. Large gambling platforms can afford to acquire millions of dollars. You don’t. That in-built following is a huge competitive advantage. Don’t gloss over that.
- Play to your strength. You are great at art and math, but your server skills are, at best, amateurish. Team up with a platform or a white-label provider. Have the professionals do the heavy lifting.
- Your friend is the middle ground. Take a serious look at white-label and turnkey solutions. They allow you to operate your own site under your brand, but connect you to a proven, controlled ecosystem on the back-end. Many smaller operations are the best of both worlds.
- Licensing is no jest. Compliance with regulations is not an appendix. It’s the whole book. When you go it alone, you will have to prepare to go through a lengthy, costly, and stressful legal process.
The thing is, no matter what way you take – gambling platforms or a solo site, your game must be good. That’s the baseline. A mediocre game will not suffice, whether you have 500 other titles next to you or you are on your own territory. The first and foremost thing that you should focus on is to make an experience compelling, fair, and fun.
FAQ
Should I have my own gambling license when I am incorporated into big gambling platforms?
No, usually you don’t. What’s beautiful about hooking up with large gambling platforms or an aggregator is that they have the required operating licenses (such as MGA, Curacao, etc.). You only need to ensure your game is fair, do your RNG testing, as a game provider (the developer).
What is the average percentage of revenue that a platform will cut from a small studio?
It is fluctuating significantly, to be honest, but you can expect splits between 20% and more than 40% of the Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) for the game going to gambling platforms. It varies according to the size of your studio, the exclusivity of your game and your negotiating skills.
Does a standalone site make more profit in the long run?
Potentially, yes. When you create and sell your own site, you retain a much bigger portion of the profits. However, the initial capital expenditure (CapEx) and operational expenditure (OpEx) of licensing, platform software, marketing, staffing, and compliance are enormous. That only increases long-term profitability if you can retain enough players to offset those enormous expenses.
What is the biggest technical challenge of a small studio developing a standalone gambling platform?
The integrations are typically the Player Account Management (PAM) system and the payment gateway integrations. You require strong, safe, controlled methods of onboarding users, verifying their identity (KYC), real-money operations, and their bonuses and loyalty. That is why a lot of smaller operators are choosing a Turnkey solution – they purchase this complicated, ready-built back-end and simply cover it with their own skin.
What is the distinction between an aggregator and a white-label platform?
An aggregator is a huge center that hosts games of numerous studios and supplies them to numerous casinos. A white-label gambling platform is a fully-fledged, ready-to-use casino platform leased by an operator (such as your small studio). It is an essential difference to your business model.
What can a small studio do to make its game stand out on a saturated platform?
Emphasize innovative mechanics and exquisite art. Seriously. The sites are flooded with basic 5-reel games. Think outside the box. Can you weave a cool story? A novel bonus system? A gorgeous form of art that halts a scroll of a player? What attracts the eye is intrigue. The numbers must be equal, but the eye and heart appeal is what makes the difference.
Should I release a free-to-play version initially to check the market?
Honestly, that’s a smart move. Releasing a free-to-play version on a more traditional game delivery platform (such as a mobile UI designed store or even your own site with a demo). It allows you to get useful player feedback on the core loop and gameplay before you have to contend with the complexity and expense of a real-money system. It approves your game design first.
Conclusion
The allure of total control from a standalone site is intoxicating – that’s the artist in you speaking, and we get it. But the smart money, especially for your first project, is to leverage the infrastructure of the big leagues. Go with the established model of gambling platforms. Partner with a reliable provider, integrate your amazing game, and let them handle the mountain of compliance and payment processing. That allows you, the creative force, to concentrate 99% of your energy on what truly matters: making the next, better, more captivating game. That’s the real win.
If this breakdown helped you think through your launch strategy, please consider supporting the BandurArt team by sharing this post online across social media and adding this content to bookmarks. You can also write to the BandurArt team directly if you seek creative or commercial collaboration. We’re always keen to connect with fellow devs and artists!
