Online casinos are a huge business sector across the UK and certainly within Northern Ireland. Many people who live in Northern Ireland love to play at online casinos and this makes it a tempting sector for entrepreneurs in NI to move into. The current laws that cover gambling in Northern Ireland are from the mid-1980s and do not mention online casinos at all – this means it is feasible in theory to open an online casino within the country. The 2014 Gambling (Licencing and Advertising Act) does require any online casino here to hold a GB Gambling Commission Licence to operate first though.
One key aspect of any successful internet casino is the range of slot games it contains. Slots are arguably the most popular type of game and are the titles which really pull in the punters. Popular slots include Starburst and the Deal or No Deal game for example, while top developers include Quickspin and Yggdrasil Gaming. To get the slots people will love on an online casino though, you would first have to licence them. Getting this right is the key for being able to drive business success in this area.
But how does this work exactly?
Licenced content from software providers
The slot games which appear on any online site are not made in-house usually. This would simply be far too time-consuming and require site owners to have specialist programming skills. To help acquire the online slots needed to succeed, you would have to licence games to carry from well-known developers. Licencing basically sees you paying the developers money to carry their games. It works exactly the same way in principle as licencing a song to use in a film you are making.
This is a really crucial step for any new online casino as striking a deal for the content you need will help to attract players. Naturally, it is highly advised to work with a trusted set of game developers who have a range of popular games and a decent reputation in the industry. Once you have inked your licencing deal and paid any fees, you will then get their content to use and access to any new slots they develop in the future.
Well-known brands can be used
The challenge of successful branding can be a struggle for many businesses. Adding licencing into the mix may feel like a hurdle but it should be viewed as an opportunity to create a well-rounded brand. Many games studios will themselves strike deals with popular TV shows or movie franchises to licence their image for new games. From Batman to Frankie Dettori, Iron Man and Ant & Dec, some major names in entertainment have licenced their image to slot game studios. This is a win-win for everyone involved.
The entertainment brands get more exposure globally, the studios get a well-known name to use and the online casinos get an officially licenced game to draw more players in with. This type of licencing would see the game studio pay the entertainment franchise to use their image and the online casino then pay the game studio to carry the title they develop around it.
Online sites also need to be licenced
Although it is key to know how licencing works for any slots a casino may carry, you should also be aware of how essential it is for the casinos themselves. This is naturally vital if you plan to open up your own at some point in the future. Although the laws around online gambling in Northern Ireland are not overly clear or modern, the basic standard is to hold a licence to operate from the UK Gambling Commission.
The UK is one of the most well-respected regulators around and being licenced by them to provide casino games including slots is crucial. It will not only help keep you on the right side of the law as an online casino operator but also help players feel comfortable enough to play with you. A good tip here for Northern Irish business owners who move into online gambling is to display their UKGC certification prominently on each page.
Licencing and regulation is a must for internet casinos
There is no doubt that online gambling has taken off in a major way over the last few years. This has seen it become an industry which generates billions worldwide and find favour with Northern Irish citizens. If you are an entrepreneur based in Northern Ireland who is thinking of moving into this sector, it is key to do your research first. Slot game licencing is certainly one area to think about as is holding the right certification for your site. While it is key to conduct your own thorough due diligence before setting up a business in this industry, the above gives a brief overview to get you started.
