Updated 27 September 2026. Author: Gambling Soft team.
Short answer: connecting a payment provider to a Gambling Soft casino platform costs $1,990 to $3,960 per provider, depending on the provider’s API and the checks it requires. The integration is always a paid service; it is free only when it is part of a platform purchase (each ready casino ships with card and crypto payments already working). The provider’s own fees come on top: for a high-risk merchant such as an online casino, card processors typically charge 4-8% per transaction plus a rolling reserve of 5-10% held for 3-6 months, while crypto processors charge 0.5-1.5% (industry estimates, September 2026). Own crypto wallets have no processor fee at all: the platform’s crypto-payment module receives coins to addresses you control and pays out from them. Every Gambling Soft platform accepts cards and 20+ cryptocurrencies with automatic and manual payouts. Full prices are on the pricing page.
Four ways an online casino takes money
Most casinos run two or three of these at the same time: a card PSP for the mass market, local methods for the main GEO, and crypto for players who prefer it or for markets where cards do not work. The table compares them on cost, requirements and risk. Provider fees are industry estimates for high-risk merchants; Gambling Soft integration prices are exact.
| Method | Provider fee (industry estimates) | What the provider asks for | Time to go live | Main risks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cards (Visa, Mastercard) through a high-risk PSP | 4-8% per deposit, rolling reserve 5-10% for 3-6 months, setup $0 to $5,000, monthly minimums possible | Gaming license, registered company, bank account, KYC/AML policy, website with terms, processing history if any | 2-6 weeks after the documents are accepted | Chargebacks, account freeze, reserve held after termination |
| Local methods (bank transfers, wallets, vouchers, mobile payments) | 2-6% per deposit, often a fixed fee per payout | Same as cards, sometimes a local entity or a partner in the country | 2-8 weeks | Works in one country only, payouts may be manual |
| Crypto through a processor | 0.5-1.5% per transaction, sometimes a monthly fee | Company documents and KYC of the owner; a license is usually not required | 1-2 weeks | Processor can freeze funds or close the account; volatility if you do not auto-convert |
| Own crypto wallets (Gambling Soft crypto-payment module) | 0% processor fee; only network fees | Nothing from a third party: you own the keys | Included in the platform, works from day one | You manage the keys and the hot wallet balance yourself |
The practical rule: start with crypto and own wallets because they work immediately, and add a card PSP once the license and the company are ready. Casinos that wait for a card PSP before launch lose 1-2 months of revenue for nothing.
What a card PSP needs before it approves a casino
Online gambling is a high-risk category for every acquirer, so the PSP checks the operator, not only the website. The list below is what providers ask for in practice. Missing any item usually means a rejection or a request to resubmit.
- Gaming license in a jurisdiction the PSP accepts. Anjouan and Curacao are accepted by most offshore-oriented PSPs; regulated markets need the local license. Gambling Soft arranges an Anjouan license with company registration for $28,000 and Curacao for $75,000 (see the list of licenses).
- Registered company with a director, shareholders and a registered address, plus KYC documents of the beneficial owners (passport, proof of address, source of funds).
- Bank account for settlements. Some PSPs settle in USDT, which removes the banking step.
- Live website with terms and conditions, privacy policy, responsible gaming page, age restriction, KYC procedure and a working cashier. Every Gambling Soft platform includes these pages and the cashier out of the box.
- AML/KYC policy and a named compliance person. A KYC provider costs about $0.5-2 per verification (industry estimate).
- Processing history if you had one. New operators are approved with a higher reserve and lower limits at first; limits grow after 3 months of clean traffic.
Integration cost: what Gambling Soft charges and what the provider charges
Two different costs are often mixed up. The integration fee is what you pay Gambling Soft once to connect a provider to your platform and test deposits, payouts, callbacks and refunds. The provider fees are what you pay the PSP every month. The table separates them.
| Item | Price (USD) | Who charges it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payment provider integration (one provider) | $1,990 to $3,960, one-time | Gambling Soft | Depends on the provider’s API, the number of methods and the test procedure; always paid, free only inside a platform purchase |
| Card and crypto payments in a ready casino | Included in the platform price ($8,500 to $47,500) | Gambling Soft | Working cashier, automatic and manual payouts, 20+ coins, own crypto wallets |
| Payment systems in turnkey packages | Casino Lite $7,500: standard crypto payments; Casino Pro $15,000 and Casino + Betting Pro $25,000: one extra payment system; Casino + Betting Premium $59,000: up to three | Gambling Soft | Extra providers beyond the package at the integration price above |
| PSP setup fee | $0 to $5,000 (industry estimate) | Provider | Many high-risk PSPs waive it in exchange for a higher rate |
| Card processing fee | 4-8% of deposits plus rolling reserve 5-10% for 3-6 months (industry estimate) | Provider | Reserve is returned after the holding period |
| Crypto processor fee | 0.5-1.5% (industry estimate) | Provider | Zero with own wallets |
| KYC verification | $0.5 to $2 per check (industry estimate) | KYC provider | Needed for card players and for large payouts |
Worked example: fees on $100,000 of deposits per month
Take a casino that receives $100,000 in deposits per month. The split between methods changes the fee bill more than any negotiation with a single provider does. Numbers are industry estimates applied to the ranges above.
| Scenario | Card deposits | Crypto deposits | Monthly fees | Cash held in reserve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cards only, 6% rate, 10% reserve for 6 months | $100,000 | $0 | $6,000 | $10,000 per month, up to $60,000 held |
| Half cards, half crypto processor at 1% | $50,000 | $50,000 | $3,000 + $500 = $3,500 | $5,000 per month, up to $30,000 held |
| Half cards, half own wallets | $50,000 | $50,000 | $3,000 + network fees (about $100-300) | $5,000 per month, up to $30,000 held |
| Crypto only, own wallets | $0 | $100,000 | Network fees only (about $200-500) | $0 |
Over a year, the difference between the first and the third scenario is about $30,000 in fees and up to $30,000 less cash frozen in reserves. That is why Gambling Soft ships own crypto wallets in every platform: the module is not an upsell, it is the cheapest cashier you can have. Details are in the guide on crypto casino software and prices.
How the integration works, step by step
- Choose the provider. We give a short list of PSPs that accept your license and target countries; you sign the contract with the provider directly, so the merchant account is yours.
- Get the test credentials. The provider issues sandbox keys and documentation. The price of the integration depends on the provider and its API, which is why the range is $1,990 to $3,960.
- Connect deposits. The cashier shows the method, the player is redirected or pays in the widget, the provider’s callback credits the balance. Every callback is verified by signature and logged.
- Connect payouts. Automatic payouts by API where the provider supports them, manual approval in the admin panel where you want control. Limits and manual review thresholds are set per method.
- Test with real money. A deposit, a payout, a refund and a failed transaction on the live account before the method is shown to players.
- Switch on and watch. The method goes live for a group of players first; conversion, declines and chargebacks are visible in the admin panel reports.
The integration timeline is agreed per provider after access is given; the provider’s own approval process is usually the longer part. The same procedure applies to the ready casinos on the ready-made casinos page and to custom builds.
Chargebacks and how the platform helps
Chargebacks are the reason card processing for casinos is expensive. Card schemes watch the chargeback ratio; above about 1% of transactions (industry threshold) the PSP raises fees, increases the reserve or closes the account. The platform reduces the ratio in three ways: mandatory KYC before the first card payout, a clear transaction descriptor and receipts by email, and a deposit history that supports the dispute. Crypto payments have no chargebacks at all, which is another reason to keep them in the mix.
FAQ
How much does it cost to add a payment gateway to an online casino?
$1,990 to $3,960 per provider on a Gambling Soft platform, one-time. The provider’s own fees (industry estimates: 4-8% for cards, 0.5-1.5% for crypto processors, zero for own wallets) are separate.
Is the payment integration free when I buy a casino?
Card and crypto payments are already working in every ready casino and are included in the price. Additional providers requested at the time of purchase can be included in the project; a provider added later is a paid integration.
Can I accept cards without a gaming license?
No. Card PSPs require a license and a registered company. Crypto payments through own wallets work without a PSP, so a casino can launch on crypto first and add cards when the license is issued (Anjouan usually takes 4-8 weeks after filing).
Which is cheaper for a new casino: a crypto processor or own wallets?
Own wallets: no processor fee, no account that can be frozen, and the module is included in the platform. A processor makes sense when you want automatic conversion to fiat or do not want to manage keys.
Do you connect a specific PSP I already have?
Yes, if the provider has an API. Send the documentation to contacts and we quote within the $1,990 to $3,960 range after reading it. The list of payment options we work with is on the payment solutions page.