Stake is a Curaçao-licensed cryptocurrency-based online casino and sports betting platform operated by Medium Rare NV. Launched in 2017 by Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani, Stake has grown into one of the world's largest online gambling platforms, processing over 30 billion bets annually and generating USD 2.6 billion in revenue as of 2022.
Stake Casino has established itself as a dominant force in the cryptocurrency gambling sector since its 2017 launch. Founded by Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani, who previously created Easygo, a game development company for online casinos, Stake represents a strategic evolution in digital gambling. The platform's rapid growth from 5 billion to 30 billion bets within a single year demonstrates its market penetration and player retention capabilities.
The platform's cryptocurrency-first approach differentiates it from traditional online casinos. By supporting 19 separate digital currencies including major options like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, Stake eliminates many friction points associated with fiat currency transactions. This strategy appeals particularly to players seeking faster withdrawals, lower transaction fees, and enhanced privacy compared to conventional banking methods.
Stake's game library exceeds 3,000 titles, spanning multiple categories to accommodate diverse player preferences. The platform organizes its offerings into distinct verticals: slots, table games, live dealer experiences, Stake Originals, and sports betting markets. This comprehensive approach positions Stake as a one-stop destination rather than a specialized niche operator.
The slots section features titles from leading providers including Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Play'n GO, and Evolution Gaming. Players access classic three-reel slots, modern video slots with complex bonus features, and progressive jackpot games with substantial prize pools. The platform's search and filter functions enable users to sort by provider, volatility, theme, and special features.
Stake regularly updates its slots library, adding new releases within days of their market debut. The platform highlights popular titles and recent additions through dedicated sections, helping players discover trending games. Pragmatic Play's Drops and Wins promotion, featured prominently in Stake's promotional calendar, offers additional prize pools for participating slot titles.
Traditional table game enthusiasts find multiple variants of blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker. Stake offers both RNG-based table games and live dealer versions streamed from professional studios. The live casino section features over 40 games with real dealers, providing an immersive experience that bridges online and land-based gambling.
Live dealer games include standard options like European and American roulette, multiple blackjack variants with different rule sets, and baccarat tables with varying stake limits. Specialized games such as Dream Catcher, Monopoly Live, and Lightning Roulette add variety for players seeking game-show-style entertainment with gambling elements.
Stake Originals represent proprietary games developed exclusively for the platform. These titles include Plinko, Dice, Mines, Crash, and Limbo, each implementing provably fair technology that allows players to verify the randomness of outcomes. This transparency feature addresses trust concerns inherent in online gambling by providing cryptographic proof of fair play.
The Originals category demonstrates Stake's commitment to product differentiation. Rather than relying solely on third-party content, the platform invests in developing unique gaming experiences that cannot be found on competing sites. These games typically feature simpler mechanics than traditional slots but offer customizable risk levels and betting strategies.
Stake's sportsbook covers major international sports including football, basketball, tennis, cricket, and esports. The platform offers pre-match betting across thousands of events monthly, alongside live in-play betting with updated odds reflecting game progression. This dual offering appeals to both strategic bettors who analyze statistics before events and reactive players who prefer real-time wagering.
The sportsbook provides extensive market coverage for popular leagues and tournaments. Football betting includes options for major European leagues, international competitions, and regional championships. Basketball coverage spans NBA, EuroLeague, and national competitions, while tennis betting encompasses Grand Slams, ATP, and WTA events.
Stake's odds format can be displayed in decimal, fractional, or American styles, accommodating international player preferences. The platform's odds competitiveness varies by sport and market, with major events typically offering tighter margins than niche markets. Live betting odds update dynamically, reflecting game developments and betting volume shifts.
Recognizing the growing esports audience, Stake offers comprehensive coverage of competitive gaming. Players can bet on Dota 2, Counter-Strike, League of Legends, Valorant, and other popular titles. Esports betting markets include match winners, handicaps, total maps, and specialized prop bets related to in-game events.
The esports section benefits from Stake's cryptocurrency focus, as the esports community demonstrates higher cryptocurrency adoption rates compared to traditional sports audiences. This alignment between platform capabilities and audience preferences contributes to Stake's strong position in the esports betting market.
Stake operates under a Curaçao e-gaming license, allowing it to serve international markets with a focus on cryptocurrency transactions. The platform combines casino gaming with sports betting in a unified interface optimized for desktop and mobile browsers. Players register using email verification, deposit supported cryptocurrencies, and access the full game library without requiring app downloads.
The platform processes deposits and withdrawals through blockchain networks, enabling faster transaction times compared to traditional banking methods. Stake maintains transparency through provably fair gaming technology for its original titles, allowing players to verify game outcomes. The company employs staff across offices in Serbia, Australia, and Cyprus, supporting a 24/7 customer service operation.
Stake's cryptocurrency-exclusive payment structure represents both its primary advantage and a potential barrier for traditional gamblers. The platform supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, Tron, Dogecoin, and numerous other digital currencies. This variety allows players to choose currencies based on transaction speed preferences, fee considerations, and personal holdings.
Deposits require players to generate a unique wallet address within their Stake account for their chosen cryptocurrency. Players then transfer funds from their external wallet to this address. Blockchain confirmation times vary by currency, with some transactions completing within minutes while others may require 30-60 minutes during network congestion.
The platform does not impose deposit fees, though players pay standard blockchain network fees when sending transactions. Minimum deposit amounts vary by cryptocurrency, generally ranging from the equivalent of 10 to 20 USD. Stake does not enforce maximum deposit limits, accommodating high-roller players with substantial bankrolls.
Withdrawals follow a similar process in reverse. Players specify their external wallet address and withdrawal amount, then Stake processes the transaction through the blockchain. The platform advertises instant withdrawals, though actual receipt times depend on blockchain confirmation speeds and network conditions.
Stake implements security measures including two-factor authentication and email confirmations for withdrawal requests. First-time withdrawals may undergo additional verification procedures to prevent fraud and comply with anti-money-laundering protocols. The platform does not charge withdrawal fees beyond standard blockchain network costs.
Stake maintains an active promotional calendar featuring recurring and limited-time offers. The welcome bonus provides new players with a 200% match on their first deposit up to 1,000 USD equivalent, subject to 40x wagering requirements. This bonus activates automatically upon qualifying deposits, requiring no promotional codes.
Regular promotions include the 75,000 USD Weekly Raffle, where players earn tickets through wagering activity, and the 100,000 USD Race, a leaderboard competition rewarding high-volume players. Pragmatic Drops and Wins offers additional prize pools for specific slot games, with daily and weekly prize distributions.
These promotions create engagement loops that encourage consistent platform usage. The raffle system rewards all active players regardless of win/loss outcomes, while races favor high-volume bettors willing to accept greater risk for potential rewards. This dual approach addresses different player segments within Stake's user base.
Stake's VIP program operates on a tiered system with levels determined by wagering volume. Benefits include rakeback percentages that return a portion of house edge to players, reload bonuses providing periodic deposit matches, weekly bonuses, and monthly bonuses scaling with VIP level. Higher tiers unlock dedicated account managers and exclusive promotional access.
The rakeback system represents a significant value proposition for regular players. Unlike traditional bonuses with wagering requirements, rakeback provides immediate value based on total betting volume regardless of outcomes. This structure particularly benefits players with consistent gambling habits rather than occasional users.
Stake operates exclusively through web browsers without native iOS or Android applications. The mobile-optimized website provides full functionality across smartphones and tablets, with responsive design adapting to various screen sizes. This approach eliminates app store restrictions and approval delays while ensuring all players access identical features regardless of device.
The mobile interface maintains the desktop version's clean aesthetic with simplified navigation suited to touchscreen interaction. Games load efficiently on mobile connections, with adjustable quality settings for players on limited data plans. The platform's cryptocurrency focus eliminates mobile payment processing complications associated with credit card transactions on gambling apps.
Stake operates under a Curaçao e-gaming license issued to Medium Rare NV. This jurisdiction provides a regulatory framework for international online gambling operations while imposing fewer restrictions than jurisdictions like the United Kingdom or Malta. The Curaçao license allows Stake to serve most international markets, though specific countries remain restricted.
Stake's terms of service exclude players from certain jurisdictions including the United States (except through the separate Stake.us platform), United Kingdom (following the company's March 2025 license surrender), France, Netherlands, and other countries with restrictive online gambling regulations. Players must verify their jurisdiction's legal status before registering.
The platform launched Stake.us in August 2022 as a separate entity serving U.S. residents through a sweepstakes model that complies with American gambling laws. This parallel operation demonstrates Stake's strategy of adapting to regulatory environments while maintaining its core international platform.
Stake implements responsible gambling tools including deposit limits, loss limits, wagering limits, and self-exclusion options. Players can set daily, weekly, or monthly limits that restrict their gambling activity. The platform also provides links to gambling addiction resources and support organizations.
The cryptocurrency payment system presents unique responsible gambling challenges, as the irreversible nature of blockchain transactions and the absence of banking intermediaries remove traditional safeguards. Stake addresses this through account-level controls that players must configure proactively rather than relying on external payment blocks.
Stake employs SSL encryption for data transmission, protecting user information during account access and transactions. The platform stores cryptocurrency holdings in a combination of hot wallets for operational liquidity and cold storage for the majority of funds, reducing exposure to hacking attempts.
In September 2023, Stake experienced a security breach resulting in the theft of over 41 million USD from one of its Ethereum wallets. The FBI attributed the attack to North Korea's Lazarus Group. Stake covered the losses and continued operations, but the incident highlighted security vulnerabilities inherent in cryptocurrency platforms. The company subsequently enhanced its security protocols and wallet management procedures.
Stake provides 24/7 customer support through live chat and email channels. The live chat function connects players with support representatives typically within minutes, addressing account questions, technical issues, and payment inquiries. The platform does not offer telephone support, focusing resources on text-based communication channels.
The support team operates in multiple languages, reflecting Stake's international user base. Response quality varies based on inquiry complexity, with routine questions receiving quick resolutions while technical or account-specific issues may require escalation and extended resolution times. The platform maintains a help center with articles covering common topics, though its comprehensiveness lags behind some competitors.
Stake has invested heavily in sponsorship deals to build brand recognition. Notable partnerships include Drake (celebrity ambassador), UFC (official betting partner), Alfa Romeo F1 Team (title sponsor as Stake F1 Team), Everton Football Club (Premier League), and various other sports organizations. These high-profile associations increase brand visibility among sports audiences.
The sponsorship strategy targets demographics with high gambling propensity, particularly young male sports fans. However, this approach has attracted regulatory scrutiny, particularly regarding advertising standards and potential appeal to underage audiences. The controversial advertisement featuring adult content creator Bonnie Blue contributed to Stake's decision to surrender its UK license in February 2025.
Stake competes in the cryptocurrency casino segment against platforms like BC.Game, Rollbit, and Roobet. Its primary competitive advantages include game selection breadth, brand recognition through sponsorships, and the established VIP program. The platform's 30 billion annual bets figure demonstrates substantial market share within the crypto gambling sector.
Compared to traditional online casinos accepting fiat currency, Stake offers faster payment processing and greater anonymity but requires cryptocurrency knowledge and exposes players to digital asset volatility. Players comfortable with cryptocurrency management find Stake's model advantageous, while those preferring traditional banking may encounter friction.
Stake Casino represents a mature cryptocurrency gambling platform with comprehensive game selection, efficient payment processing, and substantial promotional value through its VIP program and recurring competitions. The platform's growth trajectory and market position demonstrate successful execution of its cryptocurrency-first strategy, appealing to a global audience seeking alternatives to traditional online casinos.
However, potential users must consider several factors before engaging with the platform. The cryptocurrency-exclusive payment system requires technical knowledge and exposes players to market volatility. Geographic restrictions limit availability in key markets including the United States and United Kingdom. The September 2023 security breach, while resolved, highlights inherent risks in cryptocurrency platforms.
For Australian players specifically, Stake offers a functional gambling platform with extensive game selection and fast withdrawals. The lack of Australian-specific licensing means players operate under Curaçao jurisdiction with different regulatory protections than domestically licensed operators. Players should verify current legal status in their jurisdiction and assess their comfort level with cryptocurrency transactions before registering.
Stake succeeds in its target market of cryptocurrency-savvy gamblers seeking variety, speed, and promotional value. Its continued investment in content, technology, and brand building suggests ongoing platform development. Players prioritizing these factors over traditional banking methods and domestic licensing will find Stake a competitive option in the online gambling landscape.
Stake operates under a Curaçao license and is accessible to Australian players. However, it is not licensed by Australian regulatory authorities. Players should verify current legal status and understand they are using an offshore platform.
Stake supports 19 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, Dogecoin, Tron, and others. The platform does not accept traditional fiat currencies like AUD, USD, or EUR.
Stake processes withdrawals instantly on its end, but actual receipt time depends on blockchain confirmation speeds. Most withdrawals complete within 10-60 minutes depending on network congestion and the cryptocurrency used.
Stake does not offer native iOS or Android apps. The platform operates through a mobile-optimized website that provides full functionality across all devices without requiring downloads.
New players receive a 200% first deposit bonus up to 1,000 USD equivalent with 40x wagering requirements. The bonus activates automatically upon qualifying deposits.
Yes, all Stake Originals including Plinko, Dice, Mines, and Crash are fully optimized for mobile browsers and function identically to desktop versions.
The VIP program offers tiered benefits based on wagering volume, including rakeback percentages, reload bonuses, weekly and monthly bonuses, and dedicated account management at higher levels.
Stake Originals implement provably fair technology allowing players to verify game outcomes through cryptographic verification. Third-party games follow their respective providers' certification standards.
Stake has established major sponsorship agreements across sports and entertainment, building brand recognition through high-profile partnerships with international organizations and celebrities.
Exclusive proprietary games developed specifically for Stake, featuring provably fair technology and customizable risk levels for strategic gameplay.
Fast, borderless transactions using 19 supported cryptocurrencies with instant withdrawals and minimal fees compared to traditional banking methods.
Stake surrendered its UK gambling license and ceased operations in the United Kingdom following complaints about advertising content featuring adult entertainment personalities.
Stake became the first online casino to release a dedicated application for Apple Vision Pro, expanding its platform accessibility to spatial computing devices.
Following a 41 million USD theft attributed to North Korea's Lazarus Group, Stake implemented enhanced security measures and covered all player losses from the incident.