Last Updated on December 9, 2025
Stake.com dominates the cryptocurrency gambling landscape with estimated gross gaming revenue exceeding NZ$7 billion annually, processing between two and four percent of global Bitcoin transactions through its platform. Founded in 2017 by Australian entrepreneurs Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani, Stake operates under Medium Rare N.V. with Curaçao Gaming Authority licensing (OGL/2024/1451/0918). Corporate registration (number 145353) places the headquarters at Korporaalweg 10 in Willemstad, while operational offices span Serbia, Australia, Cyprus, and the Isle of Man.
Top Stake.com Alternatives
What distinguishes Stake from competitors extends beyond raw transaction volume. The platform maintains unlimited withdrawal ceilings, processes crypto cashouts within minutes, and develops exclusive Stake Originals games unavailable elsewhere. High-profile partnerships with Drake, the UFC, Everton FC, and the Stake F1 Team cement the brand’s mainstream visibility. New Zealand players investigating alternatives within the Stake ecosystem will discover a compact but growing network of related platforms sharing technological DNA and operational philosophy.
🎲 From RuneScape Stakes to Billion-Dollar Empire
The Stake origin story reads like entrepreneurial folklore. Craven and Tehrani met as teenagers gambling virtual gold on player-versus-player fights in RuneScape, developing a wagering system nicknamed “staking” that eventually earned them bans from the game. By 2013, with Bitcoin trading below US$100, the pair coded Primedice, a provably fair dice game accepting cryptocurrency. The site reportedly processed over one million dollars in wagers on launch day, generating enough revenue for both founders to pursue gambling development full-time.
Easygo emerged in 2016 as their Melbourne-based game development company, employing eighteen staff initially before expanding to over 350 engineers offering A$100,000 signing bonuses to poach talent from Canva and Atlassian. Stake.com launched the following year, positioning cryptocurrency at its core rather than treating it as a payment afterthought. The gamble paid off spectacularly. By 2025, Forbes estimates Craven’s personal fortune at A$4.51 billion, placing him among Australia’s youngest self-made billionaires.
🌐 The Medium Rare N.V. Network
Unlike sprawling operator portfolios housing dozens of casino brands, Medium Rare N.V. maintains a focused approach. Stake.com remains the flagship product, with FusionBets representing the primary sister site sharing identical infrastructure. The US market operates through Stake.us via distinct corporate oversight by Sweepsteaks Limited, utilising sweepstakes mechanics rather than traditional gambling. International expansion follows acquisition strategies rather than brand proliferation, adding Betfair Colombia (November 2023) and Idealbet Italy (August 2024) to the portfolio while preserving existing brand identities.
| 🎰 Connected Platform | 🌍 Target Market | 📋 Operating Model |
|---|---|---|
| Stake.com | Global (excl. US, AU) | Crypto + Fiat Casino/Sportsbook |
| FusionBets | Global | Crypto Casino/Sportsbook |
| Stake.us | United States (43 states) | Sweepstakes Social Casino |
| Betfair Colombia | Colombia | Licensed Local Operator |
| Idealbet.it | Italy | Licensed Italian Sportsbook |
| Primedice | Global | Provably Fair Dice Games |
🔀 FusionBets – The Direct Sibling
FusionBets operates as Stake’s closest relative within Medium Rare N.V., sharing backend infrastructure, game catalogues, and cryptocurrency processing systems. The platform targets players seeking alternatives without switching operator ecosystems entirely. Interface design mirrors Stake conventions while promotional structures offer distinct welcome packages. Cryptocurrency support matches the parent platform comprehensively, processing deposits and withdrawals through identical blockchain networks.
🇺🇸 Stake.us – American Sweepstakes Model
Regulatory constraints prevent Stake.com from accepting US customers, prompting the August 2022 launch of Stake.us under sweepstakes casino mechanics. Players receive Gold Coins (play money) and Stake Cash (redeemable for prizes) rather than wagering actual currency. The 1,100+ game library includes Stake Originals adapted for the sweepstakes format, while the VIP programme mirrors Stake.com structures. Sweepsteaks Limited manages operations separately from Medium Rare N.V., though shared branding and technology indicate clear corporate connections.
🇨🇴 Betfair Colombia – Latin American Gateway
Stake’s November 2023 acquisition of Betfair Colombia marked its formal entry into regulated Latin American markets. The purchase provided an established customer base, local licensing, and operational infrastructure without requiring ground-up market development. Betfair Colombia continues operating under its existing brand within the Stake portfolio, leveraging parent company resources for technology upgrades and promotional capabilities.
🇮🇹 Idealbet Italy – European Expansion
The August 2024 Baldo Line acquisition delivered Italian gaming credentials through the Idealbet.it platform. Stake established local offices and integrated its technology stack while preserving the Idealbet brand identity. Italy’s mature gambling market provides substantial revenue potential alongside regulatory legitimacy that Curaçao licensing alone cannot deliver in European Union contexts.
🎯 Primedice – Where It All Began
Primedice remains operational as a provably fair dice gambling platform, processing over five billion individual bets since its 2013 launch. The site retains its minimalist focus on cryptocurrency dice games without expanding into broader casino territories. Veterans of early Bitcoin gambling recognise Primedice as foundational to the ecosystem Craven and Tehrani subsequently built, demonstrating blockchain verification concepts that Stake later commercialised at scale.
🎮 Stake Originals and Game Providers
Stake developed proprietary games forming the Stake Originals collection, exclusive titles unavailable at competing operators. Plinko, Mines, Crash, Dice, Limbo, Dragon Tower, Wheel, and Hilo anchor the selection, featuring stripped-back interfaces prioritising gameplay over visual complexity. Provably fair verification allows players to confirm outcome authenticity through blockchain mathematics. Recent additions include Tarot, Darts, Bars, Packs, and Chicken, expanding the collection beyond initial launch titles.
Third-party partnerships supplement Stake Originals with over 3,000 additional games. Pragmatic Play contributes popular slots including Sweet Bonanza, Gates of Olympus, and the Big Bass franchise. Hacksaw Gaming delivers high-volatility experiences through Wanted Dead or a Wild and Chaos Crew. Evolution Gaming streams live dealer content spanning twenty-one variations, single-zero and double-zero roulette, baccarat, plus interactive game shows. Additional providers include Nolimit City, NetEnt, Big Time Gaming, Play’n GO, Quickspin, Relax Gaming, and Push Gaming.
Exclusive arrangements with Twist Gaming, Massive Studios, and Titan Gaming provide Stake-only slot content alongside enhanced RTP versions of existing titles. The game show category features Funky Time, Deal or No Deal, and Mega Ball for players preferring interactive dealer-hosted entertainment over solitary slot spinning.
| 🎰 Game Category | 📊 Selection Size | ⭐ Notable Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Stake Originals | 25+ | Plinko, Mines, Crash, Dragon Tower |
| Video Slots | 2,500+ | Gates of Olympus, Sweet Bonanza, Big Bass |
| Live Casino | 300+ | Crazy Time, Lightning Roulette, Blackjack |
| Table Games | 150+ | Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Video Poker |
| Sports Betting | 40+ Sports | Football, Basketball, Tennis, Esports |
₿ Cryptocurrency and Payment Processing
Stake accepts over twenty cryptocurrencies, maintaining one of the most comprehensive digital currency selections among online casinos. Bitcoin and Ethereum headline the options alongside Litecoin, Dogecoin, Tether, TRON, EOS, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple, Binance Coin, Cronos, USD Coin, Solana, Cardano, Polygon, and additional altcoins. March 2025 announcements indicated a strategic shift toward accepting seventy percent of transactions in traditional fiat currency, broadening accessibility beyond crypto-native audiences.
No minimum or maximum deposit limits restrict cryptocurrency transactions, though network fees vary with blockchain congestion. Withdrawals process without Stake-imposed fees, with only native blockchain transaction costs applying. Processing times typically complete within one to two hours for most cryptocurrencies, with Bitcoin occasionally extending toward two hours during network congestion. The absence of withdrawal ceilings represents a significant differentiator, allowing high rollers to extract substantial winnings without staged payment schedules.
Fiat currency support varies by jurisdiction, with Moonpay integration enabling credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal cryptocurrency purchases directly through the platform. Local currency options including CAD, INR, and EUR serve players preferring familiar denominations over crypto conversion calculations. Identity verification triggers for fiat transactions mirror industry standards, requiring government-issued identification and address confirmation.
⚠️ Blockchain Caution: Cryptocurrency transactions operate irreversibly. Sending coins through incorrect networks or to wrong addresses results in permanent fund loss. Verify deposit addresses carefully and ensure network compatibility before initiating transfers. Stake support cannot recover misdirected blockchain transactions.
🏆 Sponsorships and Brand Ambassadors
Stake’s marketing budget rivals traditional gambling giants, deploying reported nine-figure annual expenditure across sports sponsorships and celebrity partnerships. The Drake collaboration reportedly costs US$100 million yearly, positioning the Canadian rapper as the brand’s most visible ambassador. Drake streams gambling sessions, promotes exclusive giveaways, and integrates Stake branding across social media reaching over 140 million Instagram followers.
Formula One sponsorship places Stake branding on the Sauber team’s cars, driver suits, and digital platforms through 2025. The multi-year title partnership, rumoured at US$100 million, marks the first online betting company serving as an F1 team’s primary sponsor. Cars alternate between Stake and Kick liveries depending on regional gambling advertising restrictions at individual Grand Prix events.
Everton FC wears Stake logos on men’s and women’s shirts through a multi-year Premier League sponsorship described as the club’s most valuable front-of-shirt deal in 144 years of history. UFC partnership positions Stake as official betting partner in Latin America, Asia, and Brazil, with branded presence inside the Octagon during Pay-Per-View events.
Individual athlete endorsements span combat sports through Sergio Aguero, Israel Adesanya, Alex Pereira, Valentina Shevchenko, and multiple additional UFC fighters. Jockey Frankie Dettori represents horse racing interests while esports organisation Team Vitality extends reach into competitive gaming demographics.
🎖️ VIP Programme and Promotions
The Stake VIP Club structures rewards across Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond tiers, with invitation-only levels beyond for exceptional players. Benefits compound at each advancement including rakeback percentages, reload bonuses, dedicated account managers, and personalised promotional offers. Lifetime wagering determines progression rather than recent activity alone, rewarding sustained engagement over sporadic high-volume sessions.
Promotional rotation maintains freshness through weekly raffles distributing US$75,000, daily races featuring US$100,000 prize pools, and Pragmatic Play Drops and Wins tournaments. Casino challenges task players with specific gameplay objectives, unlocking bonus drops upon completion. The Stake community forum hosts additional giveaways requiring participation rather than pure wagering volume.
Unlike traditional welcome bonus structures, Stake avoids conventional deposit matches and free spin packages. The operator compensates through ongoing promotional generosity rather than front-loaded acquisition incentives. This approach reflects confidence in platform quality retaining players without artificial bonus dependencies that complicate withdrawal processes elsewhere.
📱 Platform Technology and Kick Connection
Stake operates proprietary infrastructure developed through Easygo Solutions rather than licensing third-party platforms. This vertical integration enables rapid feature deployment, custom game development, and operational flexibility unavailable to white-label competitors. Mobile optimisation serves smartphone users without dedicated app downloads, though iOS limitations restrict certain functionalities in some jurisdictions.
The December 2024 Apple Vision Pro application launch made Stake the first online casino available on spatial computing hardware, signalling commitment to emerging technology adoption. Virtual reality gambling remains nascent, but early positioning establishes presence before mainstream adoption accelerates.
Kick.com represents Stake’s extension into live streaming, launched following Twitch’s September 2022 gambling content restrictions. The platform offers creators 95% revenue splits compared to Twitch’s standard 50%, attracting streamers frustrated with incumbent policies. Gambling content broadcasts freely on Kick, maintaining promotional channels that traditional streaming platforms now restrict. While separately incorporated, Kick’s ownership by Craven and Tehrani creates obvious synergies with Stake’s marketing objectives.
📞 Customer Support Channels
Around-the-clock live assistance reaches support agents regardless of timezone differences through the integrated chat interface. The support system operates directly within the platform rather than redirecting to external ticketing systems. Response times vary with demand, though peak hours rarely extend waits beyond several minutes for initial agent contact.
The Help Centre documentation addresses common questions through searchable articles covering deposits, withdrawals, verification, promotions, and responsible gambling tools. Cryptocurrency-specific guidance assists newcomers understanding blockchain transactions, wallet setup, and network selection. Community forums provide peer support alongside official channels, with experienced players often resolving queries before staff involvement becomes necessary.
Email support handles complex issues needing paperwork submission or prolonged investigation, though turnaround times lag significantly behind real-time chat alternatives. Social media presence across Twitter, Instagram, and Telegram maintains community engagement while occasionally addressing public support queries.
🔒 Security and Responsible Gambling
Curaçao Gaming Authority licensing establishes baseline regulatory oversight, though this jurisdiction attracts criticism for lighter enforcement compared to UK Gambling Commission or Malta Gaming Authority standards. Stake supplements licensing requirements with Crypto Gambling Foundation verification confirming anti-money laundering compliance and operational transparency.
Platform security employs SSL encryption protecting data transmission alongside two-factor authentication options securing account access. The September 2023 hack extracting US$41 million from Ethereum wallets demonstrated vulnerability to sophisticated attacks, though player funds remained protected with losses absorbed by the operator. FBI attribution to North Korean Lazarus Group hackers contextualised the breach within state-sponsored cybercrime rather than basic security negligence.
Responsible gambling tools encompass deposit ceilings, loss boundaries, wagering caps, and session duration reminders. Self-exclusion options span temporary cooling-off periods through permanent account closure. The Stake Smart resource section provides educational content, self-assessment quizzes, and budget calculators helping players maintain entertainment perspectives rather than chasing losses.
⚠️ Gambling Reality Check: Stake’s mathematical advantage ensures long-term profitability regardless of individual session outcomes. Set strict budgets before playing, never chase losses, and treat gambling as entertainment rather than income generation. The same billion-dollar revenues funding Drake partnerships and F1 sponsorships derive from player losses.
⚖️ Final Assessment
Stake.com earned market dominance through substantive technology advantages rather than promotional spending alone. Cryptocurrency integration that competitors still struggle to match, unlimited withdrawals that high rollers prize, and exclusive game content unavailable elsewhere create defensible moats beyond brand recognition. The connected brand portfolio remains deliberately compact, prioritising flagship platform development over portfolio diversification strategies diluting focus.
Concerns exist alongside achievements. Curaçao licensing provides limited player protection compared to stricter jurisdictions, the UK market exit following regulatory pressure suggests compliance challenges, and aggressive marketing normalises gambling to audiences including younger demographics attracted by Drake and streaming culture. The September 2023 hack demonstrated security vulnerabilities despite subsequent remediation.
New Zealand players accessing Stake.com will find a polished, feature-rich platform delivering on promotional promises with unusual reliability. Withdrawal speed genuinely impresses, game variety satisfies diverse preferences, and VIP treatment rewards loyalty meaningfully. Whether these strengths outweigh regulatory ambiguity depends on individual risk tolerance and gambling philosophy. The mathematics remain unchanged regardless of cryptocurrency wrapper or celebrity endorsement: the house always maintains its edge over sufficient sample sizes.
David is a veteran slots player with over 15 years of playing experience in both online and land based casinos. He knows exactly what makes for a good online casino and is always keen to share his expertise with other players.