Stake

History and Corporate Background

Stake was founded in 2017 by Australian entrepreneurs Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani, who had established the game development company Easygo in 2016. The platform launched as an online casino with a focus on cryptocurrency transactions. The company expanded through strategic partnerships and acquisitions, including a 2022 deal to become an official betting partner of the UFC. In summer 2022, Stake was announced as the front-of-shirt sponsor for Everton F.C. starting in the 2022-23 Premier League season. Its operational parent is Medium Rare N.V., a company incorporated in Curaçao where it holds its primary online gambling licence.

In December 2021, it launched in the United Kingdom through a partnership with TGP Europe. Stake acquired Betfair Colombia in 2023. The company purchased Idealbet in Italy in 2024 and secured a licence in Peru that same year. Further growth came in 2025 with a licence in Brazil and the acquisition of Mocinoplay in Denmark. By the first half of 2026, Stake had extended its operations into Greenland and Mexico. The company also sponsored the Formula One team Alfa Romeo in 2023 and Sauber in 2024 and 2025.

Platform and Offerings for Canadian Players

Stake operates as a combined online casino and sportsbook, offering a wide array of gambling products to its over 20 million global players. Its casino section features traditional casino games such as slots, blackjack and roulette with or without live dealers, as well as sports betting and poker. The platform is particularly noted for its exclusive Stake Originals, a collection of unique games such as Plinko, Crash, and Dice that are designed for fast, crypto-based play. Canadian players also have access to live dealer games.

The sportsbook covers dozens of sports for betting, complementing the casino offerings. A key feature for Canadian users is the platform's dual currency support, allowing play with both cryptocurrency and Canadian dollars. Users on Stake.com typically do not deal with traditional currencies, instead they deposit and withdraw cryptocurrencies to and from their betting account. The platform is accessible via a fully optimized mobile website compatible with iOS and Android browsers, and an official iPhone app is available. Stake promotes responsible gambling and requires identity verification from all players, which includes submitting a government-issued ID and proof of address, before they can deposit or withdraw funds. The registration process for Canadian players involves several specific steps.

• Visit the Stake website and click the 'Register' button to open the registration form.
• Select a preferred language from over 16 options, including English and French.
• Create an account by providing an email, username, password, and date of birth, or register via a linked account like Google or Meta.
• Read and agree to the terms and conditions before clicking 'Create an Account'.
• Complete identity verification under 'Settings' by submitting required documents for KYC approval.
• Make a minimum deposit of C$10 using a supported cryptocurrency or CAD to fund the account.

Licensing and Legality in Canada

Stake's operations are licensed by the Curaçao Gaming Authority, an offshore licensing body. In Canada, online gambling regulation is provincial, and Stake is legally accessible to players in all provinces and territories except Ontario. The platform does not hold a licence from the province's Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), restricting access there. The company has faced regulatory challenges in other markets that highlight the complexities of its licensing model. In the United Kingdom, its local white-label operator, TGP Europe, agreed to shut down Stake's UK website in February 2025 following an investigation by the Gambling Commission. Stake described this as a strategic decision to pivot to in-house management. The UK Advertising Standards Authority also investigated the casino for its online advertising practices in 2025, and the Gambling Commission warned Everton F.C. that club officers could face prosecution for promoting an unlicensed gambling business. These international regulatory actions are separate from its standing in Canada, where it continues to operate for most players.

Bonuses, Promotions, and the VIP Program

Stake offers a range of promotions tailored for Canadian players, headlined by a welcome bonus of a 200% deposit match up to C$1,000. To claim this offer, new players must use a promo code during registration and make a minimum deposit of C$10, and the bonus carries a 40x wagering requirement before winnings can be withdrawn. Beyond the sign-up offer, Stake provides a lifetime 5% rakeback on all wagers, which applies whether a bet wins or loses and does not expire, creating a consistent reward mechanism for regular players. The platform also runs numerous ongoing promotions with specific prize structures and entry methods.

• Daily Races: Share of a $100,000 prize pool distributed daily.
• Weekly Raffles: Prize pool of C$75,000 awarded each week.
• Conquer the Casino! The Level Up: A progression-based challenge with rewards.
• Multiplier Race: A competition focused on achieving high win multipliers.
• Stake vs Eddie: A themed promotional event with specific gameplay objectives.
• Chaos Collector: A game or challenge involving collecting specific items or outcomes.
• Pragmatic Drops & Wins Slots: A tournament for slots from Pragmatic Play with prize drops.
• Casino Challenges: Various task-based promotions with set completion criteria.

Stake Engine and Game Development

In a significant shift from being solely an operator, Stake has developed Stake Engine, a proprietary Remote Gaming Server (RGS) and developer toolkit launched publicly in 2025. This platform allows independent game studios and individual creators to build, test, and publish casino games directly onto Stake.com. Stake Engine bundles a Python-based math framework for simulating game outcomes, a frontend toolkit for building the player interface, and the RGS that connects games to Stake's wallet and player base. This integrated pipeline allows games to be published quickly, bypassing traditional multi-vendor integration and certification processes that can take months.

The platform has seen substantial adoption, with over 6,000 developers signing up by late 2026. Games built on Stake Engine generated $3.31 billion in turnover in a 12-month period, and titles like Jawsome, Serpentina, and Samurai Dogs Unleashed have ranked among Stake's top 50 games by total bets. The economic impact was further demonstrated in September 2026 when five studios that built exclusive games for Stake spun off into an independent supplier named Juice, launching with over 100 titles and an estimated $12 billion in combined Stake turnover behind them. This evolution positions Stake not just as a casino operator but as a foundational platform for game development within the iGaming industry.

Controversies and Legal Challenges

Stake has been involved in several controversies, primarily related to its marketing practices and regulatory status. A major point of contention has been its sponsorship of livestreamers on platforms like Twitch and its own Kick platform, which launched in December 2022. These sponsorships, involving high-profile figures like xQc, Trainwreckstv, Adin Ross, and Canadian rapper Drake, were criticized by bodies like the National Council on Problem Gambling for targeting vulnerable audiences. A 2026 Bloomberg Businessweek analysis of 1,500 hours of livestream footage reported that Drake achieved big wins of 1,000 times or more the base bet on Stake at twice the rate of the second-luckiest player, a finding the company rejected as categorically incorrect, with founder Ed Craven stating Stake has no direct control over game odds.

The company has also faced direct legal action in multiple jurisdictions. On December 31, 2025, Sweepsteaks Ltd., the corporation behind Stake.us, was named in a class action RICO lawsuit in the United States alongside Drake and Adin Ross. The suit alleged deceptive practices, claiming the social casino site allowed real-money gambling while presenting itself as using valueless tokens, and that streamer sponsorships were misleading because streamers used house money. A U.S. district judge ruled in July 2026 that an arbitration clause in Stake's user agreement required the dispute with the company to be settled by a private arbitrator. Separately, in April 2026, lawsuits were filed in New York and Florida alleging Stake targeted children with gambling advertisements.

Market Position and Financial Metrics

Stake has grown to become one of the largest online casinos in the world by player count and betting volume. The company reports a global player base of over 20 million. This scale provides a significant advantage for games launched on its Stake Engine platform, giving developers immediate access to a massive existing audience. The financial metrics from its game development arm are substantial, with Stake Engine games generating billions in turnover and attracting thousands of developers within a short timeframe, signalling a major shift in how casino games are produced and distributed.

Questions about Stake

What is the Stake welcome bonus for Canadian players?

New Canadian players at Stake can claim a welcome bonus of a 200% deposit match up to C$1,000. To activate the offer, a promo code must be used during registration, and a minimum deposit of C$10 is required. The bonus funds come with a 40x wagering requirement that must be met before any winnings can be withdrawn. This promotion is not available to residents of Ontario, where the platform does not hold a provincial licence.

Can I play at Stake with Canadian dollars?

Yes, Stake supports transactions in Canadian dollars (CAD) alongside its wide array of cryptocurrency options. While the platform is famously crypto-focused, it also allows deposits and play in CAD. This provides flexibility for Canadian players who may not wish to use cryptocurrency for their gambling activities. Users of Stake.com's UK site, for comparison, deal only in fiat currency.

What are Stake Originals games?

Stake Originals are a collection of exclusive games developed for and only available on the Stake platform. This suite includes unique titles like Plinko, Crash, and Dice, which are designed for fast-paced, crypto-friendly gameplay. These games often feature minimalist designs and instant outcomes, differentiating them from traditional slot machines and table games. Stake also offers traditional casino games such as slots, blackjack, and roulette with or without live dealers.

Does Stake have a mobile app?

Stake offers an official mobile app for iPhone users, which has been praised for its user-friendly interface. For Android users and others, the platform provides a fully optimized mobile website that works on all major browsers, including Chrome and Safari. The mobile site mirrors all the features and games of the desktop version, ensuring a comprehensive gambling experience on smartphones and tablets. Account balances can be withdrawn in the equivalent value of cryptocurrency and deposited back into a personal wallet.

How do deposits and withdrawals work at Stake?

Deposits at Stake can be made using cryptocurrency or Canadian dollars. The process is instant, with funds appearing in the player's account immediately. Withdrawals are also processed quickly, but players can only cash out using a payment method they have previously used for deposit. All withdrawals are subject to a 1x playthrough requirement on deposited funds, and the platform requires all players to complete identity verification before they can deposit or withdraw.

Sources and further reading

• Stake (Wikipedia)
• What Is Stake Engine? How It Works for Casino Game Development (inkration.com)
• egorfedorov/Slot-Casino-Game-Developer-Skills-for-Stake-Engine (github.com)
• Stake review 2026 - Crypto Casinos (casino.ca)
• Stake Casino Review & Bonus Canada November 2026 (livescore.com)
• Stake Canada Review: Is Stake Legal in Canada? (next.io)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-11-10.