Once a niche player in the online gambling space, Stake.com has rapidly emerged as one of the most powerful forces in iGaming. With over 5.4 million monthly visitors according to Ahrefs, multi-billion dollar revenues, and a global presence stretching across continents and currencies, Stake has become a symbol of both innovation and controversy in the new era of online gambling.
What started as a crypto-native platform has grown into something much larger — a company challenging traditional operators with a model that thrives in legal grey zones and digital frontiers.
Stake.com – Key Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Ed Craven & Bijan Tehrani |
| Headquarters | Willemstad, Curaçao |
| Operating Entity | Medium Rare N.V. |
| CEO | Mladen Vučković |
| Employees | Approx. 200–500 |
| Licensing | Curaçao eGaming |
| Global Offices | Australia, Serbia, Cyprus |
| Website | stake.com |
A Market on Fire: $81 Billion in Crypto Gambling Revenue
New research from Yield Sec reveals that cryptocurrency-based gambling generated $81.4 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR) in 2023 — a staggering fivefold increase from the year before. Among the leading platforms, Stake.com reported a GGR of $4.7 billion, an 80% increase year-over-year.
The company, operated by Curaçao-licensed entity Medium Rare N.V., claims to account for up to 4% of all Bitcoin network transactions, showcasing just how deeply embedded it is within the crypto ecosystem.
This positions Stake not just as a disruptor, but as a serious rival to industry giants like Flutter, Entain, and Bet365 — despite operating largely outside traditional licensing frameworks.
Platform & Products
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Casino Games | Slots, Blackjack, Roulette, and Originals |
| Live Casino | Real-time live dealer games |
| Sportsbook | Available for major global sports |
| Cryptocurrency Support | BTC, ETH, LTC, DOGE, TRX, BCH, XRP |
| Fiat Currency Support | Available in selected regions |
| Provably Fair | Yes – via blockchain verification |
VPNs, Influencers, and the Shadow Infrastructure of Global Access
While crypto casinos like Stake are blocked in countries such as the US, UK, China, and much of the EU, users often find easy workarounds.
VPNs, mirror links, and influencer-led tutorials are widely available and openly shared on platforms like YouTube and Telegram.
Stake has publicly stated that users who bypass geo-blocks will be denied access, but investigative reporting from the Financial Times demonstrated that a Stake account could be created and used from London with a VPN, with minimal identity checks required until after gameplay had already started.
Financial & Usage Overview
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| GGR (2023) | $4.7 billion |
| GGR (2022) | $2.6 billion |
| User Base | Over 25 million registered users |
| Monthly Visitors | Approx. 5.4 million |
| Total Bets Since 2017 | Over 300 billion |
| Bitcoin Network Share | Estimated up to 4% of total transactions |
Regulation Lags Behind Rapid Expansion
Stake is far from alone in exploiting the regulatory gaps. Platforms licensed in Curaçao, Isle of Man, and Gibraltar continue to offer services to global audiences with little friction. These jurisdictions allow crypto casinos to operate across borders, often without adhering to strict consumer protection laws, Know-Your-Customer (KYC) protocols, or affordability checks.
In countries like the UK, it is not illegal for individuals to gamble on offshore sites using a VPN — but it is potentially illegal for unlicensed operators to target UK residents. The current enforcement landscape remains hazy, with regulators struggling to keep up.
High Risk, High Exposure
Critics warn that the lack of robust controls makes crypto casinos particularly dangerous for underage users, problem gamblers, and players in high-restriction countries. Combined with the inherent volatility of cryptocurrency, this creates a uniquely risky environment — a “double gamble,” as one former user described it.
Aggressive marketing plays a role too. Influencers, often with young audiences, promote crypto casinos heavily, sometimes offering promo codes and tutorials on how to bypass national restrictions.
Stake, Rollbit, and Roobet have all invested heavily in online personalities, sponsorships, and even partnerships with professional sports teams.
Global Presence & Partnerships
| Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Sports Sponsorships | Everton FC, Alfa Romeo F1, UFC, Watford FC |
| Celebrity Endorsements | Drake, Sergio Agüero |
| Streaming Platform | Co-founder of Kick.com (alternative to Twitch) |
| UK Market Status | Withdrew from UK (2025) via white-label partner TGP Europe |
A New Era for iGaming — or a Legal Reckoning Ahead?
Stake.com is more than just a platform — it’s a business model in motion, reshaping the very definition of what an online casino can be in the Web3 age. With explosive user growth, crypto-native infrastructure, and unorthodox marketing, it has redefined success in an industry long dominated by licensed operators.
But that success raises fundamental questions: Can regulators catch up? Will white-label licensing loopholes be closed? And what responsibilities do platforms like Stake have when their influence stretches across borders, currencies, and legal frameworks?
One thing is clear: the rise of Stake.com marks a turning point — not just for crypto casinos, but for the entire global gambling economy.
