Stake Turns 8: From Startup to Powerhouse in Crypto Gambling

The gambling industry is a cutthroat business. If you're not good, you will not go too far. Seven years, with the last few being at the top of the online casinos and sportsbook game, is a testimony to quality. Did you know that Stake has been around for seven years already? That's right, an online casino and sportsbook, which was launched as a startup way back in 2017, is still going strong. There aren't too many outlets that can match its unique games, high-end promotions, and the variety of currencies you can gamble with. It is a journey worth revisiting.

How It All Started

Stake was founded with fairness and safety at its core, ensured by a Curaçao gambling licence. Its parent company, Medium Rare N.V., is also based in Curaçao. Since launching in August 2017, Stake has consistently positioned itself as a top choice for fans of online casinos and sports betting—even in its early days. The casino game and betting catalogue was always top notch, and it gets expanded by the day. Stake comes in 15 different languages, thousands of standard slot games, numerous original titles, countless betting markets, and a variety of classic casino games. If you're eager to try any of these, this is the right moment, considering that the Stake Exclusive Birthday Bonuses are out of this world and are active during the birthday celebrations of the company.

The Games That Made Stake Popular

To attract millions of users, one needs at least a couple of thousand games. Stake provides more than enough, and it currently has a catalogue of over 3,000 different games for players varying from table games, sol games, to live dealer games and far beyond that. Since the initial launch, the company has grown to be able to accept more than 253 billion bets, and counting. Here's a rundown of what aided Stake's growth the most:

Slots

Just like in any other online casino, the most popular games at Stake are slots. There's no arguing it, slot machines are the top draw at Stake. During 2023, out of 10 billion bets, 9 billion were made on slots. Stake cooperates with some of the best developers in the industry, and together they've made the following titles some of the best out there: Sweet Bonanza and Sweet Bonanza 1000 by Pragmatic Play, Wanted Dead or a Wild by Hacksaw Gaming, and Money Train, Money Train 2, Money Train 3 and Money Train 4 by Relax Gaming are just some of the slots people go back to.

Stake Originals

This is where Stake takes the cake even when it's not its birthday. The company was created with an idea to provide players with innovative games that will be brand new, but close to what classic casino games represent. Titles such as Plinko, Dice, Limbo, Mines, Crash, and HiLo are just some of the titles that have been made in-house and have proven to be popular among players in the same way as some of the casino classics, such as blackjack or roulette.

Live Casino Games

While the widespread use of the Internet and technological development of mobile devices aided in the growth of online casinos, what really pushed them into a dominant position over the traditional land-based casinos is the introduction of live dealer games. These games provide players with the feeling of being in a real casino, playing against real dealers, and thus, Stake, together with Pragmatic Play and Evolution, made their Stake Live Roulette, Live Baccarat, Crazy Pachinko, and Lightning Roulette some of the most popular live dealer games in the casino.

Biggest Casino Wins

If the players do not win, they do not go back to the casinos. Over the years, Stake has blessed more than a few players with millions of dollars. While playing Wanted Dead or a Wild, one player took home staggering $12.5 million (£9.2 million). It is no wonder this is one of the games famous rapper Drake loves to go back to. This was back in 2023. Meanwhile, in 2024, a single round of Pragmatic Play's Zeus vs. Hades: Gods of War blessed a player with $9 million (£6.6 million). With massive payouts such as this one, it is no wonder players keep coming back for more.

Stake Sportsbook Betting Highlights

While Stake casino is amazing, this company takes more pride in its online sportsbook, which is seen as the best sportsbook on the market by both users, peers, and competitors alike. So far, there have been more than 206 billion bets on various sports betting markets, and that number keeps on growing. It grows because not only are the available betting markets on Stake amazing, but they also get expanded as we speak. In the last seven years, the company has covered events such as Rugby World Cup, Cricket World Cup, Olympic Games, UEFA Euro Championship, FIFA World Cup, and Copa America.

The list does not stop there as the English Premier League, F1, MLB, NBA, NFL, MLS, UCL, and UFC are also on the menu. Also, we shouldn't forget the ever expanding markets of eSports which will only get bigger in the future. If you were deciding to become a fan of Stake, this might be the best moment ever. With the birthday looming behind the corner, and numerous Exclusive Stake Promos being prepared, you just might headstart your career with its casinos and online sportsbook. One fan did so, thanks to the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and Philadelphia 76ers taking home $7.6 million (£5.5 million) when betting on the NBA.

Partnerships & Collaborations as Stake's Foundation for Success

Stake has reached the greatest of heights in the gambling industry by providing players with some of the top available games, and massive betting markets. Also, it took a few steps further by creating a unique casino and sportsbook experience where players would be surrounded by the companies' partnerships with some of the biggest names and organisations in the world of sports and business. One of the biggest collaborations came in 2021 when Stake took UFC under its wing. The two have a massive connection and Stake is the official betting partner of UFC Brazil.

While the contract with the company itself is big, Stake went even further and partnered itself with some of the UFCs most distinguished stars. Israel Adesanya, Merab Dvalishvili, Alexandre Pantoja, Valentina Shevchenko, and Alex Pereira are just some of them. Beyond UFC, Stake also found a way to the UK market through collaboration with a PL powerhouse, Everton with a front of shirt sponsorship. Considering that Everton is now moving to a new stadium, this partnership could mean a lot more than it did in the past.

Stake was also wise enough to partner itself with celebrities outside of the sports. One such partnership was formed with famous Canadian rapper, Drake. Drizzy is well known in casino circles as a celeb who loves playing casino games and betting on sports. The Stake & Drake partnership has not only been logical but also fruitful so far. Drake has been one of the first VIPs at Stake.com and back in 2022 he signed a massive contract with the company.

As if everything we said was not enough, Stake's presence on the sports and casino markets goes even beyond everything said. The company also owns an F1 racing team. In 2023, Stake had a sponsorship contract with Alfa Romeo. When that proved to be a success, in 2024 and 2025 Stake took another step forward. After Alfa Romeo left the world's fastest caravan, Stake took on the mantle of Sauber's main sponsor. In addition to close ties to one of the legendary F1 teams, Stake also has a long standing partnership with the Fittipaldi brothers.

The Best Casino & Sports Promotions Over the Years

It doesn't matter how long you have been with Stake, the company will never cease to amaze you with new casino and sport promotions. The exciting rewards are available both in the casinos and with the sportsbook. Throughout the years, the promo game has been elevated to some of the highest levels available in the industry. At the moment, these are the best offers Stake has for its players:

• The VIP Club: Depending on how much you can afford to wager, you can earn some really special rewards at Stake. With VIP treatment your rewards get levelled up the more you play. It all starts with standard monthly bonuses, rakeback, and it leads to a dedicated VIP host. Of course, you can't simply walk into the VIP status at Stake, so it would be wise to read the VIP FAQs to learn whether your gaming style is suitable for the highest level of users at Stake.

• Stake vs. Eddie: A unique promotion you will not find anywhere else. Each week, you have a chance to win $50,000 (£36,818) by playing a game with Eddie. He chooses a different game each week, and users need to tag along, and get the better out of Eddie whether it is a hand of blackjack or a multiplier. The goal is to beat the house's host. What's vital to know here is that this challenge can have multiple winners, and that the pot is shared among them all, as you are not going against other players but only against Eddie.

• Daily Races: A daily race with a $100,000 (£73,637) pot doesn't sound realistic, right? Well, it is, and it is only available on Stake. Once you enter the fry, all that it takes is for you to make bets, and to climb the leaderboard. The race includes all of the players who are wagering on Stake, and at the end of each day, 5,000 of them are rewarded from the pot.

• Multiplier Race: Each week, there are four games selected by the house for the Multiplier Race. Play any of the selected games, hit the biggest multipliers, and pick up your reward. The pot here is set at $10,000 (£7,363) and is shared among the top performers.

• Community Challenges: At Stake, being part of the community is very important. If you're interested in elevating your status among the peers, you ought to check out the Community Forum Challenges. Also, there is a dedicated Telegram Channel where all 24-hour Race Challenges are listed, together with most recent wins, and upcoming events. It pays well to be a member of this community. Trust us on it!

Exclusive Birthday Promotions & What's Coming Next on Stake?

Stake is celebrating its birthday and you do not want to miss out on the celebrations. Social competitions and exclusive bet bonuses are just a part of Stake's birthday party. To get an idea of everything that's coming your way, make sure that you follow Stake on X (Twitter). It is there where some of the details regarding bonuses, giveaways, and challenges will be released. Remember, some of these offers will be time-limited, so paying attention might be worth your while.

The last seven years with Stake have been out of this world, and more of the same and even better is yet to come. The platform is on a trajectory of constant improvements, with more games available, features like no others, and promos that no other company can follow. For many, Stake is their favourite online casino and sportsbook platform, and there's no reason not to be the same for you.

Stake only works with top game providers in the industry, and together they're constantly working on delivering new and existing game titles to the platform. Also, the betting markets on the expansion, and in the future, more sports and options will be added. With Stake, what users like is the priority, and with all the work the company has invested into the platform during the last seven years, you can already see that the next seven are going to be even better. Just stay in touch, follow what's new and decide whether Stake is for you.