BitStarz has been taking bets since 2014. Stake didn't exist yet that year — it launched in 2017 and has since grown into one of the largest names in crypto gambling, reportedly pulling in $4.7 billion in revenue for 2024 alone. BitStarz vs Stake is really a question of which kind of evidence matters more to a player deciding where to trust a bankroll: a long, quiet record of paying out, or a company big enough to sponsor a Formula One team.
BitStarz vs Stake, at a glance
| BitStarz | Stake.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 | 2017 |
| Operator / license | Gareton B.V., Curaçao Gaming Control Board OGL/2024/165/0185 | Medium Rare N.V., Curaçao Gaming Authority — surrendered its UK license in 2025 |
| Reputation signal | “Excellent” Trustpilot rating, ~5,000 reviews, 12 years continuous operation | Reported $4.7B 2024 revenue; founders co-own the Sauber F1 team and Kick |
| Product | Casino only — 7,000+ games, 60+ studios, no sportsbook | Sportsbook plus thousands of in-house Originals and third-party casino games |
| Banking | 12+ cryptocurrencies plus cards/e-wallets; hybrid crypto-fiat exchange | Crypto plus fiat since March 2025 (~70% of transactions now fiat where supported) |
| Welcome offer | Up to $500 (or 5 BTC) plus 180 free spins across first four deposits, open signup | 200% match + 5% rakeback, only via referral code entered at signup |
| US access | None — US and Puerto Rico named restricted jurisdictions | None — Stake.us sweepstakes site is the separate US-facing product |
Is BitStarz or Stake Legal in the US?
Neither, and neither answer changes state by state. BitStarz's terms name the United States and Puerto Rico as restricted jurisdictions outright. Stake.com blocks American sign-ups just as completely on its main platform, routing US interest toward Stake.us instead — a separate company structure running Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins rather than real-money wagers. The usual state-by-state legal question that most SWRNN comparisons walk through simply doesn't apply to either brand: the answer is no everywhere, before a state ever enters the picture.
Is BitStarz or Stake More Legit?
Both are established, licensed operators rather than fly-by-night sites, but the evidence each one offers is different in kind. BitStarz's case is consistency: twelve straight years under the same regulatory umbrella, a current rather than lapsed license, and an “Excellent” Trustpilot record built on roughly 5,000 reviews in an industry where payout disputes are common. Stake's case is scale and visibility — nine years old, a reported $4.7 billion in 2024 revenue, founders (Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani) wealthy and public enough to own a Formula One team and a livestreaming platform.
What Stake gave up to get here: Stake previously held a UK Gambling Commission license — a stricter regime than the Curaçao license both companies operate under — and surrendered it in 2025, exiting the UK market rather than continue under closer oversight. BitStarz has never held, or given up, anything stricter than its Curaçao license.
How Safe Is Each One?
Safety on a crypto-first casino comes down to license currency, fee structure, and how a dispute actually gets resolved, and both sites answer that with a single Curaçao license rather than a second regulator to escalate to. BitStarz charges no deposit or withdrawal fees of its own and typically clears crypto payouts in 10 to 20 minutes. Stake's March 2025 shift toward fiat banking — roughly 70% of transactions in supported regions — adds convenience for players who don't want to touch a wallet, but it doesn't add regulatory depth underneath it.
Casino-Only Versus Sportsbook-Plus-Casino
This is the clearest product difference between the two. BitStarz has never offered sports betting — it's been casino-only since 2014, with a library that runs past 7,000 titles from more than 60 studios. Stake runs a sportsbook alongside thousands of in-house “Stake Originals” and third-party slots and live dealer games, which is a meaningful part of how it reached its reported revenue. A player who only wants slots and table games loses nothing by picking BitStarz; a player who wants to bet on a game and spin slots in the same account needs Stake instead.
The Bonus Gate
BitStarz's welcome package — up to $500 or 5 BTC plus 180 free spins, spread across the first four deposits — is available to anyone who signs up normally. Stake's 200% match plus 5% rakeback only exists for accounts created with a partner referral code entered at registration; miss that step and the offer is gone permanently, with no way to retrofit it later. A player who finds either site cold, without a referral link in hand, gets BitStarz's full offer and none of Stake's.
Which One For Who
Outside the US and Puerto Rico, a player who wants a huge casino library, a hybrid crypto-fiat cashier, and a track record measured in over a decade fits BitStarz. A player who also wants a sportsbook, is comfortable extending trust to a company that just walked away from its stricter UK license, and has a referral code in hand fits Stake. For a US reader, neither is actually available — the Bovada review is the place to start instead. Neither BitStarz nor Stake is a way to make money; both are entertainment products with a house edge, and both require being 21 or older. If gambling stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER.