rapid rise is a notable example of how online gambling, cryptocurrency and mobile-first entertainment can converge into a globally recognisable digital brand. Since launching in 2017, the platform has expanded its profile by combining a broad gaming catalogue, crypto-based payment options, sports betting and highly visible marketing partnerships.
The brand was launched by Easygo Gaming founders Edward Craven and Bijan Tehrani under the company name Medium Rare N.V. At a time when cryptocurrency casinos were becoming more familiar to online players, Stake positioned itself around choice, speed, entertainment and a modern digital experience.
Its growth has not depended on one factor alone. A varied product range, support for multiple cryptocurrencies, licensing arrangements, international reach in permitted markets and partnerships with major entertainers and sports organisations have all helped Stake create strong awareness among crypto users and sports fans.
The market conditions behind emergence
Online gaming had already become a major digital entertainment category before crypto gambling entered the mainstream. Improvements in smartphone performance, mobile internet access, live-streaming technology and payment infrastructure made it easier for players to access casino games and sports markets from almost anywhere, subject to local laws.
Cryptocurrency introduced another layer of flexibility. Digital assets can enable fast transfers across blockchain networks and provide users with alternatives to traditional payment methods. For some players, the appeal lies in using assets they already hold, while others value the ability to manage gaming balances in a digital-asset environment.
Stake entered this market at an advantageous moment: online casino content was becoming increasingly polished, live dealer games were gaining broader acceptance and sports betting audiences were spending more time on mobile devices and social platforms. The platform’s model brought those trends together in one recognisable destination.
A 2017 launch built around crypto-native entertainment
was launched in 2017 by Edward Craven and Bijan Tehrani, the founders of Easygo Gaming. The business was registered under Medium Rare N.V., a Curaçao-headquartered entity associated with the platform in contemporary reporting.
From the outset, the brand differentiated itself by presenting crypto gambling as a polished entertainment experience rather than a niche technical service. That approach was important. Cryptocurrency users may appreciate blockchain-based payments, but they also expect responsive interfaces, a wide selection of games and easy access across desktop and mobile devices.
Stake’s proposition therefore combined several components:
- Crypto payment flexibility for users who prefer digital assets.
- Casino variety spanning slots, table games, live dealer formats and original titles.
- Sports betting access for fans following major global competitions.
- Mobile-friendly entertainment aligned with how many users consume games and sports content.
- High-visibility marketing designed to build trust, recognition and community interest.
By connecting these elements, Stake became more than a conventional online casino brand. It developed a public identity closely associated with crypto culture, livestreaming, major sporting events and celebrity-led entertainment.
Licensing and market access
Licensing is an important part of any online gambling operator’s ability to serve regulated or permitted markets. Historical reporting on Stake’s expansion highlighted licensing connected to Curaçao as well as a UK-facing presence subject to UK gambling regulation. These frameworks helped support the platform’s broader international ambitions, although availability has always depended on local rules.
Online gambling laws vary significantly from country to country. A platform may be accessible in some jurisdictions while being unavailable, restricted or separately regulated in others. For users, the practical benefit of a licensed and jurisdiction-aware approach is greater clarity around where a service may be offered.
| Growth factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Licensing framework | Supports structured operation in markets where the relevant permissions apply. |
| International reach | Allows the brand to build awareness across multiple regions where services are permitted. |
| Market-specific access | Recognises that product availability and regulatory requirements differ by jurisdiction. |
| Brand trust | Visible compliance and clear market positioning can strengthen user confidence. |
For prospective users, checking local eligibility, legal requirements and applicable age restrictions remains essential before engaging with any gambling service.
Crypto choice as a core part of the Stake experience
One of defining strengths has been its support for a wide range of cryptocurrencies. In 2022, reporting described the platform as supporting 19 digital currencies after it added 11 assets to an earlier group of eight. That breadth gave users the ability to choose familiar networks and assets rather than relying solely on one cryptocurrency.
The supported list cited at the time included established coins such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, EOS, Tron and XRP. The later additions included assets such as ApeCoin, BNB, Chainlink, Dai, Polygon, Shiba Inu, Tether, The Sandbox, Uniswap and USD Coin, alongside Binance USD, which has since faced material changes in its market status.
This mix was meaningful because it reached several types of crypto user at once. Bitcoin and Ethereum appealed to users focused on widely recognised blockchain assets. Stablecoins appealed to users seeking an asset designed to track a reference value, commonly the US dollar. Meme coins such as Dogecoin and Shiba Inu brought cultural relevance and familiarity to users active in social crypto communities.
Why stablecoins can appeal to online gaming users
Stablecoins are digital assets designed to maintain a relatively stable value against a reference asset or currency. Dollar-linked stablecoins, for example, are generally designed to track the value of the US dollar. Their appeal is straightforward: compared with highly volatile crypto assets, they may offer a more predictable unit for users who want to manage a digital balance without the same degree of price movement.
Historical coverage of Stake’s expanded crypto support highlighted stablecoins including Dai, Tether and USD Coin. Availability can change over time, so users should always verify the current list of supported assets directly through the service in their jurisdiction.
Why meme coins added cultural relevance
Meme coins have become an important part of online crypto culture. Dogecoin, launched in 2013, helped establish the category, while Shiba Inu became another widely recognised name. Supporting these assets enabled Stake to connect with users who participate in fast-moving online communities and engage with cryptocurrency as both a financial technology and an internet-native culture.
The larger lesson is that payment choice can also be a branding decision. By supporting assets from different corners of the crypto market, Stake presented itself as a platform designed for a broad digital-asset audience.
A diverse casino catalogue designed for sustained engagement
Payment flexibility alone does not create a lasting gambling brand. Stake also built momentum through a wide selection of casino content. The platform has been associated with slots, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, table games, jackpot titles, game-show formats and live dealer experiences.
Live casino content has been particularly important to the online gaming sector because it blends digital convenience with the social and visual elements of a traditional casino environment. Players can access dealer-led formats remotely while still seeing real-time game presentation. Historical reporting described Stake as offering more than 40 live dealer games, including exclusive titles, demonstrating the importance of live content in its overall proposition.
Key casino categories associated with the platform include:
- Live dealer games, including live roulette, live dealer blackjack and baccarat formats.
- Slots, ranging from mainstream releases to jackpot-focused titles.
- Classic table games, offering familiar casino mechanics.
- Game-show formats, which add visual themes and interactive features.
- Original games, developed around fast, simple and recognisable gameplay loops.
Original games helped establish a distinct identity
Original games can give a platform a more distinctive character than a catalogue made entirely of third-party titles. Stake became associated with games such as Crash, Keno, Dice, Limbo, Hilo, Mines, Scarab Spin, Blue Samurai, Slide, Video Poker and Wheel.
These games are typically built around clear rules, rapid rounds and an interface that works well on mobile screens. That makes them suitable for users who prefer quick gameplay sessions and straightforward navigation. Original formats also give a brand more opportunities to create memorable visual language, community discussion and livestream-friendly moments.
Sports betting broadened the audience beyond casino players
Stake’s expansion into sports betting was another major factor in its global visibility. Sports wagering gave the brand a way to engage audiences who may have little interest in casino games but closely follow football, basketball, tennis, combat sports and other competitions.
A sportsbook can complement casino content by creating year-round relevance. Casino games operate continuously, while sport introduces event-driven engagement around leagues, tournaments and high-profile matches. Together, the two verticals help create a broader entertainment proposition for different types of users.
Sports commonly associated with Stake’s betting offering have included:
- Football
- Basketball
- Tennis
- American football
- Ice hockey
- Golf
- Handball
- Futsal
- Motorsport and racing events
Football has been especially valuable from a brand-building perspective because of its global fan base. Major domestic leagues and international tournaments provide frequent moments for sports-focused marketing, social media conversation and sponsor exposure.
Influencers, streaming and the power of community-led discovery
Stake’s marketing strategy has been just as influential as its technology and product catalogue. The company recognised that online gambling audiences increasingly discover brands through digital personalities, social video, gaming communities and live-streaming platforms.
Twitch became an important channel during the broader growth of gambling-related livestreaming. Gaming-focused audiences were already accustomed to watching creators play, react and interact with viewers in real time. Partnerships with streamers gave gambling brands an opportunity to gain visibility inside highly engaged entertainment communities.
Stake was associated with influencer collaborations involving creators such as Adin Ross, xQc and the Nelk Boys, as reported during the period when gambling streams were prominent on the platform. It also attracted attention through the Stake and Drake streaming presence, where rapper Drake appeared in casino-related content under the username DeepPockets6.
The strategic value of this approach was clear:
- Livestreaming made gameplay easy for viewers to understand.
- Influencers brought established communities and immediate reach.
- Real-time reactions created highly shareable entertainment moments.
- Crypto and gaming culture overlapped naturally in digital-first audiences.
- Social content helped the brand maintain relevance beyond traditional advertising channels.
As platform policies and content rules evolve, marketing methods also need to adapt. The enduring takeaway is that Stake understood the importance of meeting audiences in the online spaces where they already spend time.
Celebrity partnerships turned visibility into global brand recognition
Celebrity partnerships gave Stake another layer of mainstream recognition. Its relationship with Drake became one of the most visible examples of a crypto gambling brand using entertainment culture to reach a wider audience. The collaboration connected Stake with a globally recognised artist and created repeated moments of attention across social media, music culture and sports conversation.
High-profile collaborations can be particularly effective when they fit a brand’s positioning. In Stake’s case, a celebrity-driven, digitally native approach aligned with the platform’s existing appeal among young adult audiences interested in sport, gaming, crypto and online entertainment.
These partnerships did more than create headlines. They helped make the Stake name familiar to people who might otherwise never search for a crypto casino or sportsbook. That level of awareness can be a powerful commercial advantage in a competitive digital sector.
Football sponsorships created repeat exposure
Sports sponsorship has been central to Stake’s international marketing playbook. Football clubs offer consistent brand exposure through shirts, match broadcasts, stadium visibility, fan media and social channels. The association also places the brand within the emotional, community-driven world of professional sport.
Stake’s collaborations with Everton and Watford were important examples of this strategy. Watford announced Stake as a shirt sponsor for the 2021–22 Premier League season, and the partnership continued into the following campaign. Everton announced Stake as a main partner in 2022.
For a digital gambling brand, football sponsorship can deliver benefits that conventional online advertising cannot always match:
| Sponsorship benefit | Brand-building impact |
|---|---|
| Regular match exposure | Creates repeated visibility across broadcasts, highlights and fan content. |
| International fan communities | Extends awareness beyond the club’s home city or domestic league. |
| Emotional association | Connects the brand with the excitement and loyalty surrounding sport. |
| Social media amplification | Generates additional reach through club, player and supporter conversations. |
| Sportsbook relevance | Places the brand near the events that betting customers actively follow. |
The value of these deals is not simply logo placement. Sponsorship turns a digital brand into a visible part of the wider sports entertainment ecosystem.
UFC collaborations expanded Stake’s combat-sports profile
Stake also pursued partnerships in mixed martial arts through the Ultimate Fighting Championship. In 2021, the company became an official UFC betting partner in Latin America, excluding Brazil at the time. Later announcements expanded the scope of the relationship to include Brazil.
The UFC partnership suited Stake’s broader strategy because combat sports have highly engaged global fan communities, frequent events and strong social-media engagement. The platform also worked with personalities including Israel Adesanya, adding athlete recognition to its promotional efforts.
By connecting with UFC audiences, Stake strengthened its relevance among sports fans who value major-event excitement, live competition and digital entertainment. It was a logical extension of a brand built around real-time engagement.
Why Stake’s model resonated with multiple audiences
Stake’s rise can be understood as the result of several mutually reinforcing advantages. Rather than targeting only traditional casino users or only cryptocurrency enthusiasts, it positioned itself at the intersection of several large digital communities.
- Crypto users could access a wide range of supported digital assets.
- Casino players could choose among live dealer games, slots, table games and original titles.
- Sports fans could engage with betting markets and major sponsorship activations.
- Streaming audiences encountered the brand through influential online personalities.
- Mobile-first users could engage with digital entertainment in a flexible format.
This multi-audience strategy gave Stake greater resilience than a narrow single-product approach. Each area could support awareness in the others: a football fan might discover the sportsbook through a shirt sponsor, a crypto user might arrive for payment options, and a livestream viewer might become familiar with the casino’s original games.
Key lessons from growth story
development offers several useful lessons for digital entertainment and gaming brands. The first is that product variety matters. A service that combines payments, games, live experiences and sports content has more ways to appeal to a diverse customer base.
The second lesson is that crypto utility needs to be paired with an accessible user experience. Supporting digital assets is valuable, but users also expect clear navigation, entertaining content and products that work effectively on mobile devices.
The third is that modern brand-building happens across communities. Influencer partnerships, livestreaming, music culture, football sponsorships and combat-sports collaborations all helped Stake move beyond the boundaries of traditional gambling marketing.
Stake’s growth illustrates how a digital brand can gain momentum when payment innovation, entertainment variety and cultural visibility reinforce one another.
Conclusion: a prominent example of crypto gambling’s mainstream evolution
rise reflects a broader transformation in online gambling. What began as a crypto-focused casino platform in 2017 developed into a highly visible entertainment brand spanning digital assets, casino games, live dealer content, original titles, sports betting and international sponsorships.
Its support for a wide selection of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins and meme coins, helped it appeal to a broad crypto audience. Its casino and sportsbook offerings created variety for users with different interests. Its partnerships with influencers, Drake, UFC personalities, Everton and Watford gave the brand an exceptional level of visibility across entertainment and sport.
For the wider industry, Stake demonstrates the commercial power of combining a clear digital identity with strong product breadth and audience-focused marketing. Its story remains one of the clearest examples of how crypto, mobile gaming and sports culture can work together to build global recognition in online entertainment.
Important: Gambling should be treated as entertainment, not as a way to make money. Participation is restricted to eligible adults in locations where the relevant services are legal and available.
