Stake.us review

Stake.us review: the quick answer

Stake.us is the US-facing sweepstakes version of Stake, one of the best-known crypto gambling brands. Instead of deposits and cash bets, it uses Gold Coins for play and Stake Cash for sweepstakes entries that can be redeemed, and its help center says those redemptions are paid in cryptocurrency. It also carries a longer regulator record than most brands in our casino reviews.

Stake.us suits a narrow group: adults in a state it serves, comfortable with crypto wallets, who want sweepstakes play rather than an offshore real-money account. Everyone else should note the weak points first. It excludes 22 states, four state regulators have told it to stop serving their residents, and its welcome offer is reported to depend on an affiliate code rather than a standard published deal.

Who owns Stake.us? Sweepsteaks Limited and Medium Rare

Third-party reviewers report that Stake.us is run by Sweepsteaks Limited, a Cyprus company that is a subsidiary of Medium Rare N.V., the owner of Stake.com. The Illinois Gaming Board's February 4, 2026 letter to Stake (opens in a new tab) is addressed to the company at Larnaka, Cyprus, which fits that picture. Reviewers date the launch to 2022.

Stake.com and Stake.us are separate sites. Stake.us is the one built around the sweepstakes model for US players, with its own restricted-state list, its own currency and its own help center. If you see marketing for the parent brand, don't assume its terms or payment options apply to Stake.us.

Gold Coins and Stake Cash: how Stake.us works

Stake.us runs two currencies. Gold Coins are for entertainment only and have no cash value. Stake Cash is its name for Sweeps Coins: you get it free through promotions or bundled with Gold Coin purchases, you play it through, and only Stake Cash can be redeemed. Our explainer on Sweeps Coins covers the general model.

The help center mentions daily login rewards of Gold Coins and free Stake Cash, which is how the site keeps a no-purchase route open. That route is the legal basis of the sweepstakes argument: because you never have to buy Stake Cash, the site says its games aren't gambling. Several states disagree, as the sections below show.

Stake.us promo code and welcome offer

Third-party reviews report a welcome offer of 250,000 Gold Coins + 25 Stake Cash when you sign up with an affiliate promo code, plus 1 SC a day for 30 days, with a 3x playthrough. The same reviewers note that the offer depends on the code used, and no standard no-code welcome deal was found. The help center itself mentions only daily login Gold Coins and free Stake Cash.

We don't publish a Stake.us code here, because codes vary by affiliate and change often. The terms shown when you register are the ones that apply. Our Stake.us promo code page tracks what's confirmed.

The welcome offer in numbers

So 55 SC might clear a minimum redemption, but only if your balance survives 75 SC of play first. Casino-style games pay back less than you stake over time, so the balance usually falls during playthrough. Our guide to wagering requirements explains how playthrough eats into a bonus.

Stake.us redemption: crypto, timing and minimums

Stake.us's help center confirms that Stake Cash can be redeemed in cryptocurrency. Third-party reviewers report advertised redemption times of 1 to 3 days, with crypto sometimes arriving within minutes, and minimums that vary by coin, usually around 40 to 65 SC. The exact coin list and minimums aren't in the records we hold, so check the redemption screen.

1. Confirm your state isn't on the restricted list; redemptions from excluded states aren't allowed.
2. Complete identity verification before you request a prize; our account verification guide lists the usual documents.
3. Set up a wallet you control for the coin you'll receive; see how to set up a crypto wallet.
4. Check that your Stake Cash has met its playthrough and that the balance tops the minimum for your chosen coin.
5. Copy the wallet address carefully and request the redemption.
6. Record the date, coin, amount and transaction ID for your tax records.

Crypto transfers usually can't be reversed, and prices move. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's crypto-asset complaint bulletin (opens in a new tab) notes Bitcoin was down more than 70% from its November 2021 high as of October 3, 2022. A prize redeemed in crypto can lose dollar value before you sell it.

For the full step-by-step and common problems, see Stake.us redemption, and read our page on crypto casino scams before you share wallet details anywhere.

Stake.us restricted states: the 22-state list

Stake.us's help center lists 22 restricted states: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia. The page shows no date, and a third-party review adds Florida in one version of the list.

Two patterns stand out. All seven states that license real-money online casinos (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut and Rhode Island) are on it. So is every state whose regulator is recorded as sending Stake.us a letter. What's missing is Oklahoma, where SB 1589 bans dual-currency sweepstakes from November 1, 2026; check Oklahoma's sweepstakes rules if you're in Oklahoma City or Tulsa.

Connecticut, Michigan and New Jersey appear only once in the table, though each fits more than one row. The full ban list with dates is on our sweepstakes casino bans page.

Stake.us cease-and-desist letters: Michigan, Maryland, Arizona and Illinois

Stake.us has drawn letters from four state regulators. The Michigan Gaming Control Board's January 2024 release (opens in a new tab) records a cease-and-desist letter to Stake.us dated November 2, 2023. Trade press reporting on Maryland's letter to High 5 Casino (opens in a new tab) in March 2025 lists Stake.us among the earlier recipients of Maryland Lottery and Gaming letters.

In June 2025, Arizona's Department of Gaming sent letters to Stake and six other operators (opens in a new tab), according to Covers. Then on February 4, 2026, the Illinois Gaming Board sent its own letter to Stake as part of a wave of more than 60. Each of those four states now appears on Stake.us's restricted list.

A cease-and-desist letter is an order to the operator, not a finding against players. Our explainer on cease-and-desist letters covers what they do, and the Illinois sweepstakes casinos page has the Illinois detail.

Is Stake.us legal and legit for US players?

Stake.us is an established business with a known parent group, and its help center confirms that it pays prizes in crypto. But legitimacy and legality are different questions. No US state licenses Stake.us, and regulators in four states have said its games break their gambling laws. In ten more, a statute now bans the dual-currency model outright, Oklahoma's from November 1, 2026.

Where there's no ban and no letter, the sweepstakes argument hasn't been tested against Stake.us, and your state's general gambling law still applies. We don't say whether playing is legal for you; read your state page and our answer to are sweepstakes casinos legal. For a trust-focused look, see is Stake.us legit.

Stake.us games, providers and app

Third-party reviewers list ten studios: NetEnt, Nolimit City, Hacksaw Gaming, BGaming, OneTouch, Evolution, Iconic21, Playson, Booming Games and Titan Gaming. That's a mainstream lineup, quite unlike the RealTime Gaming catalogs at most offshore US-facing casinos. Specific titles and counts aren't recorded, so check the lobby.

Reviewers report a native app for iOS and macOS, no app on Google Play, and full browser play. Android users play in the browser; our guide to playing on Android explains how to set up a shortcut.

Stake.us prizes, crypto taxes and staying in control

Prizes you redeem are taxable income, whatever form they take. The IRS's W-2G instructions list sweepstakes among payment types with reporting rules; the 2026 threshold is $2,000 where the prize is at least 300 times the wager. With crypto prizes, also record the dollar value when you receive the coins, because a later sale can create its own gain or loss. Our gambling taxes page covers the 90% loss-deduction cap reported for 2026; check IRS guidance.

Fast crypto prizes make it easy to keep playing. Decide a spending limit before you buy any Gold Coin package, and don't buy coins to win back losses. The National Problem Gambling Helpline is 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) by call or text, with chat through NCPG's helpline page (opens in a new tab). Our responsible gambling hub lists blocking apps such as Gamban and BetBlocker, plus Gamblers Anonymous.

Stake.us vs offshore crypto casinos

Players often compare Stake.us with offshore crypto casinos, because both deal in coins. The difference is the legal wrapper. Stake.us says it runs a sweepstakes, and you never deposit into a gambling account. Offshore casinos take crypto deposits for real-money play, with no US state license. Our guide to sweepstakes vs real money casinos covers both in full.

Alternatives to Stake.us with an offer via our links

If crypto payouts are why Stake.us appeals to you, the closest partners are those that take crypto deposits and pay crypto withdrawals. These are offshore real-money casinos, not licensed or regulated by any US state, so check your state's law before you join. There's no state regulator to complain to if a payout stalls, no state protection of balances, and the casino sets its own terms. We earn a commission from these links and rank partners in a commercial order. All offers are for new players aged 21+ (18+ where allowed), and terms apply.

Slot Madness Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party reviews report crypto deposits in Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, Dogecoin, Bitcoin Cash and XRP, withdrawals by Bitcoin and Litecoin, and caps of $2,500 a week and $5,000 a month. They also report a 275% match with code MAD275 from $30 at 30x (bonus plus deposit) on slots, with no max cashout. One reviewer says crypto is processed within minutes; others report 7 to 10 business days, so expect delays. Michigan's regulator named Slot Madness on August 14, 2025. See Slot Madness Bitcoin and crypto.

SlotoCash Casino: $6,000 Welcome Bonus + 60 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). The casino's banking page lists deposits in Bitcoin, Bitcoin Lightning, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum, and free Bitcoin withdrawals from $100 to $2,500, processed within 48 business hours, under a $5,000 weekly and $20,000 monthly cap. Its own site advertises a different package, $7,777 + 300 spins over five deposits, at 25x (deposit plus bonus), $20 minimum per bonus and no max cashout. Michigan named SlotoCash on October 8, 2026. Read the SlotoCash review.

Decode Casino: $5,000 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Decode's own site advertises a "$111 Free Chip + Crypto Bonus" without visible terms. Third-party reviews report crypto deposits in Bitcoin, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum, Bitcoin withdrawals from $100 in about 48 hours, and a weekly cap given as $2,500 in one listing and $5,000 elsewhere, plus a 111% match up to $1,111 at 25x with code DECODE111. Reviewers say it refuses Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Washington. See the Decode review.

In dollars, wagering works like this. A $100 deposit with a 25x (deposit plus bonus) requirement and a 100% match means $200 × 25 = $5,000 of slot bets. At an assumed 4% house edge, that play costs about $200 on average, as much as the whole balance. Bonuses are slot-focused: table games are often excluded or weighted lower, so check the terms. The casino's own site may show a different package from our link, and the terms shown at sign-up apply. Compare more on our best crypto casinos list.

21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).