growth story illustrates how online gambling, cryptocurrency and digital-first marketing can combine to create a highly visible global entertainment brand. Launched in 2017 by Easygo Gaming founders Edward Craven and Bijan Tehrani, the platform entered a rapidly developing crypto-gambling market with a proposition built around flexible digital-asset payments, a broad casino offering, sports betting and distinctive original-style games.
Operating under Medium Rare N.V., a Curaçao-registered company, became widely recognised for bringing crypto payments closer to the mainstream online gaming experience. Its approach was not simply about accepting Bitcoin. It paired a multi-crypto payment model with live-dealer casino content, sportsbook markets, branded game formats and major promotional partnerships across streaming, music, football and combat sports.
The result was a brand that gained attention far beyond the traditional online casino audience. For eligible players in permitted jurisdictions, Stake’s rise demonstrated the appeal of faster-moving digital payment options, wide entertainment choice and marketing that met audiences where they already spent their time: on livestreams, social platforms and major sporting events.
The market opportunity: crypto meets online gaming
Online gambling existed long before cryptocurrency, but blockchain-based assets introduced a new payment option for internet-native users. Bitcoin, launched in 2009, became the best-known digital asset used by early crypto casinos. Over time, the broader market expanded to include Ethereum, stablecoins, meme coins and other blockchain-based tokens.
For online gaming platforms, cryptocurrency can offer several practical advantages depending on the asset, wallet, network and jurisdiction involved. Digital-asset transactions can support global payment access, provide alternatives to conventional banking rails and give users a choice between assets with very different characteristics. Bitcoin and Ethereum offer broad recognition, while stablecoins are designed to track a reference asset such as the US dollar. Other coins may appeal to users because of their communities, transaction ecosystems or market visibility.
entered this environment at a time when consumer familiarity with crypto was rising. Its product strategy helped translate that interest into a more complete gaming destination rather than a narrowly focused crypto-payment service.
2017 launch and operating structure
was launched in 2017 by Edward Craven and Bijan Tehrani, founders of Easygo Gaming. The platform has been associated with Medium Rare N.V., a company registered in Curaçao. From its early stages, the business positioned itself as a crypto-focused casino and sportsbook serving markets where its services could be lawfully offered.
Licensing and access rules are central to the online gambling sector. Gambling laws vary substantially by country, state and territory, and a licence in one jurisdiction does not automatically allow a platform to serve customers everywhere. Stake’s availability has therefore depended on local rules, regulatory permissions and its own geographic restrictions.
This jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction approach is important to understanding the company’s expansion. The ability to operate in multiple eligible markets helped support international visibility, while restricted territories remained outside the platform’s service area. Users should always confirm whether online gambling and crypto gambling are legal where they live before attempting to register or play.
A broad product mix built for online entertainment
One of key strengths has been variety. A wide catalogue gives customers multiple ways to engage, whether they prefer live-dealer tables, slots, traditional casino formats, fast-paced instant games or sports wagering. This broad mix also allows the platform to appeal to audiences with different preferences rather than relying on a single category.
Live casino and classic gaming formats
Stake has promoted a substantial live dealer catalogue, with more than 40 live games referenced in reporting on the platform’s growth. Live casino products typically use real dealers and streamed studio gameplay to create a more interactive version of table games for remote players.
Its casino selection has included categories such as:
- Roulette
- Blackjack
- Baccarat
- Live-dealer tables
- Game-show-style casino products
- Slots and jackpot slots
- Table games
- Video poker
This range matters because it combines familiar casino staples with newer presentation formats. For players who enjoy traditional rules-based games, table-game options provide recognisable experiences. For those looking for shorter, more visual sessions, live formats and slots can offer a different pace and style.
Exclusive and recognisable game titles
Stake also became associated with a collection of quick-play games that helped distinguish its brand identity. Titles frequently connected with the platform include Crash, Dice, Limbo and Hilo. Other games associated with its casino catalogue have included Keno, Mines, Scarab Spin, Blue Samurai, Slide and Wheel-style products.
These games are notable because they are easy to understand at a high level and are designed for digital interfaces. Their fast rounds, simple mechanics and stream-friendly presentation made them especially compatible with online communities and creator-led content. That recognisability contributed to Stake’s ability to turn individual game formats into part of a wider brand conversation.
Sports betting expands the audience
Sports betting gave Stake another route to reach customers who may not primarily identify as casino players. Sportsbooks commonly cover football, tennis, basketball, American football, golf, ice hockey, motorsport and other events, subject to the markets available in each region.
By combining casino and sports products, Stake positioned itself as a single destination for several forms of regulated online wagering where permitted. That integrated structure supported cross-category discovery: a customer interested in a football match could also encounter casino content, while a casino-focused user could explore major sporting fixtures.
Crypto choice as a core product advantage
Stake’s crypto strategy was built around choice. Reporting in 2022 described the platform as supporting 19 cryptocurrencies after adding additional assets that year. The exact availability of payment methods can change over time and by location, but the broader strategy was clear: provide customers with a larger set of digital-asset options than a Bitcoin-only casino.
The supported asset mix referenced in 2022 included well-known cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, EOS, Tron and XRP. It also expanded to include assets such as ApeCoin, BNB, Chainlink, Dai, Polygon, Shiba Inu, Tether, The Sandbox, Uniswap and USD Coin.
| Crypto category | Examples associated with Stake’s 2022 payment offering | Potential user appeal |
|---|---|---|
| Major cryptocurrencies | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin | Strong public awareness and established blockchain ecosystems |
| Stablecoins | Dai, Tether, USD Coin, Binance USD | Designed to reduce exposure to the price volatility associated with many crypto assets |
| Meme coins | Dogecoin, Shiba Inu | Large online communities and high cultural visibility |
| Alternative blockchain assets | Polygon, Chainlink, Uniswap, Tron | Additional network and ecosystem choice for crypto-native users |
Stablecoins were especially relevant to users seeking a digital payment asset intended to remain closer in value to a reference currency. However, no crypto asset is risk-free, and users should understand the mechanics, custody model, fees and potential price movements of any asset before using it.
The payment choice also reinforced Stake’s digital-native positioning. Instead of treating cryptocurrency as a novelty, the platform made it a visible part of its customer proposition.
Why livestreaming became a powerful growth channel
Stake’s marketing expansion was closely linked to the rise of livestreaming culture. Gaming audiences were already active on platforms such as Twitch, where viewers gather around creators, live commentary, esports, gameplay and online communities. Casino-focused content became part of that wider streaming ecosystem for a period, creating a direct path to highly engaged digital audiences.
The brand worked with prominent online personalities, including creators such as Adin Ross, xQc, the Nelk Boys and TrainwrecksTV in widely reported campaigns and appearances. These partnerships gave the brand exposure within communities that value live reactions, community chat and personality-led entertainment.
Drake also became a major figure in Stake’s public marketing. The Stake and Drake collaboration generated considerable attention through livestreamed casino activity and broader promotional content. The partnership showed how celebrity association can elevate a gambling brand from a specialist platform into a subject of mainstream pop-culture discussion.
Streaming rules have evolved, including restrictions affecting some forms of gambling content on Twitch. That changing environment underscores a broader lesson from Stake’s trajectory: successful digital marketing requires platforms and advertisers to adapt quickly to content policies, advertising standards and local regulations.
Sports sponsorships built global brand recognition
Stake’s marketing strategy extended well beyond creator partnerships. Sports sponsorships gave the company repeated exposure during events watched by large international audiences, helping the brand connect its sportsbook offering with the passion and loyalty of sports fans.
Football partnerships
Football has been a particularly important part of Stake’s promotional footprint. The company held shirt sponsorship relationships with English clubs including Watford and Everton during the early 2020s. These deals placed the brand in front of domestic and global football audiences through match broadcasts, club media, stadium visibility and social content.
For a digital gambling brand, football sponsorship offers an especially valuable combination of reach and relevance. Supporters already follow fixtures, statistics, league tables and match outcomes, all of which align naturally with sportsbook interest. The partnerships also helped Stake become more recognisable to consumers who may not have discovered the brand through crypto or livestreaming.
UFC partnership activity
Stake also partnered with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, initially as an official betting partner in Latin America excluding Brazil, before later expansion of the relationship was announced. The company additionally used fighter and athlete relationships, including public association with Israel Adesanya, to deepen its visibility within combat-sports audiences.
UFC sponsorship was a strong strategic fit because mixed martial arts has a globally connected fan base and a fast-paced digital media culture. The partnership placed Stake alongside a sports property with major international reach, while helping the brand engage viewers accustomed to following odds, fight cards and event-night analysis.
The formula behind rapid visibility
rise was not based on one factor alone. Its visibility emerged from the way several components reinforced each other:
- Crypto-first positioning: A broad selection of digital assets made the service relevant to users already active in blockchain ecosystems.
- Product variety: Casino games, live dealers, exclusive quick-play titles and sports betting created more reasons to engage.
- Distinctive game identity: Recognisable titles such as Crash, Dice, Limbo and Hilo helped create memorable brand associations.
- Creator-led awareness: Livestreams and influencer collaborations connected the platform with highly active online communities.
- Celebrity visibility: The Drake collaboration brought additional mainstream attention to the brand.
- Sports sponsorship reach: Partnerships involving football clubs and UFC broadened awareness across major fan communities.
- International focus: Serving eligible markets across different regions supported global recognition while maintaining geographic restrictions.
This combination created a powerful feedback loop. Marketing attracted attention, product breadth encouraged exploration, crypto support strengthened the platform’s digital-native identity and sports partnerships kept the brand visible in major entertainment conversations.
Availability, legality and responsible participation
is not available everywhere. Access can be restricted in countries and territories where crypto gambling is prohibited, where online gambling regulations do not permit the service or where the operator chooses not to offer accounts. Historical reporting has identified countries such as the United States, France, Australia, North Korea and the Netherlands among locations where access has been restricted at various times.
Because laws, licensing arrangements and product availability can change, users should rely on current local legal requirements and the platform’s own eligibility rules. Gambling should only be considered by adults of legal age in jurisdictions where it is permitted.
Responsible participation remains essential. Casino games and sports betting involve financial risk, and outcomes cannot be guaranteed. Setting a personal budget, treating gambling as entertainment rather than a source of income and using available responsible-gaming controls can help people make more informed decisions.
Conclusion: a digital entertainment brand shaped by convergence
ascent reflects a defining trend in modern online entertainment: the convergence of cryptocurrency, gaming communities, sports fandom and performance marketing. Since its 2017 launch, the platform has used crypto payment choice, live casino content, sports betting and distinctive game titles to build a strong digital identity.
Its marketing strategy amplified that product foundation. Twitch creators, Drake, football sponsorships and UFC partnerships helped turn Stake into a highly recognisable name across multiple audience segments. For the wider industry, the story highlights the value of combining a clear product proposition with culturally relevant distribution channels.
As regulations, streaming policies and cryptocurrency markets continue to evolve, the long-term success of platforms in this space will depend on maintaining compliance, respecting local access rules and delivering products that remain relevant to eligible users. early growth remains a prominent example of how a crypto-focused gambling platform can use entertainment, community and brand partnerships to achieve rapid global visibility.
