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By Alex GrasbeckLast reviewed 24 August 2026Rank #5 of 12

Stake is the largest crypto-first betting platform by volume, covering 36 sports and 17 esports categories with live markets, Same Game Multi (bet builder) and Stake Shield multi-leg protection. On pricing it is the strongest book we cover: across the mainstream 1x2 markets we compared, Stake ran the tightest margins of anything on this list, which is why it takes the top odds score in our ranking.

Welcome bonus

Stake does not run a standard global welcome bonus. Instead, new users get access to VIP rakeback that scales with volume, event-triggered offers such as early cash-out refunds, and weekly promotions. Unverified accounts must wager 100% of deposited value before withdrawing, and KYC can be requested at any time — always read the live terms on stake.com before depositing.

Pros

  • Tightest average odds margin of the books we compared
  • Deep sports and esports coverage with live, in-play betting across 36 sports
  • Same Game Multi and Stake Shield for multi-leg bets
  • Fast crypto withdrawals, typically same-day
  • Strong VIP rakeback for high-volume bettors

Cons

  • No standard welcome bonus for new sports bettors
  • 100% deposit wagering requirement before withdrawal for unverified accounts
  • KYC can be requested at any time, which can delay a withdrawal
  • No cash-out on Same Game Multi or Stake Shield bets
  • Centralized, custodial model offers less recourse than a fully non-custodial platform

Supported coins & deposit process

Stake accepts BTC, ETH, LTC, USDT, DOGE, XRP, TRX, EOS, BCH and more than a dozen additional assets. Crypto withdrawals are typically processed within 0–2 days once approved; bank transfer options can take up to three business days.

Platform & custody notes

Stake is a custodial platform — funds sit in an account balance rather than a self-custody wallet, so you're trusting Stake's operational security and solvency. It has operated since 2017 with a large public user base. As with any centralized platform, only deposit what you're comfortable having tied up, and confirm current terms and availability in your country before signing up.

Our verdict

If sharp pricing is what you optimise for, Stake is the best book here — it scores 9.9 on odds, higher than anything else we cover. What holds its overall score down is custody: your balance sits with the operator, and that criterion carries 30% of our total. If that trade is fine with you, this is the pick. If it isn't, SX Bet settles the same kind of bet on-chain, and Cloudbet is the closest custodial alternative with a welcome offer attached.

Key facts

Established2017
Custody modelCustodial — house-held balance
Chain / networkMulti-chain deposits
Accepted assetsBTC, ETH, LTC, USDT +15 more
Withdrawal time0–2 days
KYCMay be requested at any time
Welcome offerNo bonus — VIP rakeback instead

Unverified accounts must wager 100% of deposited value before withdrawing. 18+. T&Cs apply. Always read the operator’s live terms before depositing.

Score breakdown

The overall 8.6 is the weighted mean of these four, using the weights published in our methodology — not a number set by hand.

Custody & settlement 30%7.0
Odds & margin 30%9.9
Payout speed 25%8.2
Coin & chain support 15%9.6
Overall8.6

Alternatives to Stake

8.6/10 Non-custodial

BetDEX

If you’d rather not hand custody to an operator at all.

8.7/10 Non-custodial

Polymarket

If you’d rather not hand custody to an operator at all.

9.1/10 Non-custodial

SX Bet

If you’d rather not hand custody to an operator at all.

8.6/10

The short version

Tightest margins we found across mainstream football, basketball and tennis markets. No welcome bonus — value comes from pricing and VIP rakeback instead.

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StakeDegenStake score 8.6/10
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