Stake Casino Review NZ

Expert Review

Stake is a crypto-exclusive online gambling platform featuring an impressive collection of casino games, a comprehensive sportsbook, easy payments, and more. Launched in 2017, the platform has become one of the most trusted brands in the gambling industry. With brand partnerships with the Everton Football Club and UFC, Stake Casino has attracted thousands of gamblers from New Zealand and beyond. This is why I immediately signed up at the casino.

I created an account, which only took me a minute, and went straight to the casino lobby. There were all types of games available, including slots, live casino, game shows, table games, card games, and much more. Each category had its fair share of games, creating diversity and offering players plenty of titles to choose from. I also checked out the sportsbook at Stake Casino and was impressed by the number of sports available there, the live and ongoing markets, and the ability to customise my bet slip.

However, I do think Stake Casino can do a little better in their promotions department, and I will discuss why later in this review. Besides that, I did not face any problems making deposits and withdrawals, except for the withdrawal fee and the long-haul verification. In this Stake Casino review for New Zealanders, I will review their games, sportsbook, bonuses, security, support, and other features and give my detailed opinion about them.

Games: 9.2/10

Diverse, entertaining, and optimised are adjectives that perfectly describe the gaming catalogue of Stake Casino. I spent over a week playing their games and was very satisfied. One of the things that kept me going was the enormous number of games on offer. There were more than 3,500 titles in the gaming library of Stake Casino, with new and improved titles added constantly. Moreover, I also loved how Stake Casino offers all the popular casino gaming categories, making sure all types of players are catered to. There were slots, table games, card games, live dealer games, and much more to explore. The casino also has a dedicated section for Stake Exclusives, which were the games I could only play on this casino and nowhere else. It introduced me to some very entertaining and exciting titles that made me return to Stake Casino time and again.

However, I think Stake Casino could have done a better job in designing the layout of their gaming library. While there were separate sections for slots and live casino games, I had to manually search for the other types of games, such as table games, card games, bonus buys, jackpots, and others. There was also no advanced search option to apply filters or select my preferences. I had to enter a specific keyword or the exact game name in the search bar to find certain titles. But thankfully, Stake Casino provided me with the complete list of game providers. I could check what providers were available and click on any of them to fetch their games out of the entire library. To top things off, all the big names like Evolution, Pragmatic Play, QuickSpin, and NetENT were available.

I started playing some games, evaluating their performance, graphics, and overall optimisation. One thing that I really liked in the lobby was that each game had its live stats indicating how many players were playing the game at that time. It helped me see if a game is popular and if I should try my luck with it. Most of the games also had the option to play them in fun mode or use real money. Upon choosing either of the modes, the games would start loading and would take approximately 15-20 seconds to load fully. I found Stake Casino to be very fast and responsive, enabling me to have a hassle-free gambling experience.

As for the interface, Stake Casino provided me with the option to play games in fullscreen mode or theatre mode. The in-game interface for most of the games was quite friendly as well. Even though the interface differed for each game, I was still able to find the option to set preferences, check the guides, or the paytable. I was also able to easily place my bets, customise the amount, or try different modes where available. Most importantly, the graphics and the visuals of the games did not disappoint me. There were a few games that seemed old-school, but they were classics that are still in demand among experienced gamblers. Other than that, the games did not lag on my laptop even though I was using an older device and an average internet connection. The same was true with the live dealer games, and the live streams worked flawlessly. There were no buffering issues, and the streaming quality was always high.

Betting: 9.5/10

Stake Casino brings a comprehensive sportsbook for Kiwis where they can bet on all popular sports and tournaments. I did an in-depth analysis of their sportsbook, evaluating all the available markets, user-friendliness, betting types, bet slip customisation, and other features to see if they were up to mark. First of all, I found over 35 individual sports, each having dozens of markets. There was American football, basketball, soccer, boxing, cycling, volleyball, e-sports and many other types of sports I could bet on. The best part was that I could easily access any of these sports from the list provided on the left-hand panel of the sportsbook interface. That was also where dedicated sections for live betting and upcoming match betting were available. I could choose any of them, and all of the respective markets would appear right in the middle of the screen. So, in terms of user-friendliness, I did not have any complaints with the sportsbook of Stake Casino.

I went ahead and started exploring the pre-match betting section first. I searched for a particular soccer event using the search bar and selected it. Stake Casino provided me with some insights like the date and time of the match, along with all the markets available for betting. I compared the odds provided to me at Stake Casino with other popular betting sites like 888Sports, and Stake Casino was leading in most instances. And this was not only for this particular event but for most of them.

I then moved to the live betting section and started checking out random matches. For many of them, I found the option to enable live streaming and watch the game live while I place bets. Not only that, every live match also had a live simulation showing the movements of the games. I could also keep myself updated with the instant score updating tech Stake Casino had used. Again, the odds at Stake Casino were a little better compared to other sites, enabling me to profit more if I won.

Aside from that, I could place single bets and multi bets at Stake Casino. I just had to click on an event, review the bet slip, and click on the place bet button to complete the wager. Stake Casino also allowed me to set my preferences regarding odds change, odd format, and a few other aspects, ensuring a comfortable betting experience at the sportsbook.

Bonuses: 7.5/10

Even though Stake Casino has an impressive range of ongoing and regular promotions, they do not have any welcome bonus. It was a little disappointing as almost every online casino I have ever played in had a welcome package for me to enjoy. With Stake Casino, I had to make my first deposit without receiving any bonuses.

So, the only option I had left was to visit the promotions section and see what ongoing promos were available to claim. Upon doing so, I discovered several generous deals that were available not only for casino players but sports bettors as well. I first checked out the bonuses for the casino and found the exclusive $10 Million Christmas Race that Stake Casino had introduced. Even though it was a limited-time event, there were many other prize pools for specific games, live games, and more that were available throughout the year. Stake Casino also had some challenges for their casino players that they could complete to win different rewards.

For sports, Stake Casino has brought almost a dozen double-winning deals on different events. I also noticed increased payout rewards on specific games, money-back deals, prize pools, and exclusive challenges that sports bettors could participate in.

The Stake Casino VIP Club had several levels I could reach. The only way I could climb the levels was to fulfil a certain wager threshold by playing and betting more on the platform. Each level had its own perks, including rakeback bonuses, level-up bonuses, monthly and weekly bonuses, and more.

Deposits and Withdrawals: 8/10

As a crypto-exclusive platform, Stake Casino only accepts direct crypto deposits and withdrawals that Kiwis can make through their wallet or crypto exchange. Fortunately, if you do not own any crypto, Stake Casino has a solution. The platform has partnered up with a third-party payment merchant MoonPay that helps Kiwis buy crypto using fiat assets. I made a purchase through MoonPay and was redirected to their payment page. There were several banking options I could use, including credit and debit cards, PayPal, and other e-wallets. I used my debit card, confirmed the transaction, and received my BTC directly in my Stake Casino account.

To make direct crypto deposits at Stake Casino, all I had to do was select the crypto asset from the deposit section, copy its address, and use it to send funds from my personal crypto wallet. However, I think Stake Casino has made the deposit process a bit tedious for new users. I first had to verify my email and then submit my identity documents before I could make a deposit. The same was true for withdrawals, for which I had to submit proof of address and source of funds before I could start receiving my withdrawals. Stake Casino also charged a withdrawal fee when I made a withdrawal, which most online casinos don’t. Anyway, here is the list of all cryptocurrencies Stake Casino accepts, along with the payment options offered by MoonPay.

Deposit methods

• BTC
• ETH
• LTC
• USDT
• DOGE
• BCH
• XRP
• EOS
• TRX
• BNB
• USDC
• APE
• BUSD
• CRO
• DAI
• LINK
• SAND
• SHIB
• UNI
• MATIC
• Buy Crypto Through MoonPay (Credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and more)

All deposits at Stake Casino are processed instantly and free of cost. However, users might have to pay a network fee and wait for confirmation for the transaction to be processed. Also, the minimum deposit amount varies for each cryptocurrency.

Withdrawal methods

• BTC
• ETH
• LTC
• USDT
• DOGE
• BCH
• XRP
• EOS
• TRX
• BNB
• USDC
• APE
• BUSD
• CRO
• DAI
• LINK
• SAND
• SHIB
• UNI
• MATIC

Withdrawals are usually processed instantly at Stake Casino but may take longer due to network confirmations. Also, there is a minimum withdrawal limit and a fee that widely varies for each crypto asset.

Mobile Gaming: 9.6/10  

The Stake Casino website is designed not only for desktops but mobile devices as well. It allows Kiwis to play and bet at Stake Casino right from their phones. I used the mobile version of the platform for almost a day and found it really responsive, fast, and optimised. I also tried looking for dedicated mobile apps for Stake Casino and found one on PlayStore and the App Store. However, I could not verify if those were the official apps as there was no mention of them on Stake Casino's official site. The apps did not have many reviews or downloads, so I decided to leave them at that. I simply used the Chrome browser that was installed on my iPhone and accessed Stake Casino. I logged into my account with my email and password and got full access to the platform features. I could access the banking features, account settings, verification portal, and what I actually came for: the casino and sportsbook.

I first went to the casino section and started exploring the library. I noticed some of the games were excluded from the catalogue for mobile users, but it was probably the right move as those titles might not be optimised for portable devices. I started playing some slots, table and card games, and game shows to see how they would work on my mobile. Stake Casino provided me with the option to play the games in demo mode or real mode even on my phone, and I could enter the fullscreen mode or theatre mode as per my preferences. The loading times of the games were increased a little as compared to my laptop, but they were not very noticeable. In terms of graphics, gameplay, and in-game navigation, I did not have any complaints. The games worked flawlessly and smoothly without any lag, and the visuals were top-notch and as good as I expected them to be.

Then, I switched to Stake Casino's sportsbook and started checking out the live and upcoming matches. Again, the live events had full details, along with live updates, streaming, and visual representation. For the upcoming matches, Stake Casino provided a few details like match date and time along with all the available markets to bet on. I could select any event, and the bet slip would pop up for me to place the bet or manage it. There was a single-bet option or multi-bet option, and I could choose any of them as I liked. Other sportsbook settings like odds format, date format, and other preferences could also be changed from my mobile.

I recommend using Opera, Chrome, Safari, or other similar latest browsers and a good internet connection to have a great gambling experience on mobile.

Customer Support: 9.9/10  

Customer support at Stake Casino is top-notch, and it never disappointed me whenever I had a question or a problem. The best part is that it is available 24/7 through live chat, and their staff are always willing to go the extra mile to help. For instance, I had some trouble verifying my documents, and the live agent helped me sort out the issue very quickly. I also asked some other questions regarding payments, security, and licensing of the casino, and I was always catered to professionally. The live agents were friendly and efficient and always tried to provide me with prompt resolutions, making my experience better.

Stake Casino also had a help centre consisting of dozens of articles and helpful guides. There was a search bar available that I could use to look up a specific issue and find a solution within seconds. Additionally, Stake Casino has provided their official support email address, which I could use to get in touch with them directly. However, the email support was not as fast as their live chat, and I had to wait a few hours before I could get a reply from them.

Security and Licensing: 9.9/10  

There are not many online casinos that have endorsements and partnerships from sports giants like Stake Casino has. So, it was pretty clear to me from the start that Stake Casino was a safe gambling platform to go with. However, I was still quite curious about the security and licensing of the platform and wanted to verify them. Stake Casino is licensed by Antillephone N.V., an organisation authorised and regulated by the government of Curacao. Stake Casino has also provided their official licensing certificate for the public to review, and I am attaching it below for my readers. Stake Casino is a subsidiary of Medium Rare N.V., and all of the platform’s services are operated by the company which is based and registered in Curacao and has operated lawfully with a clear record for many years.

Stake Casino verifies the identity, address, and source of funds of all of their users, making sure there are no fraudulent players at the casino. I also found SSL encryption at Stake Casino, which helps the platform secure the private info, data, and funds of its users. Besides that, I had many account security features that I could enable for my account. I could set up my communication preferences, add a phone number, enable notifications, use a strong password, and lastly, enable two-factor authorisation for extra protection. All these measures ensured me that I was safe and secure gambling at Stake Casino.

Verdict

Stake Casino is a pretty good gambling platform overall. Their gaming library is diverse, the games are optimised and mobile-compatible, and they come with brilliant graphics. Their sportsbook also impressed me with the number of markets in the live and upcoming matches section. However, one thing lacking from Stake Casino is a welcome bonus. While I admit the platform has a lot of regular promos and a VIP club, the welcome bonus is usually what attracts new players. But the way Stake Casino is expanding, we might see the introduction of a welcome bonus in the future.

Crypto deposits and withdrawals are fast on the platform, and Stake Casino has partnered up with MoonPay to let users buy crypto with fiat. The security is amazing, there are no legitimacy concerns, and the quick support team is always available to help. Stake Casino is a pretty good all-in-one gambling platform with unlimited opportunities and a premium experience.

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