What Is Stake.com’s Legal Status?
Before I start talking about restricted countries, let’s first take a look at Stake’s overall legality, especially with regards to whether this is a safe place for players.
The answer is yes, Stake is safe and legal, as it carries a valid license that was issued by the Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA). The gaming authority manages a public database, so players can check at any time if an online casino carries a valid license. Casinos like Stake.com that carry this license need to have player protections in place to be compliant with the terms of their license, which is very beneficial to you.
Here’s how players are protected:
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
This protection requires casinos to appoint a dispute resolution specialist who is approved by the CGA. If a player has an issue with a casino, then he or she can escalate the complaint to the ADR point person. Obviously, the player can’t file bogus complaints, such as demanding to get their money back if they lost it. However, if the casino’s support staff and management can’t resolve an issue internally, such as a player complaint about not being paid, the player can file a formal escalation with the assigned ADR representative.
Responsible Gaming Tools
Another licensing requirement is that Stake.com needs to provide players with tools to help them gamble responsibly. These tools include the following:
- “Reality check” tools: These tools provide automatic notifications that tell players how much money they’ve spent and how long they’ve been playing.
- Deposit and bet limit tools: These tools let players limit how much they deposit overall, as well as how much they deposit at one time. Players can also use these self-control tools to set betting limits.
- Self-exclusion tools: These tools enable players to take temporary or permanent breaks from the site.
Note that Stake also provides a link to resources that help people who think they may have a problem with gambling, so be sure to reach out if you experience any issues with overspending or lack of self control.
Fair Gaming
Another protection that’s mandated by the CGA is that the games need to be tested by an independent third-party company to verify that the games use RNGs (random number generators), and to confirm that the games are indeed fair. You can learn more about the games, including “provably fair games,” inside our Stake Casino review.
Financial Stability Checks
The fourth way that the CGA license ensures that a casino like Stake.com is safe and legal is by requiring the casino to have enough money on hand to cover any winnings that are withdrawn. This keeps casinos from operating like Ponzi schemes, where they’re scrambling to get new deposits so that they can cover the withdrawals.
So now that you know Stake.com’s legal status as outlined by the CGA license, let’s take a look at who can and cannot play on this site…
What Are the Stake.com Restricted Countries?
Stake currently doesn’t allow players from 44 countries, which are listed in the table below. However, it’s important to note that the regulatory landscape often changes, which means certain countries may fall off the list or get added to the list at any time.
Secondly, it’s also important to note that players are solely responsible for determining if they are eligible to play in their jurisdiction. Stake.com readily lists the countries where they cannot operate, but it’s impossible for them to know if a local government has banned gambling within a specific city or region. As such, you’ll need to look up your own local laws to confirm your eligibility.
What Happens if Your Jurisdiction Becomes Restricted?
If you sign up for a Stake account, and then later your country gets on the “restricted” list, Stake will send you any eligible funds that remain in your player account, and then they will close the account.
Now let’s look at the current list of Stake.com restricted countries:
| Requirements and restrictions | Specifics |
| Age requirement | At least 18 years old, or old enough to gamble in your jurisdiction |
| Prohibited countries | Afghanistan, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, North Korea, Ontario, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, and Zimbabwe |
| Other prohibited players | Players located in any jurisdiction where gambling is illegal |
| Other restrictions | Some gaming providers require additional restrictions – see Stake.com’s T&Cs |
Age Requirements
You’ll note in the table above that in addition to Stake not being available in certain jurisdictions, there is also a Stake age requirement. Players need to be at least 18 years old, or old enough to gamble in their jurisdiction, whichever is greater. For example, if the gambling age in your jurisdiction is 17, you can’t play at Stake until you’ve reached at least 18 years of age. On the other hand, if the legal age in your jurisdiction is 21, then you need to wait until you’re 21 years old before you can sign up and play games or place sports bets.
Game Provider Restrictions
Even if a player lives in a specific country where Stake is available, there may be some restrictions on playing games from certain providers. Usually, those specific games simply aren’t shown to the affected players.
Here are the countries where Stake is legal, but the gaming provider NetEnt has a restriction: Albania, Bahamas, Botswana, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Estonia, Ghana, Guyana, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Latvia, Mexico, Namibia, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Romania, Singapore, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, and Yemen.
Note that, in some cases, there are further restrictions on specific titles. Check Stake’s “Provider” section to learn more about any restrictions that may affect you.
Bonus Restrictions
Another potential restriction players may encounter is that they can’t take advantage of certain types of bonuses in their jurisdiction. For example, if you pick up a Stake bonus drop code and it doesn’t work for you, it’s possible that your jurisdiction restricts that type of bonus. That’s why you may have read reviews on this site that talk about how there are different bonuses available to players depending on where they live. You can check the banners on this page to see what type of bonuses are currently available to you.
And if you can’t join Stake? That’s next…
What Are the Options if You Don’t Live Where Stake.com Is Legal?
If you can’t play at Stake.com, there may be alternatives depending on where you live. Here are some of the common options:
Sweepstakes Casinos
This is a fairly limited option, as it’s usually only available to players who live in certain parts of the United States and Canada. Sweepstakes casinos use two types of virtual currencies to play the games — Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Gold Coins are used to play games for fun, while Sweeps Coins are used to play the games in promotional mode, which gives players a chance to win redeemable Sweeps Coins. Any eligible Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for real rewards such as cash prizes or gift cards.
Social Casinos
This option uses a single virtual currency where players can play casino-style games for fun — Gold Coins. The idea here is simple: Gold Coins aren't redeemable, so there is no chance to win anything on these sites. You’ll be playing for the fun of the games, not for the money.
Local Casinos
The final alternative is to head out the door and play at a local casino. If you live in a place where brick and mortar gambling establishments are banned, you can either travel to a legal jurisdiction, or play at online social casinos.
Now let’s wrap up this article…
Final Thoughts on Countries Where Stake Is Available
As you discovered, this brand is available in most countries in the world, as at the current time only 44 countries are restricted. If you’re a player that lives where this Stake isn’t legal, in some cases you may have alternatives, such as sweepstakes casinos for those who live in the United States. If you live where Stake is legal, then you can take advantage of the large gaming library, the sportsbook, Stake welcome bonus, and much more.
To get started, click the Stake banner on this page to see what bonus options are available to you. Happy gaming!
Stake.com Legal Countries FAQ
Why Can’t I See Stake’s Homepage?
This brand uses what’s called “geo-fencing” to block anyone who’s visiting the site from a restricted country. If you live in a place where Stake is available but you can’t reach the site, you’ll want to turn off any VPN if you’re using one. If you still have issues, you’ll want to first double-check Stake’s terms and conditions, as well as your local laws, to confirm your eligibility. If that all checks out and you believe you’re being blocked from accessing the Stake app or website by mistake, you can contact Stake’s customer service to request their assistance.
If Players Don’t Live Where Stake Is Available, Can They Use a VPN?
No, you cannot use a virtual private network to try to bypass the geographical restrictions that are in place. Doing so will result in Stake closing your account and potentially seizing any funds in your account.
What Does KYC Refer To?
This refers to “Know Your Customer,” and it’s an identity verification process all players need to complete before they can withdraw their funds. It’s another way for the casino to confirm your eligibility, as well as help combat money laundering and other nefarious activities.
