Stake does offer numerous ongoing promotions for major sports from all around the world, and a generous 200% welcome bonus up to $1000. Although, some of their promotions are not clearly laid out on the site, which could deter new or inexperienced bettors.
Stake offers an impressive range of sports betting markets, covering a wide range of sports and leagues, particularly those that are popular in Canada. It also provides traditional pre-game markets, as well as a variety of in-game offerings, making it easier for users to make real-time bets on their favourite teams.
Stake offers a seamless and efficient banking experience for its users, with an emphasis on cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals, which is not commonly found at other Canadian sportsbooks. However, because crypto is not as widely accepted as other more traditional forms of payment, many users may not have experience using it and might feel intimidated or reluctant to jump in, which could therefore hinder or prevent them from using the sportsbook in general.
Conversely, one benefit to being a “crypto-first” sportsbook is that the withdrawals are typically processed within just a few hours, and some instantly. This is a major advantage, in my opinion, as most of the time users have to wait between two and five business days before they can receive their winnings as a result of using more traditional payment methods.
Stake has a wide variety of wagering markets available across many of the top North American and European leagues and tournaments. It also offers live betting and live streaming opportunities, which are not always available. They also have a big roster of high-profile partnerships with celebrities and sports teams, including Drake, Everton Football Club, Watford Football Club, UFC, and more.
- App & Mobile experience: ⭐⭐⭐
Even though Stake has optimized its site to provide a user-friendly experience with a clean and modern design, they do not currently have a mobile app. This could be a major downside for those who value betting on the go or for people who are not glued to a computer screen all day. Mobile betting is a huge advantage in today’s technologically driven age, and so not having one puts the platform at a pretty big disadvantage.
- Security and Trust: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stake sportsbook is licensed and regulated by the Curacao Gaming Authority, which is known for its strict regulations and standards. The sportsbook also uses SSL encryption to ensure the safety and security of users' personal and financial information, and they even offer two-step authentication after you’ve verified your account to add an additional layer of security.
Stake sportsbook is licensed and regulated by the Curacao Gaming Authority, which is known for its strict regulations and standards. However, they are not technically licensed by the iGO, the primary regulatory body in Ontario, meaning they are still a “grey market” operator.
All in all, Stake offers a wide range of casino games from top providers, including slots, table games, video poker, and live dealer games. They even have some original or exclusive titles you will not find on any other betting platform. Additionally, the software is quite user-friendly and optimized for mobile devices, while the variety and quality of games offered are excellent.
- User Betting Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Taking into account the selection of sports and leagues, how competitive the odds are, how fast and reliable the payouts are, and how user-friendly the website is, it’s fair to say that Stake offers one of the more pleasant and efficient betting experiences across the board. The only improvement would be to introduce a mobile app, but this will hopefully be tackled in the future.
After testing out countless legal sports betting sites in Canada, I have to say that Stake's sign-up process might be the most straightforward and easy to follow, with users only needing to provide basic information to create an account within seconds. You can immediately start placing bets once the account has been created and money has been deposited, which was instant for me.
While Stake offers a couple of channels for customer support, including live chat and email, the lack of an FAQ section on the platform can be a major drawback. However, the chat forum for account users can certainly be a helpful resource for users seeking more information about certain betting markets or strategies. The live chat feature is also only available to those who have created and are logged into their account, which is another inconvenience.