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Dennis has been honing his craft by writing content specifically tailored to the US and Canadian market for the last 3 years. This helps him recognize the preferences of the audience and adeptly create engaging and informative articles, reviews, and guides that resonate with the readers. He uses his experience reviewing tech products to test out various betting platforms and fact-check claims so you make informed decisions.
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Before joining the team three years ago, Ana worked for five years behind the scenes for household brands like Betway and Betsson. She knows the ins and outs of casinos and sports betting sites. Having witnessed both the positive and negative aspects of the industry, she’s eager to share her expertise with fellow bettors.
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Stake Casino Canada Review 2024: Is it Legal?
Stake Canada Review
Not sure whether you can use Stake in Canada or not? Or maybe you want to know how it compares to other top Canadian casinos like PlayOJO, Leovegas, Bet99, bet365, etc.
Well, we tested and compared their slots offering, live casino games, table games, user experience, user interface, responsible gambling tools, etc., to other casinos.
Here’s how Stake compares (and whether it is worth creating an account here or not).
Is Stake Legal in Canada
Stake is not legal in Ontario as it does not have an iGO license.
However, users from other provinces, such as Quebec, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, etc., can use Stake as these provinces do not have a regulatory framework for private operators.
This means playing at Stake doesn’t have legal implications.
We don’t recommend users use casinos and sportsbooks without an iGO license (as it has not yet been tested to match Canadian standards of safety and security).
However, if you want to try the platform, Stake is relatively safer than other casinos without an iGO license, and here’s why we believe that.
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As a safety step, I’d recommend you keep deposits lower and don’t leave winnings in the wallet for too long.
Is Stake Legit?
Firstly, Stake is in the process of getting an iGO license. We visited their CA domain, and this is what it said.
Considering there’s not much time left in 2024, we believe it should happen sooner rather than later. Plus, they also hired a country manager in early 2024, showing serious intent on expansion.
Secondly, they have globally trusted licenses like the UK Gambling Commission license. This is a license that also has a stringent process, similar to the iGO license.
Apart from the license, we also wanted to see what other Canadian users say about Stake. Here’s what we found.
Looking at Trustpilot, Stake has a higher-than-average rating of 3.8. We were quite surprised to see this as most users reviewing platforms on these websites have had a bad experience rather than a good one (hence, always take the lower ratings with a pinch of salt).
Apart from deposits and withdrawals, people also seem to like Stake’s community-building steps and bonuses.
We did see some negative reviews as well. For example:
However, it was nice to see Stake add a personal touch by sending users customized replies with detailed explanations of their issues rather than the same replies asking them to get in touch with support.
As for winning and losing, it is important all players understand the rules, pay lines, how to use bonuses, strategies, etc., before playing a game to maximize their chances.
Stake also offers demos where you can try slots out before playing for real money.
We also like that Stake has a dedicated page where they explain what is provably fair, how it works, and how they implement it.
This is a good level of transparency, not often found. You can read all the details here.
Furthermore, you can also verify their exclusive games (as we mentioned, there’s a good level of transparency we see here).
Partnerships
In January 2024, the Stake F1 team was unveiled. This is an exclusive Title Partnership for the 2024 and 2025 Formula One seasons.
However, the team does use the name Kick Sauber for races in countries where online gambling is banned or restricted (which is something expected).
Furthermore, they have also partnered with Everton F.C. of the English Premier League (EPL), UFC, and Drake (yes, the popular singer).
While partnerships aren’t the most important factor we consider, they do add to trust, as these organizations also perform due diligence before signing any deal.
Responsible Gambling
Stake offers a detailed questionnaire or self-assessment that can help identify any signs of gambling addiction and nip the problem in the bud.
In case you feel there are signs, the next steps you can take are:
- Set Limits
- Self-Exclude.
Setting limits is easy. You can choose to set limits of losses or wager amount. Plus, you can choose if you want limits to last the day, week or a month. Once the limit is set, the changes take place almost instantly.
If you are not sure how much limit to set, there’s a detailed budget calculator that takes into account loans, rent, utility bills, etc., to give you the amount you can bet per month.
We found this pretty useful. However, the tool only gives you a rough idea of the amount you can bet each month. Do take your personal finances, savings, etc., more seriously and do your own calculations as well.
As for self-exclusion, this seemed like a bit of a hassle.
For starters, you have to verify this via email, which is standard procedure. However, this only initiates a 24-hour cooling period where you cannot place wagers.
You further have to verify and set the self-exclusion via the email received after 24 hours.
Considering how serious an issue addiction can be, we would have liked to see a faster process. The good thing is that you do not need to contact support for it.
However, there is room to make the process faster by removing multiple verifications.
Well, now that you know all Stake’s legal status and whether it is a legit casino or not, let’s dive into their offerings and see if they will provide stiff competition to casinos like PlayOJO, Leovegas, Bet365, Bet99, etc.
Slots
Game Variety
We compared the number of slots, the providers and filters on Stake, PlayOJO, Leovegas, and Jackpot City. Here’s which casino stands out.
| Casino | Stake | PlayOJO | Leovegas | Jackpot City | Royal Panda |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of Slots | 3,094 | 3200+ | 2,748 | 2000+ | 1500+ |
As you can see, PlayOJO remains the casino with the most slots. However, Stake is second highest with over 3,000 slots, giving you more options than other popular casinos like Leovegas, Jackpot City, and Royal Panda.
Plus, their collection includes some high RTP slots like:
| Slots | RTP |
|---|---|
| Money Cart 2 | 98% |
| Immortal Romance | 96.9% |
| Wild Wild Riches | 96.8% |
| Big Bass Bonanza | 96.7% |
| Hot to Burn Hold & Spin | 96.7% |
| Jungle Gorilla | 96.6% |
Stake is also the only casino that shows how many people are currently playing a game. It isn’t the most important feature, but we liked it since it gave us an idea of the casino’s most popular games.
Furthermore, they have games from top providers, such as Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, Relax Gaming, Play’n Go, and NetEnt.
But how do you find games specific to these providers? Well, that brings us to the next criterion: Filters.
Filters and Sorting
Stake is one of the few casinos that allow you to find games by providers. The option is available as a dropdown once on the left-hand side of your screen after you select Slots from the side menu.
You can also sort the slots by their starting letters, popularity, and featured casinos.
However, Stake can further improve user experience by adding more filters related to volatility, number of pay lines, slot themes, etc.
The only casino we found that allows users to search games by providers, themes, number of pay lines, etc. is PlayOJO.
SIGN UPWhile Leovegas and Royal Panda give you the names of the providers, you cannot search games by providers or any other filters.
Another piece of information we would like to see on Stake and other casinos is the RTP percentage. A great example is the info option we see on bet365 slots.
As you can see, there’s also a link to a detailed guide on explaining RTP and Volatility to the users (especially helpful for new players who want to learn the game in detail before playing).
Stake does have a category of slots, ‘Enhanced RTP’, where you can find high-RTP slots. However remember, they do not give exact RTP values like bet365.
Live Casino
Game Variety
Stake’s live casino was comparatively disappointing. It did not have the variety we were hoping for. For example, they have only 7 live blackjack games, 24 roulette games, and 18 baccarat games.
If you love playing blackjack or baccarat, Bet99 has the biggest collection we have come across where you can choose from 100+ blackjack games and 70+ baccarat games.
PlayOJO also has a good collection with 30+ baccarat games. On the other hand, Leovegas offers the most variety for roulette lovers with 48 games.
Filters and Sorting
While we found Stake lacking in variety, they do offer provider filters to help you find your favourite live casino games by provider.
We found this filter on PlayOJO and Leovegas. However, Royal Panda, Jackpot City, and others did not have similar filters.
Free to Play Games (Demos)
Want to practice slots for free before playing for real money? Stake allows you to try all their slots without logging in or creating your account. All you need to do is hit the ‘Fun Play’ button after selecting the slot you want to try.
Hence, you can develop your skills and learn the game before you commit to a casino.
Furthermore, it is the most demos we have found in a casino. PlayOJO and Jackpot City also give you demos. However, these are limited to certain slots.
These casinos also have demos for limited table games, including blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.
On the other hand, Royal Panda, Leovegas, Bet99, bet365, etc., do not have demos.
Exclusive Games
If you want to play unique games not available on other platforms, you’ll be glad to know that Stake has the most exclusive games with 70+ games.
Other casinos also boast exclusive games, though we did not find such a big collection elsewhere.
However, Stake does not have any table or live casino games that are exclusive (it is limited to slots only).
If you want to play exclusive live casino games, bet365 is our top recommendation.
PLAY19+. Gambling can be addictive. Please play responsibly.
Welcome Bonus
Stake does not have a traditional welcome bonus like other sportsbooks and casinos.
However, if you do find a coupon code for a welcome bonus, here’s how you can use it.
- Log in and click on the ‘account’ icon in the top right-hand corner of the window
- Select ‘Settings’
- Copy the code and paste it into the ‘Welcome Offer’ section and click ‘Submit’
As you can see, you have 24 hours to do this, which is much less than other casinos that give you up to 7 days to claim a welcome bonus after creating your account.
If you want a more traditional casino bonus, Bet99, PlayOJO, and Leovegas have attractive bonuses. Here’s a look at them.
| Casino | PlayOJO | Leovegas | Bet99 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Free Spins | 100% Deposit Match | 100% Deposit Match |
| Amt | N/A | Up to $500 | Up to $1,000 |
| Wagr Req. | No Wagr Req. | 20x | 35x |
| Free Spin | 80 | 100 | N/A |
| Min Deposit | $10 | $10 | $20 |
PlayOJO’s bonus is ideal for any newbie. That’s because they do not have any wagering requirements.
Furthermore, they do not have any minimum withdrawal limits either, so you can withdraw your winnings however small.
If you want a bigger welcome bonus, Bet99 gives you a 100% deposit match bonus of $1,000. On the other hand, Leovegas gives you a deposit match up to $500 only.
While this might seem like a big gap, the Leovegas bonus is easier to get as they require a minimum deposit of $10 compared to $20 on Bet99.
Furthermore, they have a wagering requirement of 20x compared to 35x on Bet99.
So, if you got a $100 bonus from each site, you’ll have to make wagers of up to $3,500 on Leovegas, whereas it would be up to $2,000 on Leovegas, making it easier to win and withdraw.
However, the final decision comes down to your knowledge of the game, your understanding of wagering requirements, and the risk you are willing to take.
Payment Modes
Stake is primarily a crypto casino. Hence, they accept a variety of cryptocurrencies, from Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin to Tron, Dogecoin, and Ripple (and more).
You can also purchase crypto from them directly and use it to wager.
If you aren’t into crypto, you can still use Stake, as you can make deposits in CAD via MuchBetter and Interac e-transfer.
Remember, you’ll need to verify your account before depositing (this is standard at most casinos).
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Don’t forget, verifying before making deposits also helps with faster withdrawals
However, it is not the variety you would find at other Canadian casinos like PlayOJO, Leovegas, bet365, etc. (not surprising considering they lean more towards cryptocurrencies).
Customer Support
The customer support wasn’t as quick as on Bet99, PlayOJO, or Tonybet.
While they do have a bot, we didn’t have to navigate past it here, unlike on Bet99, Bet365, or other casinos. However, it took about 6-7 minutes to connect with an agent.
The bot, though, did a good job of keeping us busy with a link to the help section. The help section is pretty detailed, so do check it out as well.
Once connected to the agent, we asked them a few questions about the verification process. The replies also weren’t instant and took about 4-5 minutes, even though it showed the agent to be active.
However, they did answer questions with the required details.
Verdict
Overall, Stake can be a great choice when it launches officially in Canada if you love to play slots, as they offer over 3,000 slots along with demos for most.
Plus, they have a strong reputation across other markets thanks to the UK Gambling Commission license and various partnerships.
This could be one reason we also see a good number of visits from Canada to the current Stake site.
Furthermore, users have had good experiences with withdrawals and deposits. Plus, they will also become one of the few casinos in Canada to accept cryptocurrencies.
We would definitely like to see more table games and live casino games. Plus, their support needs to be more responsive.
However, we do see Stake becoming more popular in Canada and competing with the best once they have the iGO license.
