Ed Craven and Bijan Tehran from Melbourne launched Stake in 2017. Fast forward to 2025, and their online casino has exploded into one of the biggest names in online gambling.
You’ve probably seen Stakes logos plastered across Formula 1 cars and Premier League jerseys.
But Australians can’t access or use Stake. Despite being born in Melbourne, Stake got shut down due to gambling laws that draw a hard line against online casinos. The Interactive Gambling Act restricts all casinos except sports betting.
This blog breaks down why Stake is illegal in Australia, if it’s completely blocked, and if so, how to access it and the risks attached to those options. We have also listed 10 accessible and legal alternatives to Stake in Australia, 5 licensed in Australia, and 5 offshore.
Stay till the end to find your perfect Stakes solution
Is Stake Available To Play In Australia?
Go ahead and try loading Stake.com from anywhere in Australia. The site will bounce you straight to a different page before you can blink.
The company gave up trying to serve Australian punters years ago. Instead, they grabbed licensing from Curacao, a tiny Caribbean island where the tax office asks for pennies and regulators basically wave everyone through.
A Curacao entity called Medium Rare N.V. runs the main Stake.com operation. Over in America, they set up something completely different. Sweepsteaks Limited handles Stake.us using a sweepstakes system to dodge US gambling restrictions.
The whole setup shows how Stake adapted to survive in markets that actually let them operate, all while Australia kept the gates locked.
Why Is Stake Not Legal In Australia?
Australian law criminalizes online casino operators if they try serving citizens of Australia.
The government wrote the Interactive Gambling Act to hammer operators, leaving regular punters alone. Get caught running an illegal casino for Australians, and you’re staring down fines that would make your eyes water.
If a person runs an illegal service, they can be fined USD 360,000 for each day they continue doing so. If a company does it, it can be fined USD 1.8 million each day. Earlier, the fines were smaller, USD 220,000 for people and USD 1.1 million for companies. But the government increased them because they thought the old penalties weren’t strong enough to stop illegal activity.
Stake sells pokies, roulette wheels, blackjack tables, and poker rooms. Section 15 of the Act specifically calls out these exact games as banned interactive gambling services.
Australian authorities went beyond just writing laws. They built systems to physically block dodgy gambling websites and keep updating their blacklist.
Sports betting escaped the axe, though. Bookies can legally take bets on footy, racing, cricket, and everything else as long as punters place wagers before matches kick off.
Can We Use A VPN To Access Stake In Australia?
Switching on a VPN to sneak onto Stake breaks their rules straightaway. Most Australians who try this trick end up with closed accounts and kiss their winnings goodbye.
Nobody’s going to arrest you for gambling on offshore sites. Australian cops don’t chase individual punters. But you’re walking without a safety net when something goes wrong.
Stake demands proof of identity before letting anyone withdraw money. The moment their system spots an Australian address or passport, they’ll void everything in your account and ban you permanently.
Some clever punters figured they could buy pre-verified accounts from people in countries where Stake operates legally, then swap the email and phone number to their own. Sounds smart until you realise you’re potentially setting yourself up for fraud charges.
Australian banks threw up another massive barrier. Commonwealth, NAB, Westpac, and ANZ started blocking payments to offshore gambling sites after getting guidance from regulators back in 2017.
Crypto became the workaround. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital currencies let punters move money without banks getting involved. Specialised e-wallets work too for those who prefer them.
But it all falls apart even with tiny withdrawal requests that trigger verification checks. Hiding your Australian residency while trying to cash out serious money becomes virtually impossible.
5 Best Legal Alternatives To Stake In Australia
Australia actually licenses heaps of betting operators under frameworks managed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority through each state’s system.
These bookies play by the rules laid out in the Interactive Gambling Act. They stick to sports and racing wagering, steering clear of casino games entirely.
| Operator | Legality for Australians | Payment/withdrawal options | Popular features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet365 | Licensed for Australia (sports & racing) | AUD Bank transfer, card, PayID, e-wallet. | Live in-play betting, cash-out option, and wide sports markets. |
| Neds | Licensed for Australia (sports & racing) | AUD Bank transfer, card, PayID, e-wallet. | Same-race multi, betting on racing splits, regular promos. |
| Ladbrokes (Australia) | Licensed for Australia (sports & racing) | AUD Bank transfer, card, PayID, e-wallet. | In-play streaming, a variety of fixed-odds markets, and mobile app features. |
| PlayUp | Licensed for Australia (sports & racing) | AUD Bank transfer, card, PayID, e-wallet. | Multi-sport accumulator builder, live odds refresh, racing focus. |
| Palmerbet | Licensed for Australia (sports & racing) | AUD Bank transfer, card. | Enhanced fixed odds, Aussie racing bias, “track the market” features. |
1. Bet365
Bet365 grabbed Northern Territory licensing and streams over 600,000 sporting events every year. When the 2025 IPL rolled around, they offered roughly 60 different betting markets for each match.
Punters could bet on top batters, how the first wicket would fall, total sixes smashed, and dozens more options.
Their Best Tote + SP feature automatically gives punters whichever price ends up higher when comparing their early fixed odds against the starting price declared on race day.
2. Neds
Neds built their reputation chasing the racing crowd hard. PayID withdrawals clear within hours, typically. They flood the market with promotions whenever big racing events pop up, like the Melbourne Cup or AFL finals.
Same-race multi betting lets punters combine multiple bets within one race. They also split up racing bets in ways other bookies don’t bother with.
3. Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes carved out a niche serving traditional racing punters who prefer fixed odds. PayID deposits hit accounts instantly. Their streaming service comes with form guides and tools for watching how markets move.
Selected sports markets offer cash-out options for getting money back early. Racing exotics give punters ways to bet beyond simple win-place-show. Their mobile app makes quick betting and live odds tracking dead simple.
4. PlayUp
PlayUp secured licenses across multiple states, including the Northern Territory, Victoria, and Queensland, for sports and racing. Their accumulator tools for building multi-sport bets work smoothly. Odds stay competitive across NRL, AFL, and cricket.
Live markets refresh odds constantly during matches. They accept deposits through bank transfers, credit cards, PayID, and e-wallets, including PayPal.
5. Palmerbet
Palmerbet targets racing fanatics specifically with boosted fixed odds on horses and greyhounds. Their “track the market” feature shows real-time market movements as money flows in.
Form analysis and tips appear for every major race meeting. The whole platform skews heavily toward Australian racing with detailed coverage of metro and provincial tracks.
5 Accessible Offshore Alternatives To Stake In Australia
Australian law only permits licensed sports and racing betting. Anyone craving pokies or roulette gets pushed toward offshore operators registered in places like Curacao.
These overseas platforms operate completely outside Australian oversight. When disputes arise, you’ve got zero recourse through ACMA or state gambling authorities.
Protections under the National Consumer Protection Framework disappear entirely. That includes BetStop self-exclusion, activity statements, verification periods, and credit restrictions.
| Operator | Legality for Australians | Payment/withdrawal options | Popular features |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyStake | Offshore; not AU-licensed; Curaçao 365/JAZ | Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, cards, fast crypto withdrawals | Crypto deposit bonus, thousands of games, sportsbook + casino hybrid. |
| CoinCasino | Offshore; not AU-licensed; Curaçao eGaming | Crypto deposits + instant withdrawals | Live casino games, provably fair games, large crypto bonuses. |
| BetPanda | Offshore; not AU-licensed; Curaçao 8048/JAZ | BTC, ETH, LTC, USDT; minimal KYC | Massive welcome bonuses, VIP crypto reward system, live casino + slots. |
| BC.Game | Offshore; not AU-licensed; Curaçao 5536/JAZ | Crypto-only deposits/withdrawals; strong anonymity | “Crash” games, high-variance slots, large crypto jackpots. |
| Wild.io | Offshore; not AU-licensed; Curaçao 8048/JAZ | Multiple crypto coins; fast payouts | Free spins, VIP/loyalty club, crypto-only promotions. |
1. MyStake
MyStake accepts over 12 different cryptocurrencies, plus regular payment cards like Visa and Mastercard. Their casino packs in more than 7,000 games from various providers. A full sportsbook runs alongside everything, powered by Upgaming technology.
Welcome bonuses reach several hundred dollars. The catch comes in wagering requirements ranging between 30x and 50x, which depends. Sports coverage includes most mainstream sports and esports, with betting available before and during events.
2. CoinCasino
CoinCasino deals exclusively in cryptocurrency. Instant withdrawals go out without dragging users through extensive verification processes. Their provably fair gaming tech lets players verify each bet’s randomness using blockchain records.
Slots, table games, and live casino options fill out the platform. Deposits start as low as 0.0001 BTC or equivalent amounts in other cryptocurrencies. Welcome packages match deposits and throw in free spins on selected pokies.
VIP programs reward regular players with cashback percentages, tournament invites, and higher withdrawal limits.
3. BetPanda
BetPanda processes crypto deposits while barely asking for identification details initially.
Welcome bonuses climb into hundreds of dollars. VIP programs kick back cashback percentages. Exclusive tournament access opens up additional prize pools for VIP members.
Slots, live dealer games, and original titles from multiple providers pack the casino. Cryptocurrency remains the main payment method.
4. BC.Game
BC.Game specialises in high-volatility pokies that crypto gamblers chase for massive risk and reward potential. Provably fair games let players verify results through blockchain technology.
Lottery draws run hourly and daily, offering cryptocurrency prizes. Welcome bonuses match deposits up to several Bitcoins worth. VIP programs reward regulars with rakeback, level-up bonuses, and exclusive benefits.
5. Wild.io
Wild.io supports multiple altcoins and constantly runs free spin promotions on selected pokies from various providers.
Their loyalty club splits into six tiers. Higher tiers unlock faster withdrawals, dedicated account managers, birthday bonuses, and cashback percentages hitting 20% at the top level.
Games span pokies, table games, live dealers, and jackpot titles with progressive prizes. Welcome packages match deposits across the first three deposits for significant total bonuses.
Related Reads:
Conclusion: Stake Remains Blocked In Australia Despite Australian Ownership
Stake stays blocked in Australia despite two Melburnians creating it because the Interactive Gambling Act bans online casino games outright.
Getting a local licence became impossible, leaving sports betting as the only legal online gambling through ACMA-regulated operators like Bet365, Neds, Ladbrokes, PlayUp, and Palmerbet.
These bookmakers deliver solid racing and sports markets, but legally cannot offer pokies, roulette, or live casino games. Offshore sites like MyStake or BC.Game fills that void while offering no Australian protections, facing payment blocks and risking withdrawal dramas.
Licensed Australian bookmakers remain the safest bet since casino legalisation looks unlikely to happen anytime soon.
FAQs
The Interactive Gambling Act targets operators rather than players, making offshore gambling access a non-criminal act for Australian residents. Players face potential financial losses without legal protection if offshore operators refuse withdrawals, close accounts or confiscate funds.
Australian regulations prohibit online casino games entirely under Section 15 of the Interactive Gambling Act, passed in 2001 and strengthened through 2017 amendments. Stake pursued Curacao licensing, where requirements remain minimal, and tax rates stay low.
Australian tax law treats gambling winnings as non-assessable income for recreational players under normal circumstances. Casual gambling profits from licensed and offshore operators generally require no reporting on tax returns.
Most Australian banks, including Commonwealth, NAB, and ANZ, blocked transactions to offshore operators. Players turned toward cryptocurrency. E-wallets provide alternatives, though some banks also restrict these. Smaller banks and credit unions may process some transactions.
Australian regulations are unlikely to permit licensed online casinos. Policy focus remains on harm reduction, stricter enforcement, and blocking offshore sites. No major political party supports legalisation, and recent reforms strengthened prohibitions, not expanded them.
