became one of the most recognisable names in crypto gambling by combining digital-asset payments, a broad entertainment catalogue and high-visibility sports marketing. Launched in 2017 by Easygo Gaming founders Edward Craven and Bijan Tehrani, the platform entered the market during a period when blockchain technology was becoming increasingly relevant to online entertainment.
Its rise reflects a wider shift in the gambling industry. Players were becoming more familiar with cryptocurrencies, while blockchain-based payment methods introduced features that appealed to digitally native audiences: potentially lower transaction costs, rapid transfers, access to a wide range of digital assets and security features associated with cryptographic systems. positioned itself at the intersection of these developments, building a product offering that extended from casino games to live dealers and sports betting.
Operated by Curaçao-registered Medium Rare N.V., grew rapidly through its combination of product breadth and marketing reach. The brand’s presence across streaming culture, football sponsorships and UFC partnerships helped it become visible well beyond the traditional casino audience.
The Crypto Casino Context Behind Growth
Online gambling existed long before cryptocurrencies, but digital assets created a new way for players to move funds online. Bitcoin, introduced in 2009, became the first widely adopted cryptocurrency used in modern crypto casino transactions. As cryptocurrency ownership expanded, online gambling platforms began to offer players alternatives to conventional card and bank-based deposits.
For many users, the attraction of crypto gambling was not simply the novelty of using Bitcoin or another token. It was the wider payment experience. Digital-asset transactions can be completed without relying on the same payment rails used by traditional banking systems, and blockchain records can provide a transparent transaction history on the relevant network.
Several factors helped make crypto casinos increasingly attractive to a global digital audience:
- Broad payment choice: Players could use established cryptocurrencies as well as selected alternative coins.
- Potentially lower network costs: Depending on the asset and network conditions, cryptocurrency transfers can offer a cost-efficient payment option.
- Digital-first access: Crypto payments align naturally with mobile and web-based entertainment platforms.
- Blockchain security principles: Public-key cryptography and distributed ledgers are central features of many crypto networks.
- Global appeal: Digital assets helped online brands serve audiences interested in borderless internet-native payment methods, subject to local laws and platform availability.
entered this environment at a favourable moment. Interest in cryptocurrencies was rising, and users increasingly expected online platforms to offer fast, flexible and modern payment options. By making crypto a central part of its proposition rather than a secondary feature, the brand developed a clear identity within a crowded online gaming market.
2017 Launch and Operating Structure
was launched in 2017 by Edward Craven and Bijan Tehrani, the founders associated with Easygo Gaming. The platform was operated under Medium Rare N.V., a company registered in Curaçao. Its early positioning was direct: build an online gambling destination designed around cryptocurrency users while offering the familiar game types expected from an established casino and sportsbook.
That approach gave a practical advantage in brand-building. Rather than asking players to choose between crypto functionality and a full gaming portfolio, it aimed to offer both in one place. The result was a platform identity built around choice, convenience and a modern digital payment experience.
Licensing and market access are important elements of any online gambling brand’s development. Historical reporting has described as holding Curaçao licensing and operating a UK-facing service under UK Gambling Commission licensing arrangements. As with all gambling services, availability, permitted products and licensing requirements can vary substantially by jurisdiction and can change over time.
| Growth Element | How It Supported the Brand |
|---|---|
| Crypto-first positioning | Created a clear appeal for players already active in digital assets. |
| Casino and sportsbook range | Gave users multiple entertainment categories within one platform. |
| Live-dealer content | Added a more interactive casino format alongside digital games. |
| Proprietary titles | Helped differentiate the platform from sites relying only on third-party content. |
| Sports and creator partnerships | Extended brand awareness into mainstream sports and livestreaming communities. |
A Broad Casino Portfolio Built for Variety
A major part of growth story has been the breadth of its casino catalogue. A large and varied selection gives users reasons to explore the platform beyond a single game type. It also allows a casino brand to appeal to different preferences, from players who enjoy traditional table formats to those seeking fast-paced original games or live-hosted sessions.
Historical coverage of the platform highlighted more than 40 live-dealer games, with some reports describing an even larger live casino selection. Live-dealer content is particularly important because it combines online access with elements associated with a physical casino environment. A professionally hosted roulette, baccarat or blackjack game can create a more social and visual experience than a standard digital game.
Core Casino Categories
casino offering has included a range of familiar categories, helping the brand serve both experienced casino users and people exploring different game formats:
- Slots: A broad category that includes standard slots, themed titles and jackpot-focused games.
- Roulette: Available in digital and live-dealer formats, depending on the game provider and market offering.
- Blackjack: A classic table-game category with both conventional and live-hosted variations.
- Baccarat: A well-known table game frequently featured in live casino collections.
- Game shows: Interactive formats that blend chance-based mechanics with host-led presentation.
- Table games: A wider selection of card and casino-style games outside the headline categories.
This variety is commercially significant. A platform with several formats can make its user experience feel more complete, while also reducing its dependence on any single category. For a crypto-focused operator, that breadth helped demonstrate that digital-asset payments could support a full-scale gaming destination rather than a narrow niche product.
Proprietary Games and Brand Differentiation
also developed recognition through proprietary-style casino games. Titles such as Crash, Dice, Keno, Limbo, Hilo, Mines, Scarab Spin, Blue Samurai, Slide, Video Poker and Wheel helped give the site a distinctive identity.
Original games can be powerful brand assets because they make the experience more memorable. A player may find roulette or blackjack on many websites, but platform-specific titles can create a stronger association between the entertainment format and the brand itself. These games also fit particularly well with the fast, visually direct style popular among online audiences and livestream viewers.
Supporting 19 Cryptocurrencies Expanded Player Choice
One of most notable product decisions was to support a large range of digital assets. Historical reporting from 2022 stated that the platform supported 19 cryptocurrencies after adding 11 additional coins that year. This expansion allowed users to select assets based on their individual preferences, network familiarity and approach to volatility.
The selection included established cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and meme coins. Each category appealed to a different segment of the crypto community.
| Crypto Category | Examples Historically Supported | Potential User Appeal |
|---|---|---|
| Established cryptocurrencies | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, XRP, TRX and EOS | Recognition, liquidity and established crypto-market communities. |
| Stablecoins | USDT, USDC, DAI and BUSD | Designed to seek price stability relative to a referenced asset, often the US dollar. |
| Meme coins | Dogecoin and Shiba Inu | Strong online communities and cultural visibility within crypto markets. |
| Other altcoins | BNB, LINK, MATIC, APE, SAND and UNI | Additional network ecosystems and greater payment flexibility for crypto users. |
Stablecoins were especially relevant to users seeking to reduce exposure to the price fluctuations commonly associated with assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. A stablecoin is generally designed to maintain a value linked to another asset or currency. While the effectiveness of that design can vary by token and market conditions, the category became an important part of the broader crypto economy because it offered a more price-stable unit for digital transactions.
Meme coins brought a different kind of value: community attention. Dogecoin and Shiba Inu became highly visible through internet culture, social discussion and retail interest. Supporting both established assets and community-driven tokens allowed to speak to multiple parts of the cryptocurrency audience.
Sports Betting Created a Second Major Growth Engine
did not rely on casino content alone. Its sportsbook helped the platform appeal to sports fans, creating another route for customer engagement. Sports betting expands the relevance of an online gambling brand because it connects the platform to major sporting calendars, team loyalty and event-driven interest.
Historical descriptions of sportsbook included markets across football, basketball, tennis, handball, American football, golf, ice hockey, motorsport and futsal. Football was particularly important due to its international reach and the constant flow of domestic leagues, continental competitions and major tournaments.
For the brand, the sportsbook served several strategic benefits:
- It broadened the audience. Sports fans and casino players do not always have the same interests, so offering both categories increased potential reach.
- It strengthened sponsorship logic. Football and combat-sports partnerships naturally supported awareness for a sportsbook product.
- It created regular engagement moments. Sporting events provide a frequent calendar of matches, tournaments and seasonal storylines.
- It aligned with livestream culture. Sports content remained relevant in online creator communities even as streaming policies around certain gambling content evolved.
Influencer Marketing and Twitch Visibility
rapid name recognition was also closely linked to influencer and livestream marketing. Twitch had become a major platform for gaming culture, with audiences accustomed to watching creators play games, react live and build communities around shared entertainment.
The brand received visibility through partnerships and appearances involving prominent streaming personalities, including Adin Ross, xQc, the Nelk Boys and TrainwrecksTV, according to historical reporting. These collaborations placed in front of viewers who were already highly engaged with gaming, internet culture and real-time entertainment.
Rapper Drake also became a prominent figure in Stake’s marketing presence. The Stake and Drake channel, along with public-facing streams and brand activity, brought mainstream celebrity visibility to a sector that had often been marketed primarily to dedicated crypto users. This type of collaboration helped turn a specialist gambling platform into a widely discussed internet brand.
The effectiveness of creator-led promotion lies in immediacy. Livestreams can make a brand feel active, conversational and connected to current online culture. Rather than relying only on conventional advertising, benefited from appearing in formats where audiences were already spending time.
Football Sponsorships Elevated Mainstream Awareness
Sports sponsorship became another defining pillar of expansion. Football partnerships are especially valuable for global brand-building because clubs command loyalty across countries, generations and digital channels. Shirt sponsorships, matchday visibility and social-media content provide recurring exposure throughout a season.
gained notable visibility through partnerships with English football clubs, including Watford FC and Everton FC during the period covered by the source material. These deals placed the Stake brand in front of large football audiences and supported the company’s ambition to become more than a crypto-native operator.
The commercial value of football sponsorship is not limited to logo placement. A club partnership can generate a broader package of content, hospitality, fan activations and media attention. For a sportsbook and casino brand, the connection is especially natural because football is one of the most popular betting categories worldwide.
UFC Partnerships Strengthened the Sports Entertainment Position
also expanded its reach through Ultimate Fighting Championship partnerships. Historical reports noted that the company became an official UFC betting partner in Latin America, initially excluding Brazil, before later extending the relationship. The brand also worked with combat-sports figures, including Israel Adesanya, as part of its ambassador activity.
UFC partnerships offered an effective fit for the company’s high-energy, global marketing style. Mixed martial arts has a passionate international fan base, a busy schedule of premium events and strong digital engagement. Those characteristics made it a valuable channel for a brand seeking regular global exposure.
Combined with football agreements and online creator visibility, UFC activity helped create a marketing mix that was unusually broad for a company founded only in 2017. It connected the brand with casino audiences, crypto communities, football supporters, combat-sports fans and livestream viewers.
Why Growth Model Stood Out
growth was not driven by one factor alone. Its market position developed through the way several components reinforced one another. Cryptocurrency support attracted users interested in blockchain-based payments. Casino variety gave those users a substantial entertainment offering. Sports betting brought in another major audience segment. Finally, high-profile partnerships amplified the brand far beyond specialist crypto circles.
The model can be summarised in four connected strengths:
- A clear digital-asset proposition: Supporting numerous cryptocurrencies made the platform relevant to a wide crypto audience.
- A comprehensive product mix: Casino games, live dealers, proprietary titles and sports betting gave users multiple ways to engage.
- Highly visible partnerships: Streaming personalities, Drake, football clubs and UFC activity increased global recognition.
- A recognisable modern identity: The brand positioned itself as an internet-native entertainment platform rather than a conventional online casino.
Conclusion: A Crypto-Native Brand With Mainstream Reach
journey from a 2017 launch to a major name in crypto gambling illustrates how strongly product innovation and marketing visibility can work together. The platform used cryptocurrency support as a foundation, then expanded its appeal with a deep casino catalogue, live-dealer games, proprietary titles and a broad sportsbook.
Its support for 19 digital assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins and meme coins, reflected the diversity of the crypto market. Its more than 40 live-dealer games and extensive casino selection gave users meaningful variety. Meanwhile, partnerships across Twitch, celebrity culture, football and UFC helped translate crypto-sector recognition into wider global awareness.
For the online gaming industry, became a notable example of a crypto-first platform building a mainstream entertainment identity. Its story demonstrates the potential of combining flexible digital payments, compelling content and culturally relevant partnerships in a fast-moving online market.
