Ever wonder who's actually cutting the checks when you hit that big multiplier on Stake Originals? It's not just some anonymous crypto whale. The platform is the brainchild of Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani, two Australian entrepreneurs who have fundamentally shifted how online gambling operates. While most operators are busy navigating traditional banking hurdles, these two built a gambling empire on the blockchain, turning a niche crypto casino into a global powerhouse that rivals legacy brands like BetMGM or DraftKings in sheer betting volume, even if they operate in a completely different sphere.
Craven and Tehrani aren't your typical suits. They started young, cutting their teeth in the grey areas of the online gaming industry. Before Stake became a household name in the crypto gambling community, they founded Primedice, a simple yet wildly popular dice game that proved players trusted provably fair mechanics over flashy graphics. That success laid the groundwork for Stake, which launched in 2017. What sets them apart is their technical background; they didn't just hire developers, they understood the infrastructure needed to handle high-speed crypto transactions without the site crashing - a problem that plagued early competitors.
Their ownership style is aggressive and visibility-focused. Unlike many casino owners who prefer the shadows, Craven and Tehrani are public figures. Ed Craven, in particular, has become somewhat of a celebrity in the streaming world, often appearing on Stake-sponsored streams. This direct engagement with the community has helped build a level of trust (or at least familiarity) that most operators spend millions in PR trying to achieve.
While the faces of the brand are Craven and Tehrani, the entity actually pulling the strings behind the code is Easygo Solutions. Based in Australia, Easygo is the software development company responsible for building and maintaining the Stake platform. This vertical integration is crucial to understanding how Stake operates. By owning the tech stack, the owners can roll out new features, games, and crypto integrations instantly without waiting for third-party vendors.
This setup also explains why Stake Originals feel so distinct. Unlike white-label casinos that lease the same slots from providers like NetEnt or IGT, Stake's in-house team builds proprietary games like Crash, Plinko, and Hilo. These games offer a Return to Player (RTP) often exceeding 97%, significantly higher than the industry standard of 94-96% for traditional slots. The owners made a calculated bet that players would value transparency and mathematical fairness over branded content - a bet that has paid off massively.
You can't talk about Stake ownership without mentioning the massive cultural influence they've bought into. In 2022, Stake secured a partnership with Drake, one of the world's biggest artists. This wasn't just a banner ad deal; Drake regularly streams himself playing slots and roulette on the platform, often betting tens of thousands of dollars per spin. This move signaled a shift in the owners' strategy: moving from a niche crypto-only audience to mainstream pop culture relevance.
This aggressive marketing extends beyond music. Stake has held sponsorship deals with the UFC, Everton Football Club, and even the Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team. For US players observing from jurisdictions where the site operates differently, it's clear that the owners are deploying a global marketing strategy similar to how FanDuel or Caesars attack the US market, but with a focus on international territories where crypto gambling faces fewer regulatory roadblocks.
Understanding where Stake operates requires looking at how the owners navigate regulation. The platform runs under a license from the Government of Curaçao. This is the standard for crypto casinos, allowing them to accept players from many countries where traditional fiat casinos face banking restrictions. However, the ownership group has shown a willingness to adapt to stricter markets.
In a significant pivot, Stake recently secured a license to operate in Mexico, signaling a move toward regulated markets. This suggests the owners aren't content with staying in the "grey market" forever. They are restructuring parts of the business to comply with local laws, potentially paving the way for broader acceptance in territories that demand stricter oversight and player protections.
| Brand | Key Focus | Notable Partners | Licensing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stake | Crypto Betting & Originals | Drake, UFC, Alfa Romeo F1 | Curaçao, Mexico |
| Stake.us | Sweepstakes Casino | Drake | US Sweepstakes Laws |
| Primedice | Crypto Dice | N/A | Curaçao |
For players in the United States, the ownership story takes a specific turn. Because online gambling laws vary wildly by state, the owners launched Stake.us, a separate entity operating under sweepstakes laws. This allows them to legally offer casino-style games in most US states without violating anti-online gambling statutes. It's a brilliant legal workaround that mirrors the success of social casinos like High 5 Casino or McLuck.
On Stake.us, players use Gold Coins for entertainment or Stake Cash for sweepstakes entries. The mechanics are different from the main crypto site, but the branding and user experience remain consistent. This demonstrates the owners' adaptability - they recognized a massive market (the US) that they couldn't serve with their main crypto product, so they built a specific product tailored to those legal constraints rather than ignoring the market entirely.
The success of Stake has catapulted its owners into the upper echelons of global wealth. Ed Craven is frequently cited as one of the youngest billionaires in Australia, a status solidified by the profitability of the casino operations. The company reportedly handles wagers worth billions of dollars every month. This financial firepower allows them to move faster than competitors - whether it's negotiating a UFC sponsorship or developing a new exclusive game.
However, with great wealth comes scrutiny. Critics often point to the speed of play and the accessibility of crypto betting as potential risks for problem gambling. In response, the owners have implemented various responsible gambling tools on the platform, such as loss limits and self-exclusion options. While the effectiveness of these tools in a crypto environment is debated, their presence shows a reaction to the responsibilities that come with owning one of the world's largest betting sites.
Stake is owned and operated by Medium Rare NV, a company registered in Curaçao. The founders and public faces behind the brand are Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani, who also own the software development firm Easygo Solutions responsible for building the platform.
No, Drake does not own Stake. He has a lucrative partnership and sponsorship deal with the platform, where he streams his gambling sessions under the name "Drake" on the site. The actual ownership remains with Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani.
The main crypto casino, Stake.com, is not available in the US. However, the owners launched Stake.us, a sweepstakes casino that operates legally in most US states. It uses a virtual currency model (Gold Coins and Stake Cash) that complies with US sweepstakes laws.
While private companies do not disclose exact valuations publicly, estimates suggest Stake generates billions in annual revenue. Co-founder Ed Craven has been recognized as one of Australia's youngest billionaires, indicating the company's valuation is in the multi-billion dollar range.
Stake operates under a gaming license issued by the Government of Curaçao, which is standard for cryptocurrency-based gambling platforms. They have also recently acquired a license to operate legally in Mexico, expanding their regulated market presence.
