I kept seeing Stake.us everywhere and honestly could not tell if it was a real casino, a scam, or some legal loophole thing. The explanations online were confusing, so I used it for 30 days to see how it works from a normal US user’s side.
This is not hype. Stake.us is a sweepstakes casino, not a traditional one. Here is how it actually works.
Stake.us at a glance
21+, permitted US states onlyA sweepstakes casino that uses two tokens. Gold Coins are for play and can not be withdrawn. Stake Cash is the token that can be redeemed.
- Free daily bonus when you log in
- Stake Cash redeems by crypto or bank transfer
- Withdrawals took a couple of business days when I tested it
The catch: You can lose money here. 23 states are excluded, and Stake Cash that comes with a purchase has a 3x play-through before you can redeem it.
★★★★☆4.0Read review ›Get my $10 bonus →- $10 sign-up bonus
- Game offers that pay you to hit levels
- Some offers worth $30 to $50 each
- Pays to Cash App, PayPal or crypto
★★★★★5.0Read review ›Spin for free →- One free spin a day
- Unlocks a sign-up offer worth up to $75
- No deposit and no card needed
- Takes about ten seconds
★★★★★5.0Read review ›Rip a free pack →- Free signup bonuses in one place
- Rip a pack, claim a real bonus
- No deposit
- Free to use
What is Stake.us?
Stake.us is not a traditional casino. It is a sweepstakes casino, which is why it is available in many US states, though not all of them. Instead of gambling real money directly, it uses two currencies.
Stake calls it a social casino in its own help center and says you need to be at least 21 to use it. There is an iOS app, and you can also use it in a mobile browser.
Gold Coins and Stake Cash
Gold Coins are basically play money. You can buy them and play with them, but you cannot withdraw them.
Stake Cash is the important one. This is what you can redeem for a prize. You get it through daily bonuses, promotions, and sometimes bundled with Gold Coin purchases. Stake says Stake Cash can’t be bought on its own.
How you actually get money out of Stake.us
You do not just deposit and gamble like DraftKings or FanDuel. You receive Stake Cash through promos or bonuses, play with it, and if you win you redeem it. Withdrawals took a couple of business days when I tested it, and it required identity verification like any legit platform.
Here is the path, using the steps in Stake’s own redemption help:
- Collect Stake Cash. Take the free daily bonus and watch for promotions.
- Clear the play-through if you bought coins. Stake Cash that comes with a Gold Coin purchase has to be played through 3x before you can redeem it. Stake Cash from other sources does not carry that rule.
- Verify who you are. Stake uses a third-party provider. You take a live photo of your ID card or driver’s license, then a live selfie. Photos of screens or paper copies are not accepted.
- Open Wallet, then Redeem. Enter your 2FA code, or the code Stake emails you if you have not set up 2FA. You need enough Stake Cash to meet the redemption minimum.
- Pick crypto or bank transfer. Bank transfer needs at least one successful card purchase on the account. Crypto works without a purchase if you meet the minimum and have enough balance to cover any fee.
Stake also says it is not a financial institution, so a prize balance sitting in your account does not earn interest.
States where Stake.us is not available
Stake.us is open to players from the US except these 23 states: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia. That list comes from its help center, and it can change, so check yours before you sign up.
The part most people do not tell you
You can lose money here. Anyone saying this is free money is lying. Yes, you can win and yes, people do cash out, but the house edge still exists and most casual players will lose over time.
If you treat it like entertainment, it makes sense. If you treat it like a steady income source, you will be disappointed. Buying Gold Coins doesn’t give you an edge either, and nobody should count on a payout. Set a budget ahead of time, and if you can’t afford to lose it, don’t put it in.
Is Stake.us legit?
Based on my experience, yes. It pays out, withdrawals work, support responds, and it is open to players in many US states. But it is still gambling. Go in knowing exactly what you are doing.
If you want to try it, sign up here or enter promo code cXxwFmmu for a sign-up bonus.
If you want app money without the casino risk
These actually pay, and you are never gambling your own money to start. Don’t expect rent money. Think a few extra bucks a month.
| App | What you do | What you get | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Freecash ★★★★☆4.0Read review › | Play game offers, finish levels | $10 sign-up bonus, some offers worth $30 to $50 each | Where I make the most |
| 2SavingLoop ★★★★★5.0Read review › | One free spin a day | Unlocks a sign-up offer worth up to $75 | Lowest effort |
3 Testerup★★★★★5.0Read review › | Test apps and games, finish goals | $10 welcome bonus, one goal can pay over $200 | Highest ceiling per task |
4 Bigcash★★★★☆4.0Read review › | Play games, finish offers | Cash out from $1 | Small, quick cash outs |
| 5ReferralWallet ★★★★★5.0Read review › | Rip open a free pack | Shows a real sign-up bonus a company pays you | Finding bonuses fast |
Freecash: where I make the most
Freecash is a wall of game offers that pay you to hit levels in mobile games, some worth $30 to $50 each. I have pulled over $200 off it.
It pays to Cash App, PayPal or crypto, the sign-up bonus is $10, and it works on any device.
- Game offers that pay you to hit levels
- Nothing to deposit, ever
The catch: The offers you see depend on your location and device, so your day will not look like someone else’s.
SavingLoop: one free spin a day
SavingLoop gives you one free spin a day, and the spin unlocks a sign-up offer worth up to $75.
It scratches the same itch as a casino wheel, except the spin costs nothing and nothing you win depends on luck at a table.
- One free spin every day
- Unlocks an offer worth up to $75
- The spin costs nothing
The catch: The spin picks the offer. You still have to meet that offer’s terms to get paid.
ReferralWallet: rip a free pack, find a real bonus
ReferralWallet works like opening a pack of cards. You rip open a free pack, and inside is a real sign-up bonus from an app or brand that pays new users.
It is a quick way to find bonuses that are open right now, instead of digging through expired codes.
- Every pack shows a real sign-up bonus
- Bonuses open right now, not expired codes
The catch: ReferralWallet does not pay you itself. The company behind each offer pays you, once you meet that offer’s terms.
Bottom line: Stake.us is a real sweepstakes casino, but it is still a casino, and the house edge is still there. Use it as entertainment with a budget you set ahead of time. For money where nothing of yours is at risk, start with Freecash. More to read: casino apps that pay real money, PayPal casinos and the Cider Casino review.
Stake.us FAQs
Stake.us is a sweepstakes casino. It uses two tokens: Gold Coins for play, and Stake Cash, which can be redeemed for prizes. Stake calls itself a social casino and says you need to be at least 21.
In my experience it paid out, withdrawals worked and support responded. It is still gambling, the house edge still exists, and most casual players will lose over time.
Verify your identity, then open Wallet and Redeem once you meet the redemption minimum. Stake Cash redeems as a crypto or bank transfer prize. Bank transfer needs at least one successful card purchase on the account.
Stake Cash that comes with a Gold Coin purchase has to be played through 3x before you can redeem it, according to Stake’s help center.
Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia, per Stake’s help center.
Stake says you can play free with the daily bonus you collect when you log in. Buying Gold Coins is optional.
