Stake.com - Lawsuit, Breach of TOS, Refund of Net Losses and Nonexistent Compliance

[edondoko]

This is a copy-paste post from a thread of mine on bitcointalk.org
*snip*

[maxd says: please don’t copy-paste material from other forums, as specified in the Forum Rules , item 1.7]

 

[L&L-Jan]

3. Violation of Swiss Gambling Laws

In that case: dont sign up? Even worse: don't take a bonus.

Reminder: Offshore casinos like Stake.com have little regard for the gambling regulations in your specific country.

Makes sense, it is not applicable to your country as they aren't licensed there.

I already got 2 settlements with other Casinos although the net losses

So you are doing this so on purpose. Meaning your are either a gambling addict or a person who likes to waste their time. If you know the casino is not regulated, dont sign up. If you do, everything that happens after is the concequence of your DECISION!

If you are a problem gambler:

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

Don't expect any form of sympathy on this forum. Users here are experienced and responsible gamblers that know how to make a decision for their own, and do not moan about the decision afterwards.

Grow up man, women, non binair, idk - can be anything now a days.

 

[edondoko]

Thanks, Jan, for the quick reply. At the time, I had no idea that Stake was banned in my country or that regulatory bodies like these even existed. I want to emphasize that my actions were not intentional. Why would they be?

You are correct that I should face the consequences of my own actions to some extent. However, considering what Stake has done regarding compliance, I’m deeply concerned about the impact this could have on other players. Personally, I’ve learned my lesson and will never deposit crypto into a shady offshore casino again. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t advocate for others, help prevent them from making the same mistakes, or fight for reimbursement if they were similarly affected.

To answer your question about the applicability of regulations in my country:
Let’s not forget that these casinos claim to be licensed by "official" licensing body's (a joke, honestly), which means they are obligated to adhere to the licensing body’s rules. These rules include strict compliance measures, particularly ensuring that players from prohibited countries cannot register or play in the first place. While it may sound good and fair in theory, the reality is that probably 95% of casinos out there don’t genuinely care about their players or the rules set by their licensing body's. Most illegal practices either go unreported to the appropriate regulatory body or aren’t pursued aggressively enough to form a proper claim against the casino.

This post isn’t about me trying to sound like a victim, a maniac, or a gambling addict. I will recover from these losses in foreseeable time. My goal is to shed light on the issue and attract other victims because I know there are many, even if they aren’t active on these forums. I don’t need sympathy, and I understand that most members here—including admins—might have a straightforward response or opinion to this situation, similar to what the casino would say.

That said, legal action is still very much on the table and will absolutely be pursued in this case. I’m currently waiting for a response from the ESBK before moving forward with the next steps, and I’ll keep everyone updated.

For now, my advice would be to do thorough research before even considering registering with these casinos. Inform yourself *snip* And, of course, only gamble with money you can afford to lose.

[maxd says: sending our readers to other forums is uncool. Please don’t.]

 

[slot_zombie]

5. The Financial and Legal Stakes
Due to my uncontrollable gambling addiction, which I failed to seek help and advice for despite a difficult financial situation, I have lost approximately $40,000 USD—a devastating amount, especially as I was unemployed at the time. Most of this money came from my unemployment insurance, making the situation even more troubling. On average, I deposited 75% of my monthly income, amounting to $1,000 to $3,000 per paycheck, and lost it within a week.

Fixed that paragraph for you.

 

[L&L-Jan]

Thanks, Jan, for the quick reply. At the time, I had no idea that Stake was banned in my country or that regulatory bodies like these even existed. I want to emphasize that my actions were not intentional. Why would they be?

Cool, problem solved. You participated and didnt win. Happens to me daily.

 

[edondoko]

Cool, problem solved. You participated and didnt win. Happens to me daily.

I’m 100% with you on taking accountability for gambling and losing, but my case still stands valid. Prove me wrong, and I might stop pursuing this situation (spoiler: that’s definitely not going to happen).

For the sake of this thread, if your response is simply that I can’t accept a loss, that I’m delusional, or any other personal attack, please refrain from commenting. Instead, provide real answers to my questions or present counterpoints to my allegations, backed by a reasonable background. Cite specific articles in the ToS, or any applicable law in Switzerland or Curacao. I’m sure many outside Switzerland aren’t familiar with the local laws, and instead of focusing on my personality, supposed lack of understanding, or whatever else, I would appreciate a more informed perspective.

Let’s approach this from a neutral standpoint. Offer opinions or advice grounded in actual cases that are similar—whether they’ve been resolved or are still pending. I don’t see any need for personal assumptions here; they don’t contribute to a meaningful discussion.

I’m currently waiting for the ESBK to respond and will act accordingly once I hear back. They will most likely launch an investigation into Stake.com, focusing on their operations before implementing mandatory KYC Level 2 verifications (as of now, if I recall correctly). Such an investigation could expose a host of compliance failures on the casino’s part. If this happens, the findings would either become public or could be made public during any legal proceedings against Stake.com.

Once a legal case is filed, I’m confident it will grab their attention.

All I want is for them to address my questions directly, but they simply can’t because doing so would reveal the issues in their system.

Just like you, running and operating casinos (e.g., L&L Group), you are obligated to follow the rules set by the legal body or jurisdiction where you operate. So why not give straightforward answers about such alleged wrongdoings and potentially avoid a civil lawsuit altogether?

In the end, I stand by the law of my country, just as Stake clings to its ToS. Getting my money back may be difficult, but I’m more than willing to assist any regulatory body or government agency to ban such platforms. This isn’t just about me—it’s clear they’ve likely done this to more players than they’d ever admit.

My ultimate goal is to ensure no Swiss resident can register on that platform, whether through a VPN or any other means. Switzerland has strict laws, and the ESBK explicitly stated that Stake assured them it was impossible for Swiss players to register—whether directly or through a VPN. So, if that’s the case, how is my situation even possible? Exactly.

They still can’t provide an answer, even after I’ve formally requested one.

 

[L&L-Jan]

Just like you, running and operating casinos (e.g., L&L Group), you are obligated to follow the rules set by the legal body or jurisdiction where you operate.

Thats because were fully regulated and a crypto casino cant be properly regulated. So if you join a crypto casino, you know you play unregulated and therefore are not protected by your local laws or regulations.

 

[justdoit]

I dont thing you can just open Stake account without using VPN, that min you open VPN you know is illegal to play

 

[edondoko]

Thats because were fully regulated and a crypto casino cant be properly regulated. So if you join a crypto casino, you know you play unregulated and therefore are not protected by your local laws or regulations.

So, are you suggesting that every crypto-casino is essentially a scam, and that their licenses hold no real weight? I agree with that perspective to some extent, but it's not like I was hacked and can't figure out who took my money. The reality is, these casinos have systems in place to target users—marking them with red/green flags based on whether they’re profitable or losing. I sincerely hope, and am confident, that your casinos don’t operate this way—though in today’s climate, who can trust anything anymore?

 

[edondoko]

I dont thing you can just open Stake account without using VPN, that min you open VPN you know is illegal to play

I’ve been using VPNs for a long time, and the entire purpose of using one is to mask my location. Why would I deactivate it to access a site? That would defeat the entire purpose of using a VPN.

Moreover, can you explain how Stake assured the ESBK that, even with the use of a VPN, I wouldn’t be able to register, play, or access the site in any way? Yet, I was still able to do so. I don’t think anyone can answer that, not even Stake itself. This is clearly a breach of laws, their own Terms of Service, and possibly several other legal regulations.

Additionally, even with the VPN, I did not use fake or misleading information to sign up. I provided my real name, address, and even left my Swiss phone number, which clearly starts with +41. So, how could they not recognize that I was playing from a restricted region? This seems to indicate a complete lack of care or due diligence on their part.

Maybe they’re trying to prevent further allegations or legal action by implementing KYC2, but in my case, I still have the right to pursue legal action. However, that is not the focus of this thread at the moment. If I do decide to proceed with legal action, I will consult with my lawyer to see if it’s possible to share all the information. In most civil lawsuits, there could be an Offenlegung (disclosure) to create a reference for future lawsuits involving similar situations like this.

 

[justdoit]

I’ve been using VPNs for a long time, and the entire purpose of using one is to mask my location. Why would I deactivate it to access a site? That would defeat the entire purpose of using a VPN.

Moreover, can you explain how Stake assured the ESBK that, even with the use of a VPN, I wouldn’t be able to register, play, or access the site in any way? Yet, I was still able to do so. I don’t think anyone can answer that, not even Stake itself. This is clearly a breach of laws, their own Terms of Service, and possibly several other legal regulations.

Additionally, even with the VPN, I did not use fake or misleading information to sign up. I provided my real name, address, and even left my Swiss phone number, which clearly starts with +41. So, how could they not recognize that I was playing from a restricted region? This seems to indicate a complete lack of care or due diligence on their part.

Maybe they’re trying to prevent further allegations or legal action by implementing KYC2, but in my case, I still have the right to pursue legal action. However, that is not the focus of this thread at the moment. If I do decide to proceed with legal action, I will consult with my lawyer to see if it’s possible to share all the information. In most civil lawsuits, there could be an Offenlegung (disclosure) to create a reference for future lawsuits involving similar situations like this.

but if you play on Swiss casino they will not let you use VPN to play, I use VPN everyday, sometimes I try to enter UK casino I forget VPN on, casino massage will pop up you have VPN on, even if VPN is on UK ip, 99% of casinos they know what pc laptop phone you use they know is you, We all know stake and other crypto casinos are illegal, if you trying to get your money back that is diffrent story, dont gamble lose and try to get your money back, I won on stake $28k they paid me right away, 3 month later they block my account, but they never block withdraw only deposit blocked

 

[edondoko]

but if you play on Swiss casino they will not let you use VPN to play, I use VPN everyday, sometimes I try to enter UK casino I forget VPN on, casino massage will pop up you have VPN on, even if VPN is on UK ip, 99% of casinos they know what pc laptop phone you use they know is you, We all know stake and other crypto casinos are illegal, if you trying to get your money back that is diffrent story, dont gamble lose and try to get your money back, I won on stake $28k they paid me right away, 3 month later they block my account, but they never block withdraw only deposit blocked

ofcourse because as Jan said, these casinos operate within their given rules and have to remind you of that. Stake does not do that for obvious reasons

 

[misstrouble]

You do this purposefully. U are in roobet chat too. Still gambling but saying you'll sue them bc you aren't allowed to play there.

 

[edondoko]

You do this purposefully. U are in roobet chat too. Still gambling but saying you'll sue them bc you aren't allowed to play there.

PAB in Progress is all I can say

 

[L&L-Jan]

You do this purposefully.

They all do, Germans, Swiss, Austrians. Really frustrating.

As an example: I go to fun casino, where of today i have 80 pages of 25 results. All players from "Andorra". When I go through the accounts I can only find: German, Austrian and Swiss IPs.

They try to play free spins, wont work. They try to deposit for a free gamble, won't work either - we have specific rules imposed.

Its really pathetic. Take responsibility and move on with your gambling problems. Blaming everything and everyone, except yourself.

 

[justdoit]

They all do, Germans, Swiss, Austrians. Really frustrating.

As an example: I go to fun casino, where of today i have 80 pages of 25 results. All players from "Andorra". When I go through the accounts I can only find: German, Austrian and Swiss IPs.

They try to play free spins, wont work. They try to deposit for a free gamble, won't work either - we have specific rules imposed.

Its really pathetic. Take responsibility and move on with your gambling problems. Blaming everything and everyone, except yourself.

I lost this week on L&L will you refund my money but when i win let me keep my winning

 

[edondoko]

They all do, Germans, Swiss, Austrians. Really frustrating.

As an example: I go to fun casino, where of today i have 80 pages of 25 results. All players from "Andorra". When I go through the accounts I can only find: German, Austrian and Swiss IPs.

They try to play free spins, wont work. They try to deposit for a free gamble, won't work either - we have specific rules imposed.

Its really pathetic. Take responsibility and move on with your gambling problems. Blaming everything and everyone, except yourself.

Well, good for you for actually enforcing restrictions properly—I won’t question your casino’s legal compliance or reputation. But the whole "Don’t play if you can’t handle losing" argument doesn’t hold up in cases like this, where casinos knowingly break their own rules, allow players from restricted jurisdictions to deposit and gamble, and then only enforce restrictions when it benefits them by confiscating winnings.

This isn't about simply accepting losses—it's about the legal and ethical implications of allowing bets to be placed in the first place. Any casino that knowingly permits unverified players from restricted regions to gamble, despite being aware of their jurisdiction from the KYC Level 1 process, is acting in bad faith. It’s not just a business decision—it’s a deliberate loophole exploitation.

Recovering lost funds will be difficult, maybe even impossible, depending on the outcome of legal action. But that doesn’t change the fact that the casino willingly violated licensing laws and regulatory requirements. The reason so many players complain about funds being confiscated under the guise of ToS enforcement is that this practice is inherently unfair—casinos gladly accept deposits and allow unrestricted play, yet conveniently cite their terms to justify seizing winnings while keeping losses intact.

I’m sure this issue has been discussed within your legal team, especially in the UK, where there’s at least some regulatory oversight. Unlike certain offshore operators, licensed casinos in the UK and Switzerland are held to legal standards that make exploiting such players less viable or just not worth the risk.

That said, I firmly believe that in the next 5-10 years, we’ll see a significant shift. Crypto casinos, in particular, will face mounting legal challenges, hefty fines, and potentially even shutdowns for disregarding regulatory frameworks. The current loopholes won’t last forever—sooner or later, enforcement will catch up, and these exploitative practices will be forced out of the industry.

And regarding the comment from misstrouble, let me clarify something—I never said I don't accept my losses. (This also answers Jan.) I fully accept them, but why in the world shouldn't I pursue legal action when the casino does the exact same thing every time I lose?

Do they pay taxes on my losses (which are their wins)? Do they contribute to AHV or any form of player protection? So many regulatory aspects come into play here, yet people just say, "Yeah bro, accept your losses and move on," or "Grow up." That kind of argument doesn’t change the fact that this issue keeps happening. I've said multiple times that I accept my losses, yet some of you apparently can’t read.

If the only counterargument you have is to refer to the ToS, call me delusional, a gambling addict, a kid, or anything else that doesn’t actually address the issue—then just refrain from commenting because that’s not even relevant to the discussion.

At the end of the day, my main goal here is for other players to read this thread and understand that if they ever win big at a crypto casino, they will likely get screwed over with the same ToS excuse. Since there was never a legally binding contract in the first place, they’ll seize your winnings without hesitation—but your deposit should technically be returned.

I've never had withdrawal issues with Stake or Roo—not once. But that’s because my withdrawals never exceeded $2k–$5k. That’s peanuts in casino money. However, I am 100% certain that if I ever hit a $50k+ withdrawal, my account would be immediately blocked, and they’d cite the same argument they always do. And honestly? I wouldn’t even be surprised.

You claim that we (the players) are doing this purposefully, which might seem somewhat true to a degree, but this goes both ways. Players take on the risk of confiscated winnings, while casinos take deposits knowing full well they’ll never have to pay out if things go their way. No casino in its right mind would ever think about returning a single cent once they decide to block you.

That’s exactly why I’m making this as big as possible—so that anyone who takes 5 minutes to research before playing (which I didn’t at the time) will know that they risk losing everything if they ever win big.

I mean, there are even approved casinos on Casinomeister—Winz.io, for example—that are supposedly okay for me to play at. Well, it’s definitely not allowed. So if I go play there and they confiscate my winnings, who is at fault? Me, or Casinomeister for saying it was fine?

Of course, me—because in the end, the player is always at fault. Nevertheless, the casinos misusing these loopholes are at fault too, they just have something to hide under, simple as that.

 

[slot_zombie]

Stake never confiscates winnings in that situation, so your argument is null. If they catch you playing from a restricted country they will simply put your account in withdraw-only mode and not allow further bets.

I should know because they busted me after many years so I packed up my things, withdrew my balance and went on my way. Did I try to get my deposits back - no. Why should I be entitled to them? I gambled and lost fair and square

 

[Avernite]

The recent behavior from experienced members is actually really disappointing.

Firstly the poor lady being ridiculed in the recent DelOro thread, to this. If you don't have anything constructive to say, then don't say anything at all.

To the OP, good on you for calling Stake out. While players should take more responsibility, that doesn't absolve casinos from also doing their part.

Personally I'd just accept the loss and move on as the added stress wouldn't be worth it to me, but I admire the effort. I wish you the best of luck.

 

[satchnz]

So I get this pop up when I set my VPN to Switzerland and try to access Stake (the dot com site).

Then when I set my VPN to a non restricted location, I can see clearly in the terms of service that Switzerland is a restricted location.

Looks clear to me that Stake is not available to Swiss players.

Do we know which location @edondoko set their VPN too? Having to turn a VPN on to access a website (especially an online casino) should be enough to tell someone they are not allowed to access it.*

What am I missing?

*I pretty much only play at crypto sites now with a VPN from the UK and I fully understand the risks I’m taking, and the consequences if I get caught out (i.e. losing my balance and any winnings).

 

[L&L-Jan]

@satchnz well done, didnt even thought of checking that. So OP is in the wrong.

 

[edondoko]

@satchnz

I’ve been using ExpressVPN with the Switzerland Server 2, meaning my IP was always from Switzerland. At the time, I could play without any issues. Now, suddenly, Stake has decided to tighten its compliance, but back then, it was a completely different story.

I know for a fact that I wasn’t in the wrong. If I had purposely hidden my identity when signing up, that would be one thing—but I didn’t. I’ve used a VPN for years, always set to Swiss servers, mainly for privacy and to access banking apps that don’t work with foreign IPs. Sometimes, I’d randomly switch to other locations, and out of the five countries I tested, only one (I think it was Mexiko or USA) actually had a geoblock.

But here’s the real issue: Stake allowed me to verify my account and play. They didn’t block me during registration. They didn’t stop me from completing KYC 1. They didn’t warn me when I deposited. And they were more than happy to take my money. Now, all of a sudden, they’re acting like I was never supposed to be there in the first place.

If they were serious about blocking Swiss players, why did they let me register with my full name, address, phone number, and email? Why did they allow a German-language chat where people openly said they were from Switzerland? It’s not like they weren’t monitoring the chat—they absolutely do. And let’s be real, with today’s AI tools, they could’ve flagged restricted-country mentions in seconds.

What Changed?​

After everything that happened with Stake, I started looking into crypto casinos where I'm actually allowed to play. I even verified myself to KYC Level 3 before depositing so this shit won't happen again but this was before I read the GSG article on gambling laws in Switzerland and basically solely relying on the trust from the casino, well turns out these casinos don't give a fuck. I have an ongoing PAB on a similar case, which I can’t discuss yet. But depending on how that turns out, there’ll probably be another thread soon(or not).

ESBK Investigation​

Once I realized I wasn’t allowed to play according to the GSG, I contacted the ESBK (Swiss Gambling Regulator), and they told me they’re launching an investigation into Stake soon if I file a complaint

Under Swiss law, both deposits and winnings from an unlicensed casino are considered illegal funds—which means Stake’s profits from Swiss players could be seized under Article 70 of the Swiss Criminal Code.

Here’s what they told me:

"Denn in der Schweiz gelten auch Einsätze von Spielenden als Gelder, die im Zusammenhang mit strafbaren Handlungen stehen, da das Casino im Falle einer Widerhandlung gegen das Geldspielgesetz finanziell durch die Einsätze profitiert hat. Diese Einsätze gelten demnach als illegale Einnahmen, die gestützt auf Art. 70 f. StGB einzuziehen sind."

Translation: My deposits are considered illegal funds, and in a criminal case against Stake, they could be seized at any time.

The ESBK also confirmed that Stake had a Swiss Customer Policy effective on January 1, 2023—which means they officially acknowledged that Swiss players weren’t supposed to be on their platform. But here’s the question:

If this policy was in place, why was I (and likely thousands of other Swiss players) still able to deposit and gamble?

Even the ESBK doesn’t know if it was possible to register with a Swiss address before 2023. But if Stake claims Swiss players were always blocked or atleast from the effectiveness of the policy how do they explain my account and my losses? They can't have it both ways. Obviously the people from the Compliance Department either are incompetent or straight up not giving a fuck about the consequences if they won't just settle with me. I mean based on this answer alone there's enough for players in the same boat to contact their lawyer and basically start a civil lawsuit and also start a criminal investigation with the ESBK.

It only needs one genuine concerned and actual legal brain of a compliance member to read this post to its full extent and I'm sure this post would be taken down in hours because of an offer I would get from them that would basically void this thread.

What’s Next?​

I’m currently waiting for Stake to fulfill my GDPR request—they have until February 28 to provide my data. If they don’t, I’ll give them a five-day extension. If they still ignore it, I’ll file a GDPR violation complaint.

Beyond that, once the ESBK launches its criminal investigation after sending them my proof or request/complaint, they’ll be able to request data on all Swiss players registered since January 1, 2023—including deposits, winnings, and losses. Since those funds are ruled illegal, they are going to be confiscated from Stake. Given how many Swiss players were on the site, I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re talking about upwards of 50 million in Deposits alone.

Final Thoughts​

I get it—VPN use is against the Terms of Service. And now that I know the situation, I won’t play anymore. And even if I did, I’d accept the consequences of any losses or confiscated winnings or similiar stuff like account blocked or bonuses not paid out because of the obvious.

But that’s not the issue here.

Stake is acting like simply updating their ToS or citing it retroactively makes this problem go away. That’s not how it works. They knew my real location. Their KYC 1 process confirmed I was a Swiss resident. And if KYC 1 wasn’t valid, why did they let me play with it?

Now, they don’t even allow deposits without KYC 2. Why do you think that is? Could it be because of complaints just like this one? Again you tell me.

Thanks anyways for actually bringing up stuff I really have to defend myself from instead of just saying you're a idiot who lost money and now want's it back.

 

[Khan4ik20]

ofcourse because as Jan said, these casinos operate within their given rules and have to remind you of that. Stake does not do that for obvious reasons

yep, however it's your responsibility to know where you gamble, and the fact that you aren't protected and nobody can help you if there's no license.
I withdrew large amounts from stake.com over a year ago, but my life is all legit, and Binance was happy with what I sent them.

 

[Avernite]

@satchnz well done, didnt even thought of checking that. So OP is in the wrong.

The geoblock may have been applied after the fact.

What doesn't sit right with me was the fact he was able to select a "forbidden" country on sign up, and pass the first verification step using documents from that country.

If this is indeed true, then the casino is in the wrong for knowingly accepting players who shouldn't be allowed to play. Even if you want to argue that the player should bear responsibility, (and I agree to an extent) two wrongs don't make a right. It certainly doesn't absolve the casino of wrong doing here.

I experienced something similar years ago at Red Queen casino when they just opened up. Selected New Zealand, deposited, played, won a good chunk of money and went to withdraw.

They said they weren't allowed to accept my play due to only having a UKGC license, but said they'd honor my withdrawal and closed my account (actually getting the money took about 3 months, but that's another story).

 

[essuk]

Sorry im confused. Havent you said that you arent after money and are just trying to help protect players? Or did I misunderstand? If I did apologies but could you explain how Ive misuderstood your previous messages such as

"At the end of the day, my main goal here is for other players to read this thread and understand that if they ever win big at a crypto casino, they will likely get screwed over with the same ToS excuse."

How do you tally that with your last email which seems to seek a monetary payoff and says thread will be taken down if they settle with you.

"It only needs one genuine concerned and actual legal brain of a compliance member to read this post to its full extent and I'm sure this post would be taken down in hours because of an offer I would get from them that would basically void this thread."

If youre so interested in protecting players why would you take down the info in return for a payoff?

 

[essuk]

@maxd can I suggest that the forum team consider whether this post is appropriate. It seems the OP has made certain allegations and threats which he appears to be offering to take down in return for a payment.

 

[edondoko]

@maxd can I suggest that the forum team consider whether this post is appropriate. It seems the OP has made certain allegations and threats which he appears to be offering to take down in return for a payment.

When I mentioned a takedown, I wasn’t saying I’d take the post down in exchange for money. What I meant was that if a settlement included an NDA, this post wouldn’t be able to stay up—that’s just how NDAs work. The removal could come from me or even the casino itself. It’s the same idea as the PAB process, but since Casinomeister has already stated that Stake isn’t responding to PABs, I didn’t bother filing one before the case I currently have open.

Honestly, I don’t expect Stake to respond, even if regulatory bodies step in. They clearly don’t care about complaints or investigations at this point. Instead, they’ve adjusted their policies to prevent cases like this in the future, which—ironically—is something I wanted them to do anyway.

That said, I don’t see why this post should be removed. This thread is an important resource, especially for Swiss players who might want to file complaints or for anyone dealing with similar issues. There may not be many in my exact situation, but I know for a fact I’m not the only one.

Of course, if a civil lawsuit or criminal investigation by the ESBK moves forward, then removing this post might become necessary. That investigation hasn’t started yet, but it will once I send in the relevant documents.

Also, just a heads-up—I translate everything using ChatGPT, so if anything sounds off, that’s probably why. If something isn’t clear, just ask, and I’ll do my best to explain.

 

[essuk]

If your motives are helping others then I dont understand why settlements are even being mentioned. Also what proof do you have that a criminal investigation will be launched upon your reporting of the matter? I know in the UK if you report matters to the UKGC its up to them whether or not they action.
I stand by my statement that @maxd should consider whether this thread is inline with the forums rules and ethos given the tone and nature of the OPs posts.

 

[mulven]

If your motives are helping others then I dont understand why settlements are even being mentioned. Also what proof do you have that a criminal investigation will be launched upon your reporting of the matter? I know in the UK if you report matters to the UKGC its up to them whether or not they action.
I stand by my statement that @maxd should consider whether this thread is inline with the forums rules and ethos given the tone and nature of the OPs posts.

I'd agree it's pretty agenda-y (Rule 1.11). Up to the staff to decide whether or not it crossed the line.

 

[edondoko]

I understand your concerns about the thread, but I don’t see a valid reason for its removal. Ultimately, that decision is up to the staff, and I’ve already reached out to them about it—so let’s see how they respond.

Regarding proof—what exactly do you want to see?

Stake sent me an email stating that if I intend to file a criminal complaint against them, they will require evidence from me to initiate an investigation. According to the GSG, StGB, and statements from the ESBK (which you can find online), they take these matters seriously—especially when it involves redirecting winnings from gambling losses toward AHV or other public interest funds instead of allowing foreign operators to profit from them.

They could have been fined 500K just for advertising to Swiss players, so allowing a Swiss player to lose 40K in net losses on their platform is a significant amount that could have otherwise partially contributed to AHV. To be clear, the ESBK won’t intervene regarding my losses. They stated that if I wanted to, I could file a civil lawsuit against the operator, but from their perspective, all deposits, winnings, and losses are considered illegal and would be subject to confiscation if an investigation were to begin. Which I would probably be able to claim in civil lawsuit after that with a valid verdict. I don’t know exactly how they would enforce this, but I’m fairly certain they could freeze Stake’s accounts within two business days by contacting their payment providers or whatever. Do with that information as you will.

Die Ziele der Zugangssperren sind folgende: «Zum einen sollen die Spielerinnen und Spieler in der Schweiz zu den legalen Angeboten hingeführt werden, die Garantien in Bezug auf den Schutz der Spielerinnen und Spieler vor exzessivem Spiel und vor anderen spielbezogenen Gefahren sowie hinsichtlich einer sicheren und transparenten Spieldurchführung bieten. Zum anderen soll sichergestellt werden, dass ein möglichst grosser Teil der Gewinne, die mit Geldspielen erzielt werden, entweder an die Alters-, Hinterlassenen- und Invalidenversicherung geht oder für gemeinnützige Zwecke verwendet werden kann, statt dass private Anbieterinnen im Ausland von diesen Gewinnen profitieren» (

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

).

 

[cappync]

I am seeking compensation amounting to at least 75% of my losses ($30,000 USD) if an agreement is reach

And regarding the comment from misstrouble, let me clarify something—I never said I don't accept my losses. (This also answers Jan.) I fully accept them, but why in the world shouldn't I pursue legal action when the casino does the exact same thing every time I lose?

You claim you fully accept your losses, but you are also seeking to recover them. Which is true?

Would you be taking this course of action had you won a large amount and they paid you? I'm not trying to defend a casino I know nothing about. I simply find your intentions very confusing.

 

[edondoko]

You claim you fully accept your losses, but you are also seeking to recover them. Which is true?

Would you be taking this course of action had you won a large amount and they paid you? I'm not trying to defend a casino I know nothing about. I simply find your intentions very confusing.

To clarify my intentions:​

1. Make this case as public as possible to push Stake to acknowledge it or defend themselves.
2. Recover my losses, whether through a settlement, a civil lawsuit, or any other legal means—if possible.
3. Ensure Stake.com no longer accepts Swiss players, except for those intentionally bypassing restrictions with false information (which is mostly resolved with their KYC2 enforcement).

So, based on this, why wouldn’t I want to recover losses that they illegally profited from? If it's possible, why wouldn’t I pursue it? At the time I played, I had no idea about these legal issues, which is why I initially accepted the losses.

As for helping other players, why wouldn't I? Even while mentioning reimbursement or a settlement, this case serves to highlight clear breaches of regulation. Hopefully, with this being addressed, Stake will enforce the correct rules, preventing this from happening again.

Regarding your question about big wins:​

What do you consider "big"?

For me, a 25K withdrawal would have been a great win, but my largest withdrawal never exceeded 5K, as far as I remember. Overall, I was always at a net loss. That said, this part is irrelevant. Even if they had paid me millions, those winnings would have been confiscated anyway by regulatory authorities once investigated. So why wouldn't I want my deposits back instead?

Does this make sense? Apologies if some of my statements were unclear. I write everything in German and then use ChatGPT for translation, so there may have been some grammatical errors or misinterpretations along the way.

 

[mulven]

1. Make this case as public as possible to push Stake to acknowledge it or defend themselves.

Neither of these things will happen. They do not benefit from doing either. It's a waste of their time from their point of view.

3. Ensure Stake.com no longer accepts Swiss players, except for those intentionally bypassing restrictions with false information (which is mostly resolved with their KYC2 enforcement).

Seems like that job is already done, not sure when and whether or not your crusade has anything to do with it. Swiss IP is blocked, when doing KYC2 as you mention, switzerland is blocked (I cannot press forward while having the country selected).

The crux of your reasoning relies on the fact that stake would have confiscated from you if you had won a large five figure withdrawal. Whilst it is possible and maybe even likely, it's not a guaranteed outcome. Many players in your position have gotten away with it even with large withdrawals. Whilst it was illegal, you were treated fairly during your play and you only argue that you wouldn't have been had you have had a significant win.

As you were already verified, it's possible even doing smaller withdrawals of a large balance might have increased the chances of getting it out. Whilst Stake are guilty of a lot of bad things, they shouldn't be penalised for a theoretical action that you only assume they would do.

 

[geordiecolin]

Neither of these things will happen. They do not benefit from doing either. It's a waste of their time from their point of view.

Seems like that job is already done, not sure when and whether or not your crusade has anything to do with it. Swiss IP is blocked, when doing KYC2 as you mention, switzerland is blocked (I cannot press forward while having the country selected).
View attachment 205670
View attachment 205671

The crux of your reasoning relies on the fact that stake would have confiscated from you if you had won a large five figure withdrawal. Whilst it is possible and maybe even likely, it's not a guaranteed outcome. Many players in your position have gotten away with it even with large withdrawals. Whilst it was illegal, you were treated fairly during your play and you only argue that you wouldn't have been had you have had a significant win.

As you were already verified, it's possible even doing smaller withdrawals of a large balance might have increased the chances of getting it out. Whilst Stake are guilty of a lot of bad things, they shouldn't be penalised for a theoretical action that you only assume they would do.

I noticed that if you sow the bold letters in the above post together from last to first it spells out a secret message in Romansh

 

[mulven]

I noticed that if you sow the bold letters in the above post together from last to first it spells out a secret message in Romansh

I would never encode a message into one of my posts, I definitely just accidentally hit the bold button a bunch of times

 

[Guntis]

Neither of these things will happen. They do not benefit from doing either. It's a waste of their time from their point of view.

Seems like that job is already done, not sure when and whether or not your crusade has anything to do with it. Swiss IP is blocked, when doing KYC2 as you mention, switzerland is blocked (I cannot press forward while having the country selected).
View attachment 205670
View attachment 205671

The crux of your reasoning relies on the fact that stake would have confiscated from you if you had won a large five figure withdrawal. Whilst it is possible and maybe even likely, it's not a guaranteed outcome. Many players in your position have gotten away with it even with large withdrawals. Whilst it was illegal, you were treated fairly during your play and you only argue that you wouldn't have been had you have had a significant win.

As you were already verified, it's possible even doing smaller withdrawals of a large balance might have increased the chances of getting it out. Whilst Stake are guilty of a lot of bad things, they shouldn't be penalised for a theoretical action that you only assume they would do.

Switzerland is banned but you can register from any of the casino's allowed countries using VPN with details of a country that's on their banned list and complete your KYC using Swiss docs.

Nothing wrong with that IMO - what if i'm Swiss but live in Brazil? Also, it would be plain stupid from the casino's business model to ban me - the same as if those fake casinos here started telling UK players that we don't accept British passports and bills, and there is plenty of Slingo games on Betfred too..

 

[mulven]

Switzerland is banned but you can register from any of the casino's allowed countries using VPN with details of a country that's on their banned list and complete your KYC using Swiss docs.

View attachment 205673

Nothing wrong with that IMO - what if i'm Swiss but live in Brazil? Also, it would be plain stupid from the casino's business model to ban me - the same as if those fake casinos here started telling UK players that we don't accept British passports and bills, and there is plenty of Slingo games on Betfred too..

That screenshot is from the General section. Seems like preventative stuff was only included in the verification part.

I do think anyone who obfuscates their IP and then subsequently fakes information should expect to run into issues. With the new measures, how exactly would one verify a swiss proof of address (KYC3) when they can't select it as a location? Is it the case that after KYC2 you are able to deposit and withdraw without issue?

 

[Guntis]

That screenshot is from the General section. Seems like preventative stuff was only included in the verification part.

I do think anyone who obfuscates their IP and then subsequently fakes information should expect to run into issues. With the new measures, how exactly would one verify a swiss proof of address (KYC3) when they can't select it as a location? Is it the case that after KYC2 you are able to deposit and withdraw without issue?

See your screenshot above. You can't select Switzerland as your location/country - but you don't need to select it if you're in Brazil, Ireland, or any other country they accept players from. All they see is your IP and device tech info e.g usr agent, windows, mac, etc.

 

[mulven]

See your screenshot above. You can't select Switzerland as your location/country - but you don't need to select it if you're in Brazil, Ireland, or any other country they accept players from. All they see is your IP and device tech info.

And if you do that you are lying, which is my point.

From what you are saying it sounds like - as someone who has never used stake - that they don't really do KYC3 and you just need to lie about your address whilst doing KYC 1/2 to get full site functionality.

The point I was trying to make is that whilst accessing the site and whilst verifying, you are hit with two roadblocks that you have to circumvent and it's made clear you aren't supposed to be playing.

From the sound of it, if they don't do KYC3 and actually get the player to prove their address then they've probably hole in procedure open to make it so people can still illegally play from certain countries using a VPN. From the sound of it some stuff has been added since the OP signed up but it's all a bit futile if proof of address KYC is not requested

 

[edondoko]

Thank you all for sharing such valuable insights in this thread. It's been really enlightening!

As @mulven pointed out, many players face roadblocks that clearly signal they shouldn't be playing. In my case, though, I didn't encounter any of those. Even after the supposed changes, it seems my account may have slipped through the cracks, or maybe the country tab in their system was left blank. This has led them to believe my account isn't restricted.

I'm honestly puzzled as to why I wasn't blocked earlier, especially after I submitted my documents thinking I was in the clear. It was only after that I found my account had been blocked. I really don't get it. Now, my options seem limited to discussing this here, filing a complaint with the ESBK, and possibly considering a civil lawsuit against them.

I really hope that this doesn’t affect too many other players like me. To be honest, I think only about 30% of players who go through something like this actually take the time to pursue it or learn about local laws and breaches.

It’s almost amusing that a casino of this size struggles with compliance to the point where they just copy and paste responses and call it a day. Yet, I guess it's not all that surprising, especially since I noticed that Casinomeister has a warning about them not responding to any player complaints or inquiries (please correct me if I’m wrong).

 

[maxd]

… For the sake of this thread, if your response is simply that I can’t accept a loss, that I’m delusional, or any other personal attack, please refrain from commenting. ...

It is very much NOT your place to say who is or isn't welcome to respond to your posts, that’s a moderator’s job and we'll thank you to leave that to us.

At this point I must ask you to (re)read the Forum Rules . I’ve already dealt with three violations in these posts of yours here and I’m not even half way through. Follow the Rules or hit the road, simple as that.

@satchnz
... I'm sure this post would be taken down in hours because of an offer I would get from them that would basically void this thread. ...

... What I meant was that if a settlement included an NDA, this post wouldn’t be able to stay up—that’s just how NDAs work. The removal could come from me or even the casino itself…

Again, read the Rules: posts don’t get “taken down” for those reasons or pretty much any other. Once they’re up, they’ve up unless they are spam, hate mongering or one of very few other reasons. And please look into NDAs before you continue making assumptions: it’s your freedom to discuss the issue from that point on that will be muzzled not our forum content pre-dating your signature.

Casinomeister is not your billboard to ride rough-shod over people that disagree with you or casinos that haven’t protected you from yourself. If you imagine that your sanctimonious references to laws and legal procedures is impressing anyone you are mistaken. If you have an issue post it in plain words, spare us the pointless references to higher authorities, and get to the point. And read the ****ing Rules!

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

- Max

 

[Avernite]

It is very much NOT your place to say who is or isn't welcome to respond to your posts, that’s a moderator’s job and we'll thank you to leave that to us.

At this point I must ask you to (re)read the Forum Rules . I’ve already dealt with three violations in these posts of yours here and I’m not even half way through. Follow the Rules or hit the road, simple as that.

- Max

Seems a bit of a harsh. It's not unreasonable to request people to refrain from getting personal imo.

I'm curious about your opinion as to what is likely to happen with cases like this though. Will casinos begin to see more consequences for turning a blind eye when accepting players from certain jurisdictions?

 

[maxd]

Seems a bit of a harsh. It's not unreasonable to request people to refrain from getting personal imo.

Yes, well, for someone who hasn’t bothered to read the basic rules of this forum and has stacked up a fistful of violations in this one thread, I’m less than impressed when they start telling our membership what posts are and are not welcome.

Respect the house rules and you’ll be treated with respect. Assume that these forums are here for you to do with as you wish and sufficient pressure will be applied to dissuade you of that misconception.

From what I can see the fact is that the OP has more than one case on the go with precisely the same MO: “I am innocent because you let me play”. At the very least that is a gross abdication of personal responsibility. In our experience with Complaints the vast majority of such cases are most definitely not an instance of casino failures but of players trying to game the system and bully casinos into returning deposits as a means of obvious personal gain. That is not a particularly popular position to take here at Casinomeister. There certainly are cases where the casino has been lax and sloppy but when a player comes out of the gate touting such-and-such regulations and so-and-so legalese they are almost always the ones to be suspicious of, IMHO.

That said I’m not here to defend Stake, for obvious reasons.

- Max

 

[edondoko]

Yes, well, for someone who hasn’t bothered to read the basic rules of this forum and has stacked up a fistful of violations in this one thread because of that I’m less than impressed when they start telling our membership what posts are and are not welcome.

Respect the house rules and you’ll be treated with respect. Assume that these forums are here for you to do with as you wish and sufficient pressure will be applied to dissuade you of that misconception.

From what I can see the fact is that the OP has more than one case on the go with precisely the same MO: “I am innocent because you let me play”. At the very least that is a gross abdication of personal responsibility. In our experience with Complaints the vast majority of such cases are most definitely not an instance of casino failures but of players trying to game the system and bully casinos into returning deposits as a means of obvious personal gain. That is not a particularly popular position to take here at Casinomeister. There certainly are cases where the casino has been lax and sloppy but when a player comes out of the gate touting such-and-such regulations and so-and-so legalese they are almost always the ones to be suspicious of, IMHO.

That said I’m not here to defend Stake, for obvious reasons.

- Max

I sincerely appreciate the time and space given to discuss this matter, and I want to start by apologizing for any forum rules I may have unknowingly broken. That was never my intention, and I completely understand the importance of respecting the guidelines in place. I’ll make sure to be more mindful moving forward.

I also want to clarify that I’m not here to dictate who can or cannot respond to my posts. If my wording came across that way, I truly regret it. My goal was simply to keep the discussion constructive and avoid unnecessary personal attacks, but I see now that I could have phrased it better.

Regarding my case, I understand that personal responsibility plays a role in gambling decisions, and I’m not trying to shift all the blame elsewhere. However, my main concern remains that regulatory breaches occurred, and I believe it’s worth discussing—both for myself and for other players who may find themselves in similar situations.

That being said, I acknowledge that I could have structured my arguments more clearly without over-relying on legal references. I’ll make an effort to communicate my points more concisely and in a way that respects the forum’s expectations.

Again, I truly appreciate the feedback, even if it’s been tough to hear at times. I value this discussion and will do my best to engage in a way that aligns with the forum’s standards.

 

[maxd]

Excellent, it sounds like we understand each other, thank you.

As to the Rules violations I respectfully remind you that when you signed on here you declared that you would read and respect the house Rules. It is your responsibility to ensure that you do, regardless of what your mother tongue is. If you can’t read them you need to find a way to get them reliably translated. Machine translation can be woefully unreliable which is why we always have, and continue, to recommend that a person do it for you instead.

As to "My goal was simply to keep the discussion constructive and avoid unnecessary personal attacks”: I say again, that is a moderator’s job, leave it to the moderators. It is not your place to decide if someone is out of line or not, or what is or is not acceptable. If you have a problem with someone’s post then Report it (in the bottom of the offending post) and the moderators will do what is necessary.

- Max

 

[conker]

UKGC makes a statement that Stake will be leaving UK

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

Consumers are being advised that Stake.uk.com will no longer be a licensed website from next month.

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

(TGP), who operate the site as part of a

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

, have stated they will be shutting the site.

 

[mulven]

UKGC makes a statement that Stake will be leaving UK

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

Apparently, according to the BBC, this is following an collaboration/sponsorship they did with a pornstar called "Bonnie Blue".

 

[maxd]

I think the guys at Stake must have been stuck in a time warp and emerged without realising they’d skipped 20 years. The stuff they get up to is more 2005 than 2025. Of course some might argue that that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but Stake does tend toward the slippery end of sleazy in my experience.

- Max

 

[conker]

Well, it's turned out to be a very expensive lesson - learning that the world has jumped forward 20 years without them.