Stake.us Poker is another excellent option for people in the United States looking to play legal online poker and exchange their winnings for real money prizes without breaking any regulations.
Like other similar sites, such as Clubs Poker and Global Poker, Stake.us Poker is a social casino with a poker room that has a sweepstakes component that allows players to convert their winning at the table into real money prizes. As a result, there are no deposits or withdrawals. Instead, players are gifted Sweeps Cash for various actions (including purchasing Gold Coin packages), and Sweeps Cash can be used to play in ring game and tournaments and it can be redeemed cash prizes.
This extensive Stake.us Poker review brings you all the details about this fresh sweepstakes poker site, including information about bonuses, promotions, available games, and how you can redeem your prizes.
| Stake.us Sweepstakes Poker: Key Facts | |
|---|---|
| ✨ Main Highlight | Winnings can be redeemed for cash prizes |
| 📍 States Available | All except: ID, KY, MI, NY, NV, WA. and VT |
| 🤑 Registration Bonus | 25 SC on signup |
| 🎰 Stake.us Poker Games | Tournaments, Ring Games, Sit & Gos |
| 🃏 Game Variations | Texas Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, Pineapple Hold’em (tournaments only) |
Is Stake.us Poker legal in the United States?
Yes, it is! Stake.us Poker is a social poker site that operates under sweepstakes laws, which makes it completely legal in most of the United States. Players from a majority of states can play and exchange their winnings for real money prizes on the site, with the exclusion of Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Washington, and Vermont.
Stake.us Poker Bonus: Pick Up Free 25 Stake Cash
To get you started, Stake.us Poker gives new players that sign up through pokerfuse a welcome bonus of 25 Stake Cash (SC) completely free. All you have to do is register with the site and wait for an email to arrive in your inbox.
Once the email arrives, simply click the link, and 25 SC will be added to your account. You can use these coins to explore the tables and see how you like the games on the site.
After this, you can pick up an additional 30 Stake Cash over the next 30 days by simply logging into your account every day. Every 24 hours, after you log in, Stake.us Poker will reward you with 1 SC.
Claiming Stake.us Poker Welcome Bonus
- Follow this link to visit the site
- Click on the blue ‘Register’ button
- Carefully fill in the form with the correct personal information
- If you have a Stake.us Poker bonus code, enter it in this form
- Wait for the email to arrive
- Click on the link in the email and claim your 25 free Stake Cash
- Log in every day for the next 30 days to pick up 1 SC daily
Stake.us started primarily as an online casino, adding the poker platform later on. As such, promotions on offer right now are aimed more at casino players, but those who enjoy online poker can also find a few nice promos.
Stake.us Poker Rakeback
Stake.us offers a 5% rakeback across the board, and this applies to poker as well. You will receive 5% of your rake back.
The amount is added back to your account automatically as you play, so you don’t have to wait for the end of the week or the month to get it. The rakeback will constantly trickle in.
This isn’t a huge percentage to be sure, but it is still little something to help keep growing your bankroll and keep you in the games longer.
Stake.us Weekly Promotion
For those who put in a bit of volume, there is also the Weekly Promotion that gives out 25,000 in Stake Cash every week.
To earn an entry into the weekly draw, you’ll need to play through 1,000 SC within one week, so this doesn’t really apply to lower-stakes players. However, if you play higher stakes, this can be a good way to pick up some extra coins.
Winners are drawn on Saturdays on a live stream using the Google random number generator. Of course, the more entries you have, the bigger your chances of winning one of the prizes.
Special Signup Offer
25 Stake Cash Free when you signup
- Redeem Stake Cash for real money prizes
- Get 1 in Stake Cash FREE every single day
- Super-soft cash game action
Please play responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800 GAMBLER.
Stake.us Poker Tournaments
With Stake.us still being a relatively fresh poker site, their selection of tournaments is somewhat modest.
There are several freerolls taking place every day, with prize pools between 50 SC and 200 SC. These tend to get just over 1,000 runners, so the fields are pretty big, but they are a good way to get familiar with the software and potentially win some Stake Cash along the way.
In terms of reoccurring tournaments, the biggest one so far is the Sunday Deepstack. It features the entry of 55 SC and a guarantee of 750 SC.
On a day-to-day basis, the 11 SC Daily Turbo seems to attract a lot of interest and it regularly breaks its modest guarantee of 100 SC by several hundreds.
Overall, tournament entries range from 0.11 SC up to 11 SC, with the exception of the Sunday SC 55 event, which is the pinnacle of the operator’s weekly schedule.
Stake.us Poker Ring Games
When it comes to ring games, Stake.us Poker spreads the two most popular game variations: No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha.
Stakes start at just SC 0.01/0.02 and go up to SC 2.5/5. The player traffic seems decent at the micro stakes, while 0.5/1 and above are a bit hit or miss. There are usually a few tables going on, especially during US evening hours.
In terms of player quality, keep in mind that Stake.us is primarily a social casino, so a lot of those coming over to the poker tables are casino players first. This means that games are likely to be much softer and looser than at the other top sweepstakes poker sites.
It is worth noting that ring games allow for straddles and a run-it-twice option. Players can manually post straddles and opt to run it twice when it is their turn, or they can turn on the option to make one or both of these automatic.
Sit & Go Games
Stake.us Poker also offers sit and goes with entries starting at SC 2.2 and going up to SC 11. There are heads-up, 6-max, and 9-max games to choose from.
Unfortunately, the sit and go format hasn’t been very popular in recent years, so if you are looking to play these games, you’ll have to be patient. It can take a little while for games to fill up, especially at higher stakes.
If you only have a couple of hours to play, sit and goes at Stake.us Poker are probably not the way to go, as you won’t be able to put in decent volume. Once again, things do pick up a bit during US evening hours, but of all game formats available on the site, this one gets the least attention.
Stake.us Poker Banking: Obtaining & Redeeming Stake Cash
As mentioned already, Stake.us isn’t a traditional online poker platform, so there are no cash deposits or withdrawals as such. The operator uses two types of game tokens, namely:
- Gold Coins (GC) — can only be used to play the games but can’t be exchanged for prizes
- Stake Cash (SC) — you can play tournaments and ring games and also redeem gift vouchers, merchandise, and cash prizes
So, if you’re interested in having a shot at real prizes, you’ll need to participate in Stake Cash games and tournaments.
Obtaining Stake Cash
There are different ways to pick up some Stake Cash on Stake.us Poker, some of which we’ve already covered in this review. You can get up to 55 SC from your welcome offer without making any purchases or spending any money.
Another way to get Stake Cash is by purchasing Gold Coin Bundles. When you purchase eligible GC bundles, the operator will gift you a certain amount of Stake Cash. It is important to note that Stake Cash can never be purchased directly and it is only offered as a gift.
So, for example, if you purchase a Gold Coin offer of 200,000 Gold Coins for $20, Stake.us Poker will also give you 20.1 Stake Cash for free. This is the fastest way to obtain SC.
Finally, you can also top up your Stake Cash balance by sending in a postcard with your unique code (generated online). For every properly filled request, Stake.us will award you with 5 Stake Cash. This way, you can build up your SC bankroll without making any purchases on the site.
Redeeming Prizes at Stake.us Poker
When it comes to exchanging Stake Cash for vouchers or cash prizes, the process is fairly straightforward. Follow these simple steps, and you’ll have no problems:
- Log into your Stake.us Poker account
- Click on the Wallet in the dropdown menu
- Select Redeem
- Enter the amount you wish to redeem
- Enter your Bitcoin wallet address
At the moment, the site only allows purchases and redemptions via cryptocurrencies, so you’ll need to have a crypto wallet. The minimum amount you can redeem is 46 SC for $45.10, while the remaining $0.92 is used to cover the transaction fee.
How to Sign Up at Stake.us Poker
Signing up for a Stake.us Poker account is quick and easy. It will only take you a couple of minutes to set up your account and join the action:
- Visit the Stake.us Poker site via this link
- Click on the “Register” button
- Fill in the registration form (including any relevant Stake.us bonus codes)
- Check your email for the verification link
- Click on the link to confirm your account & pick up your welcome bonus
- You can now start playing in Stake.us Poker tournaments and ring games
Stake.us Account Verification
Stake.us takes safety very seriously, which is why all players have to follow the account verification procedure.
While you’ll be able to set up your account and start playing without verifying your account information, at some point, whether when making your first purchase or when doing your first prize redemption, you’ll be required to verify your identity.
The process is quite straightforward as you only need to send in pictures of the documents confirming your personal information and address. This is a common procedure on all reputable gaming sites, sweepstakes or otherwise, designed to protect players and the operator alike.
Stake.us Poker Software
Stake.us Poker features a web-based platform, which may not sound as a great news for players who have been around a while and have seen many attempts at poker web-based solution not live up to expectations.
However, times have changed, and new technologies are making it possible for these platforms to offer quality experience similar to the one you get with a standalone desktop client.
The poker lobby is quite simple, divided into three main parts: ring games, tournaments, and sit and goes. There are quick filters to select your preferred game type and the maximum number of players at the table for easier navigation.
Once you join a table, you’ll be able to access additional settings, such as:
- Auto rebuy
- Deck styles
- Display stack in big blinds
- Betting buttons’ customization
The gameplay itself is quite smooth and glitch-free, and once you get used to the layout, it is fairly easy to play several tables at the same time.
All in all, the Stake.us Poker software is quite advanced and offers a variety of customization options. Thus, the fact that it is a web-based solution doesn’t take anything away from it. If anything, developers have done a great job with it, showing that web-based poker clients could well be the future.
FAQ
Can I play for real money on Stake.us Poker?
You can’t play for real money on Stake.us. However, you can play for Stake Cash, which is the operator’s game token, which can be exchanged for cash prizes.
How can I get Stake Cash to play on Stake.us Poker?
There are different ways to obtain Stake Cash. You’ll receive 25 free SC just for signing up. Beyond this, the easiest way to get Stake Cash is by purchasing Gold Coin offers, as the operator will gift you a certain amount of Stake Cash with your purchase. It is important to note that it’s not possible to purchase Stake Cash directly – it can only be given as a gift.
What types of games are available on Stake.us Sweepstakes Poker?
As of right now, Stake.us Poker offers ring games, tournaments, and sit and goes. There are many regular freerolls available on the site, allowing you to get used to the software and build up your Stake Cash balance for free.
How old do I have to be to play on Stake.us Poker?
You have to be at least 21 years or older to play on Stake.us.
How can I exchange my Stake Cash for money or prizes?
The process of exchanging your Stake Cash at Stake.us Poker is very simple. You place a request from your account and the money is sent to your Bitcoin wallet without any further complicatiosn, provided your account is fully confirmed and verified.