Stake withdraws from the British market
The British Gambling Commission has announced that Stake.uk.com will cease operating in the UK on 10 March 2025 due to an ongoing investigation into a video in which the Stake logo was seen alongside an adult actress outside Nottingham Trent University.
The gambling authority considers this to be problematic advertising, which is why Stake is now forced to leave the UK market.
Players in the UK have already been informed of the withdrawal by email and asked to to withdraw their funds before the final closureThe statement states:
"We regret to inform you that the Stake brand is ceasing operations in the UK. On Monday 10 March 2025, stake.uk.com will close its website and you will no longer have access to your account."
Problems with the British Gambling Authority – Football clubs also affected
Stake is not only known as an online casino, but also as a sponsor of numerous sports clubs. What is particularly controversial is that Stake is currently the main sponsor of the Premier League club Everton FC. The British Gambling Commission has announced that it will contact the club and two other clubs with unlicensed gambling sponsors to point out the risks.
There is already increasing regulation in the gambling sector in the UK. Last year, Premier League clubs voted by a majority to ban shirt advertising for gambling operators from the 2025/26 season. This means that other clubs that rely on gambling advertising will also have to rethink their sponsorship contracts.
This could have far-reaching consequences for football clubs: If they work with unlicensed providers, they face heavy fines, possible prison sentences or both.
What does this mean for players in German-speaking countries?
In German-speaking countries, Stake is a well-known online casino that has made a name for itself primarily through its crypto options and fast payments. But here too, there are increasing regulatory challenges:
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Germany: Of the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 has changed the regulation of the market significantly. Providers without a German license are not officially allowed to accept players from Germany. However, many gambling providers use Curacao licenses to continue to appeal to customers. Stake currently operates without a German license, which is why German players have no legal protection in case of doubt.
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Austria: Austrian gambling law only allows a limited number of licensed operators. Again, Stake does not have an official license, but is still accessible via international websites. Players should note that disputes with unlicensed operators are difficult to enforce.
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Switzerland: Switzerland has one of the strictest gambling markets in Europe. Online gambling is only allowed for licensed Swiss casinos, and foreign operators are regularly blacklisted. Stake is not officially licensed in Switzerland, and players who play on the platform risk having their access blocked.
The current decision by the UK Gambling Commission is not the first time that Stake and its partners have encountered regulatory issues. Operator TGP Europe, which manages Stake.uk.com, was previously fined £2023 (approximately $316.250) in April 394.000 for breaches of anti-money laundering regulations and social responsibility failures.
Is Stake in danger?
Stake's withdrawal from the UK shows that even large providers are coming under increasing regulatory pressure. While Stake continues to operate in many international markets, the increasing focus on licensing and player protection could lead to more countries positioning themselves against the provider.
Players from Germany, Austria and Switzerland should check carefully whether they are playing on a platform that meets the respective legal requirements. The British case shows that gambling providers can quickly come under pressure without firm regulation - and this has a direct impact on players.
