Stake.us Poker Cryptocurrency Guide: Making Purchases & Redeeming Prizes

Stake.us Poker is a sweepstakes poker site that uses two virtual currencies: Gold Coins (GC) for social play and Stake Cash (SC) for promotional play with the opportunity to redeem eligible winnings for prizes.

Unlike a traditional real-money poker site, you do not deposit money into a poker balance or directly purchase Stake Cash. Instead, you can purchase Gold Coin bundles, some of which include free promotional Stake Cash. You can also obtain SC without making a purchase through methods such as the daily login bonus, promotional giveaways and mail-in requests.

Stake.us previously placed a much greater emphasis on cryptocurrency, but players are no longer limited to crypto transactions. The site’s current terms allow Gold Coin purchases using supported fiat payment methods or cryptocurrency, with eligible Stake Cash prizes redeemable through fiat or crypto depending on your account and transaction history.

This guide explains how Stake.us Poker payments work, how to purchase Gold Coins, how to obtain free Stake Cash, and what you need to do before redeeming eligible SC for prizes.

How Stake.us Poker Payments Work

Stake.us uses Gold Coins and Stake Cash rather than a conventional real-money poker balance.

• Gold Coins: Virtual tokens used for Standard Play. They have no monetary value and cannot be redeemed for prizes.
• Stake Cash: Sweepstakes entries used for Promotional Play. Stake Cash cannot be purchased directly, but eligible SC winnings can be redeemed for prizes after applicable requirements have been met.

Gold Coins can be obtained for free or purchased in bundles.

Certain Gold Coin bundles include promotional Stake Cash at no additional charge. The amount of SC included with a bundle is displayed at the time of purchase and can vary between packages and promotions.

Stake Cash can also be obtained without making a purchase.

How to Purchase Gold Coins at Stake.us

Purchasing Gold Coins is optional. However, players who want additional Gold Coins can purchase bundles through their Stake.us account.

Some Gold Coin bundles also include free Stake Cash.

The basic process is:

1. Log in to your Stake.us account.
2. Open the Wallet.
3. Select the option to purchase Gold Coins.
4. Choose one of the available Gold Coin bundles.
5. Check whether the selected bundle includes promotional Stake Cash.
6. Choose one of the payment methods available to your account.
7. Complete the transaction.
8. The Gold Coins and any applicable promotional Stake Cash will be credited to your account.

The available bundles and amount of promotional SC included can change, so check the details of the specific package before completing the purchase.

Not every Gold Coin package necessarily includes free Stake Cash.

Can You Get Stake Cash Without Making a Purchase?

Yes. A purchase is not required to obtain Stake Cash or participate in Stake.us sweepstakes.

Stake.us currently lists several ways to obtain free SC:

• Daily login bonuses
• Promotional giveaways
• Mail-in requests
• Promotional Stake Cash offered with certain Gold Coin purchases

The daily bonus can be claimed by logging in to your account and collecting the available reward.

Stake.us also periodically distributes SC through promotions and giveaways.

Free Stake Cash by Mail

Stake.us also provides an Alternative Method of Entry that allows eligible players to request free Stake Cash by mail.

Each qualifying request currently awards 5 SC.

Players must obtain a unique postcard code and follow Stake.us’s current mail-in instructions exactly. Among other requirements, the request must be handwritten and sent from the same state as the verified residential address associated with the player’s Stake.us account.

Because the formatting, address and other requirements can change, players should use the current instructions in the Stake.us Terms & Conditions rather than relying on older mail-in instructions.

No purchase is required to use this method.

Stake.us Payment Methods

Stake.us supports both fiat and cryptocurrency transactions.

The exact methods available can depend on the player’s account and other eligibility factors.

Stake.us’s current terms define an eligible payment medium broadly enough to include cards, online wallets, financial or bank accounts and other supported payment methods.

Players can also purchase Gold Coin bundles using cryptocurrencies supported by Stake.us.

An important rule applies when choosing between fiat and cryptocurrency.

If you purchase Gold Coins using fiat, Stake.us generally requires eligible Stake Cash prizes to be redeemed using fiat. If you purchase Gold Coins using cryptocurrency, eligible SC prizes generally need to be redeemed using cryptocurrency.

Under the current terms, players cannot switch between fiat and cryptocurrency while they still have Stake Cash in their wallet. Once the SC balance reaches zero, they may select a different supported currency type for future purchases and redemptions.

Using Fiat at Stake.us

Stake.us supports fiat Gold Coin purchases through eligible payment methods available to the player’s account.

Depending on the available options, these can include card or banking-related payment methods.

Players should check the Wallet for the payment options currently available to them rather than assuming a particular card, bank or wallet will always be supported.

Stake.us also states that bank-transfer redemption eligibility can depend on a player’s purchase history. For example, its current help documentation says a player must have completed at least one successful card purchase to use its bank-transfer redemption option.

Using Cryptocurrency at Stake.us

Cryptocurrency remains an important Stake.us payment option.

Players who already own supported crypto can use it to purchase Gold Coin bundles without first converting it into fiat.

To make a crypto purchase:

1. Open the Stake.us Wallet and select the option to purchase Gold Coins.
2. Choose the Gold Coin bundle you want.
3. Select cryptocurrency as the payment method.
4. Choose a cryptocurrency and blockchain network supported by Stake.us.
5. Copy the purchase address supplied by Stake.us or scan its QR code.
6. Use your external crypto wallet or exchange account to send the required amount.
7. Wait for the blockchain transaction to receive the necessary confirmation.

Once the transaction has been confirmed, Stake.us credits the Gold Coins and any promotional Stake Cash included with that particular bundle.

Always make sure the cryptocurrency and network selected in your external wallet match those specified by Stake.us. Sending crypto using an unsupported currency, network or destination can result in funds being lost.

Do You Need a Cryptocurrency Wallet for Stake.us Poker?

No.

Players who use supported fiat payment and redemption methods do not necessarily need cryptocurrency at all.

A crypto wallet or account with a cryptocurrency service is only necessary if you choose to use cryptocurrency for purchases and prize redemptions.

Players who do use crypto will need an external wallet or cryptocurrency platform capable of sending and receiving the specific currency and network supported by Stake.us.

Pokerfuse does not recommend that players purchase a particular cryptocurrency simply for the purpose of playing poker. Cryptocurrency prices can fluctuate, and blockchain transactions can involve network fees and other costs.

How to Redeem Stake Cash for Prizes

Stake Cash used in Promotional Play provides the opportunity to redeem eligible winnings for prizes.

Stake.us currently supports prizes that can include fiat currency and cryptocurrency, subject to account eligibility and its current terms.

To request a redemption:

1. Log in to your Stake.us account.
2. Open the Wallet.
3. Select “Redeem.”
4. Enter the amount of eligible Stake Cash you want to redeem.
5. Choose an available redemption method.
6. Enter and verify the required payment or wallet information.
7. Complete any security or identity-verification steps.
8. Submit the redemption request.

Stake processes redemption requests in the order they are received.

The operator does not guarantee that every request will be completed within a particular number of hours. Identity checks, payment verification and other account reviews can affect processing time.

Stake.us currently permits one prize-redemption request per customer account during any 24-hour period.

Stake Cash Redemption Requirements

Simply having Stake Cash in your account does not necessarily mean all of it is immediately eligible for redemption.

There are several requirements to understand.

3x Playthrough Requirement

Promotional Stake Cash generally needs to be played through three times before it becomes eligible for prize redemption.

For example, if you receive 10 SC as a promotional bonus with a Gold Coin purchase, you would need to generate 30 SC of qualifying Promotional Play before that SC becomes eligible for redemption.

Stake Cash won through Promotional Play is treated differently under the current terms and is not itself subject to the same three-times requirement.

Players can check their redemption progress through the redemption section of their account.

Identity Verification

Stake.us requires identity verification before prizes can be redeemed.

The operator may request documents or additional information to confirm details including your:

• Identity
• Age
• Residential address
• Payment information
• Account eligibility

Additional payment verification can also delay a redemption request.

Stake Cash Redemption Value

Stake.us currently uses an implied redemption rate of:

1 SC = $1 USD

For cryptocurrency redemptions, the amount of crypto received for each eligible SC is based on the market price of the selected cryptocurrency in US dollars at the time of redemption.

For fiat redemptions in US dollars, the implied value is $1 per eligible SC.

Stake.us reserves the right to establish minimum redemption thresholds and processing fees.

Redeeming Stake Cash With Cryptocurrency

Players who use cryptocurrency to purchase Gold Coins can redeem eligible Stake Cash prizes through supported cryptocurrencies, subject to Stake.us’s terms.

The basic process is:

1. Open the Wallet.
2. Select “Redeem.”
3. Select an available cryptocurrency.
4. Enter the amount of eligible SC you want to redeem.
5. Enter the destination address from your external crypto wallet.
6. Confirm the currency and network.
7. Submit the request.

It is particularly important to verify the wallet address, cryptocurrency and blockchain network before confirming a transaction.

Cryptocurrency transfers generally cannot be reversed after they have been sent to an external wallet.

Stake.us also makes the player responsible for ensuring that the receiving wallet supports the cryptocurrency being redeemed.

Redeeming Stake Cash Through Fiat

Eligible players can also redeem Stake Cash prizes using fiat rather than cryptocurrency.

Stake.us currently supports fiat redemption subject to its account and transaction requirements.

If you purchased Gold Coins using fiat, your SC redemptions generally need to remain in fiat while you have an existing Stake Cash balance.

Stake.us’s current help documentation also states that players need at least one successful card purchase on their account before the bank-transfer redemption option becomes available.

Once available, the player can select the applicable fiat option through the Wallet’s redemption section and provide the required banking information.

This removes the old requirement for players to redeem SC as Bitcoin, transfer the Bitcoin to an exchange, sell it for dollars, and then transfer those dollars to a bank account.

Stake.us Poker Payment Safety Tips

Both fiat and cryptocurrency transactions require players to pay attention to account and payment details.

When purchasing Gold Coins or redeeming Stake Cash:

• Check the Gold Coin bundle before purchasing to see whether promotional SC is included.
• Make sure your personal and payment information matches your verified Stake.us account.
• Complete identity verification before you expect to redeem prizes.
• Check your SC playthrough progress before submitting a redemption.
• When using crypto, verify both the wallet address and blockchain network.
• Never assume a crypto transaction can be reversed after it is sent.
• Check for applicable transaction or network fees.
• Use Stake.us’s current Wallet and terms for payment instructions rather than relying on old deposit addresses or screenshots.

Get Started With Stake.us Poker

You do not need to purchase Gold Coins or use cryptocurrency to start playing at Stake.us Poker.

Players can create an account, claim available free coins and use Gold Coins for Standard Play. Eligible players can also obtain Stake Cash through free promotional methods and use it for Promotional Play.

Players who choose to purchase Gold Coins can use the payment methods available through their account. Some Gold Coin bundles include promotional Stake Cash, but SC itself cannot be purchased directly.

Before making a purchase, check the current Gold Coin package, the amount of promotional SC included, the payment method you intend to use and how that choice could affect your future redemption options.

Play Stake.us Poker

Stake.us Poker Payments FAQ

Does Stake.us Poker only accept cryptocurrency?

No.

Stake.us supports both fiat and cryptocurrency for Gold Coin purchases under its current terms.

The payment methods available to an individual player can depend on the options presented through their account.

Do I need a cryptocurrency wallet to play Stake.us Poker?

No.

A crypto wallet is only necessary if you choose to make purchases or redeem eligible prizes using cryptocurrency.

Players using supported fiat payment methods do not necessarily need cryptocurrency.

Can I buy Stake Cash at Stake.us?

No.

Stake Cash cannot be purchased directly.

It can be obtained through free promotional methods, including daily bonuses, giveaways and mail-in requests, and may also be included as a free promotional bonus with certain Gold Coin purchases.

Can I purchase Gold Coins at Stake.us?

Yes.

Gold Coins can be purchased through the Stake.us Wallet using supported payment methods.

Gold Coins have no monetary value and cannot be redeemed for prizes.

Do all Gold Coin purchases include Stake Cash?

No.

Stake.us states that certain Gold Coin bundles include promotional Stake Cash.

Players should check the individual package before purchasing to determine how many Gold Coins it contains and whether any promotional SC is included.

Can I get free Stake Cash without making a purchase?

Yes.

Stake.us provides several ways to obtain Stake Cash without making a purchase, including daily login bonuses, promotional giveaways and qualifying mail-in requests.

A qualifying mail-in request currently awards 5 SC.

Can Stake Cash be redeemed for cash prizes?

Eligible Stake Cash can be redeemed for prizes after applicable requirements have been satisfied.

Current Stake.us redemption methods can include fiat currency and cryptocurrency.

How much is one Stake Cash worth when redeemed?

Stake.us currently uses an implied redemption rate of 1 SC to $1 USD.

For crypto redemptions, the amount of cryptocurrency received is based on the USD market price of that cryptocurrency when the redemption is processed.

Does Stake Cash have a playthrough requirement?

Promotional Stake Cash generally needs to be played through three times before becoming eligible for prize redemption.

For example, receiving 10 promotional SC would generally require 30 SC of qualifying play.

Stake Cash won through Promotional Play is not subject to that same three-times requirement under the current terms.

Can I buy Gold Coins with Bitcoin?

Yes.

Bitcoin and other supported cryptocurrencies can be used to purchase Gold Coin bundles.

Players should use only cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks currently supported by Stake.us.

Can I redeem Stake Cash directly to my bank account?

Stake.us supports fiat prize redemptions for eligible accounts.

Its current help documentation states that a successful card purchase must first have been completed on the account to use the bank-transfer redemption option.

If I buy Gold Coins with crypto, can I redeem Stake Cash to my bank?

Not while maintaining the corresponding Stake Cash balance.

Under the current Stake.us terms, Gold Coin purchases made with cryptocurrency generally require Stake Cash redemptions to remain in cryptocurrency. Fiat purchases similarly require fiat redemptions.

Once the player’s Stake Cash balance reaches zero, Stake.us allows the player to select a different supported currency type for future purchases and redemptions.

How long do Stake.us redemptions take?

Stake.us states that it processes prize-redemption requests in the order they are received and aims to process them as soon as practicable.

There is no universal guaranteed processing time. Identity verification, payment verification and other account checks can cause delays.

How often can I request a Stake.us redemption?

Stake.us currently processes only one prize-redemption request per customer account within a 24-hour period.

Is Coinbase required to use Stake.us Poker?

No.

Stake.us does not require players to use Coinbase.

Players choosing cryptocurrency need an external wallet or crypto service that supports the cryptocurrency and blockchain network being used. Players using fiat payment methods may not need a cryptocurrency service at all.