If you've been playing on Stake for a while, you've probably noticed something new popping up: Stake.ca.
Naturally, it's raised a bunch of questions.
Is Stake.com going away? Do I need a new account? What happens to VIP? Will weekly bonuses change?
I've been digging into it over the last few days, and here's what we actually know — and just as importantly, what we don't know yet.
What Canadian players are actually worried about
Most players I've spoken to don't really care that the website is changing.
They're asking things like:
- Am I going to lose my VIP?
- Do I need to withdraw everything?
- Will my host change?
- Can I still receive reloads?
- What happens to my affiliate?
Those are the questions that matter, and they're the ones I'll keep updating this article with as more information becomes available.
The rumours going around
I've already seen a lot of rumours on Telegram, Reddit and Discord.
Some people think nothing will change.
Others think everyone will be forced onto Stake.ca immediately.
Right now, neither of those claims has been confirmed.
If you're seeing people confidently saying VIP will transfer — or definitely won't — take it with a grain of salt. Right now, nobody outside of Stake knows exactly how every part of the transition will work.
Why is Stake launching Stake.ca?
So why not just keep using Stake.com?
Because operating in a regulated market is different.
Ontario has one of the most regulated online gambling markets in North America. If you want to legally offer casino services there, you can't just operate under an offshore licence and call it a day.
Running a dedicated Canadian platform makes complying with those rules much simpler.
Stake isn't the first operator to do this either. Plenty of gambling sites run separate platforms for different countries because every regulated market has its own requirements.
What does a regulated market actually mean?
When people hear "regulated," they often assume it just means more paperwork.
In reality, it also means operators are expected to meet standards around:
- Identity verification
- Game integrity
- Security
- Responsible gambling tools
- Customer dispute processes
- Consumer protections
For Ontario players, one notable difference is that regulated operators have formal complaint processes. If a dispute can't be resolved directly with the operator, players may be able to escalate eligible complaints to iGaming Ontario after following the operator's complaint process.
That gives you something concrete that offshore sites generally don't offer in the same way.
Why Ontario created a regulated market
Ontario's goal wasn't simply to create more rules.
The province wanted to encourage players to use operators that meet consistent standards for game integrity, player protection, and responsible gambling — instead of relying on unregulated websites where those protections aren't guaranteed.
That's the trade-off in plain terms: more structure on the operator side, in exchange for clearer standards on the player side.
How can you tell if you're using a regulated operator?
Ontario encourages players to look for operators that are registered and approved within the province.
Regulated operators are expected to meet Ontario's standards for player protection and game integrity. If you're unsure whether a site you're on is regulated, iGaming Ontario's player resources are the place to check — not a random Reddit thread.
What if something goes wrong?
One difference with regulated operators is that there is a defined complaint process.
If you have an issue, you're generally expected to contact the operator first and follow their formal complaints process. You'll typically get a complaint reference number from them.
If the dispute isn't resolved after you've gone through that process — or you're not satisfied with the outcome — certain issues may then be eligible for review by iGaming Ontario. Regulatory or responsible-gaming concerns can also be routed through the AGCO depending on the type of issue.
I'm not saying you'll need this. Most players won't. But it's one of the real, practical differences between a regulated site and an offshore one — and it's worth knowing it exists.
Personally, I don't think the interesting part is that the website ends in ".ca".
The interesting part is what changes for players.
If VIP, bonuses and rewards stay largely the same, most people won't care what domain they're logging into.
That's what I'll be paying attention to.
Is Stake.com shutting down in Canada?
No — not right now, anyway.
Stake.com is still operating globally. Stake.ca looks like the Canada-focused platform built to serve players under the regulatory framework here.
How the two sites interact, and whether you'll eventually be pushed to one or the other, is still unclear.
Does this affect existing Canadian players?
Short answer: probably, but we don't know the details yet.
The stuff people actually care about:
- Existing VIP status
- Weekly bonuses
- Reloads
- VIP host relationships
- Account history
- Affiliate codes
Stake hasn't laid out how any of this works for the transition. Don't make big moves — closing accounts, withdrawing everything, switching codes — based on something you read in a Discord thread.
Wait until Stake actually tells you what applies to your account.
Stake.com vs Stake.ca — what we know so far
| Topic | What this means |
|---|---|
| VIP | Still unknown. Probably the biggest question players have right now. |
| Bonuses | Waiting for more information. Weekly, monthly, reloads — all TBD. |
| Affiliate codes | Worth watching if you're currently attached to an affiliate. |
| Games | Could differ depending on regulations. |
| Accounts | Unclear whether you'll need a new account or if things link over. |
| Stake.com | Still live globally. Not shutting down today. |
I'll update this table as Stake releases more detail.
Tools to track your rewards while things change
If you want to keep an eye on your numbers while all this shakes out, Flowof1 can help:
- VIP Progress Calculator — estimate VIP progress and reward value from your wager volume
- Dashboard — track weekly bonus progress once you're signed in
FAQ
Is Stake.ca legal in Canada?
Stake.ca is being set up as Stake's Canada-focused platform under provincial regulatory frameworks. Whether it's available to you depends on your province and Stake's licences — check their announcements for your market.
Can I keep my Stake.com account?
Stake.com is still running. Whether Canadian players can keep using it long term, and how that interacts with Stake.ca, hasn't been fully explained yet.
Will my Stake VIP level transfer to Stake.ca?
Nobody knows yet. Don't assume your progress, host, or reloads carry over automatically — but don't assume they won't either.
What's the difference between Stake.com and Stake.ca?
Stake.com is the global site. Stake.ca is the Canadian one built for regulatory compliance here. The full differences in bonuses, games, and account linking are still being rolled out.
I'll keep updating this article as Stake releases more information.
If you're a Canadian player, I'd bookmark this page — the details that matter (VIP, bonuses, affiliate codes and account migration) are likely to become clearer over the coming weeks.