Founded in 2017, Stake.com offers both a crypto casino and a crypto sportsbook. In July, it shot to prominence after it became the first crypto sportsbook to sponsor an English Premier League team. The multi-year deal with Watford FC will see the Stake.com logo featured on Hornets shirts as they compete in one of the most-watched sports leagues in the world.
In an effort to understand the success of Stake.com from the perspective of its affiliate marketing, we sat down with affiliate manager Akhil Sarin.
What does a typical day in the life of a Stake.com Affiliate Manager look like?
All the words that are antonyms of mundane are what best describe a day in the life of a Stake affiliate manager. With a business as global and dynamic as ours, each day presents a new challenge and opportunity.
What is the strangest interaction that you’ve had with an affiliate?
Well, the strangest would not directly be an affiliate but an impersonator of a big affiliate company. The impersonator managed to get a hold of the company email logins. They then created a skype group between myself and two affiliate managers (who were both actually just him). He proceeded to have a full conversation with himself, only for me to soon realize that what was happening. This kind of thing happens more often than you’d think in this industry,
In one sentence, what do you think it is that differentiates Stake.com from the competition?
A simple signup process, instant withdrawals, and exclusive VIP benefits.
When you pitch a top affiliate, what most often convinces them to feature Stake.com prominently?
I think it’s the winning combination of the great product and the excellent team that Stake affiliates get to work with. We make sure each affiliate is treated transparently and gets their fair share!
Has your sponsorship of Watford impacted interest from affiliates and/or users?
There is no doubt that our partnership with Watford is truly a fruitful one! We have seen a spike in people wanting to be affiliated with Stake. Affiliates are always on the lookout for trustworthy and reputable brands.
What team do you support in the EPL and why?
C’mon you Hornets! No surprises there. As an employee at Stake and a longtime Premier League fan, our partnership with Watford FC makes the choice easy. Apart from Watford, I’m a big fan of the mighty Red Devils Manchester United.
What’s your favorite casino game, and why?
I’m personally a big fan of Crazy Time. I enjoy how interactive the game is and the theatrics around the gameplay.
Stake.com is fairly unique in the way you present sport and casino to your users. Why do you find it beneficial to have such a strong focus on both on your homepage?
We feel both products complement each other. If an operator only focuses on one, we feel they must not be doing a good enough job at handling both.
On your homepage, you have a ticker showing an up-to-the-minute breakdown of every bet placed at Stake.com. Why does Stake.com feel this is such an important feature to provide users?
Stake was founded on the idea of creating a sense of community on the website. Our aspects live community chat in over eight different languages is a big part of that. The bet feed compliments this pursuit. We want you to feel like you’re playing in a casino with others around you. The bet feed allows you to experience this.
Why is a user’s progress to VIP status such a core element of the Stake.com experience?
All our players are special and deserve to be looked after. We do not believe one size fits all when it comes to VIP service. Our VIP experience is personalized. You’re not dealing with robots or systematic processes. Flexibility is offered to ensure every player is appropriately looked after.
What Stake.com prize do you most wish you could have won?
In December 2020, Stake gave away a Lamborghini Huracan Evo to one lucky player. Who wouldn’t love a lambo parked in their garage?!
What are the drawbacks of being a crypto casino operator?
In 2021, not many. However, that wasn’t always the case. In the beginning, I can tell you that being associated with crypto sites was frowned upon by a big part of the general public. We had to always go the extra mile to fight against all the stigmas and stereotypes that came with being a crypto platform.
What makes crypto such an attractive form of currency for casino users and operators?
It is global and lets you identify the type of user that you want to target. If I had to describe a stereotypical crypto user, he or she would be a tech-savvy person and has a level of disposable income that the average Joe may not. The profile would also fit someone who is clearly not afraid to try things that are outside the norms of the traditional establishments.
And finally, if a movie was made about your career, who would play you? And what would the title of the movie be?
The title would be ‘Maverick’! The title perfectly describes both Stake.com and my personal free-thinking approach to life. Mavericks often also make for a great storyline. They disrupt industries and make us rethink the norm. Dev Patel would play the role.
Leave a Reply