Esports Betting
Esports Betting / Stake.us Review / Is Stake Legal in Kentucky? 2025 Overview of Stake's Legal Status in KY

Is Stake Legal in Kentucky? 2025 Overview of Stake's Legal Status in KY

Last Updated on 11/06/2025
Fact checked by: Mike McKean

Is Stake.us legal in Kentucky at present? That’s a no - Stake.us withdrew its services from the state in 2024. That means you can not sign up at Stake.us if you're a Kentucky resident, unfortunately.

However, that doesn't mean there are no alternatives for the people of Kentucky. Keep reading as I'll tell you more about Stake.us, and cover suitable alternatives if you're looking for good social casinos that do accept players from Kentucky. We'll also discuss why exactly Stake.us is not available in this state, despite other social casinos operating here.

Stake.us
Social Casino Deal
4.4/5
56 Stake Cash + 560K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Signup Offer
|
T&Cs / 18+
Copy
Play now
Stake.us Highlights
  • Exclusive 5% Rakeback bonus with code: STFSOCIAL
  • Social casino with Stake Originals!
  • Play with Stake Cash for prizes!

Pros and cons of Stake.us

Stake.us casino pro contra
  • Check out hundreds of social games
  • Access exclusive Stake Original titles
  • Redeem Stake Cash winnings for real prizes
  • It’s not available in Kentucky

I’d like to be able to give a straight yes or no here, but having researched the subject, I’ve found that social and sweepstakes casinos - such as Stake.us - are legal in the state. I also know that Stake.us did originally provide its services to those living within the state borders - but that changed back in 2024. If you check the terms and conditions at Stake.us, you’ll see a list of prohibited jurisdictions near the top of that page. That’s good to know as it provides you with quick access to the current list - and unfortunately, Kentucky is on it.

According to current state laws, real money casinos cannot legally operate in Kentucky. While social and sweepstakes casinos can operate there, Stake.us has decided to exit the market. I’ve noticed they’ve done this in a few other states too - namely those where legislation may potentially change in the near future. This may also be the reason why Stake.us is not legal in NJ at the moment.

At the same time, I can say that Stake.us is legal in South Carolina, according to the latest information. You can see how important it is to check state laws and the T&Cs at Stake.us to get the full picture, no matter where you are located in the US.

I’ve covered the top three queries that continually pop up on this topic. Even if you can visit Stake.us and look around, you can’t use it if you’re in the Bluegrass State. Read through the following to clarify things a little.

Why can’t I just use a VPN to make it look like I’m from somewhere else?

Players in 37 US states can just sign up at Stake.us from their location without any concerns. For example, Stake.us is legal in Virginia, so Virginians can join the site without any issues if they’re of legal age to do so.

Stake.us is also legal in Indiana, so that wouldn’t present any problems either.

However, if you’re in Kentucky, you know you can’t join Stake.us at present. You might think about using a VPN to disguise your actual location though. Seems like a good idea, right? Well… no, it’s not. That’s because you will be required to provide proof of two things when you join Stake:

  1. Proof of identity
  2. Proof of residential address

You can see therefore that even if you could access the site using a VPN, you won’t last for long once you attempt to sign up there. You won’t be able to provide proof of address in another state, since you live in Kentucky.

Why has Stake.us left Kentucky?

Only the people at Stake.us will know for sure, but I know that the laws and outlook in some states are stricter than others. Some states are looking to impose legislation on social and sweepstakes sites, so they can pay taxes like regular real money casinos do. This could be part of the reason why Stake.us has elected to withdraw from Kentucky now, even though Stake.us is legal in Kentucky as things stand. It’s a good example of how state law doesn’t always lead a site to provide its services there.

Are there any other sweepstakes casinos I can join in Kentucky?

Yes, and I’ll cover Real Prize and Pulsz shortly - two of the recommended alternatives you can explore. You might think it’s strange that some sites are still operating in the state, since Stake.us has pulled out. In truth, the operators behind each individual site will decide whether it is worth continuing in individual US states, given the current status of social and sweepstakes casinos there. You may find other sites decide to exit as well - and if that is the case, you’ll find out all about it here first.

How does Stake.us work?

Since Stake.us isn’t available in Kentucky, you might wonder why I’m covering this question. There are two reasons - firstly, things might change to allow those in the state to use the site again. Secondly, it works in much the same way as alternative sites, and I’ve got a couple of alternatives to share with you here shortly.

Stake.us uses two virtual currencies - one for social gaming and another for the sweepstakes format. Here’s a table that displays the basics for those virtual currencies.

Virtual currencyHow it can be usedCan it be purchased?
Gold Coins (GC)Playable on social casino gamesOptional GC purchases available; GC cannot be redeemed for real prizes
Stake Cash (SC)Playable on sweepstakes gamesNo purchases available; SC winnings can be redeemed for real prizes

No purchase is required to play at Stake.us or any other social or sweepstakes casino. Keep that in mind as I introduce you to a couple of other sites that do currently offer their services in Kentucky. If you’re reading this and you’re in one of the 37 states where Stake.us is still operating, don’t forget the exclusive welcome offer you can pick up using the code STFSOCIAL. This will trigger 55 Stake Cash, 260,000 Gold Coins, and 5% rakeback to come your way as a welcome bonus. You’ll see the option to add a code to the signup box when you begin filling in your details there, so don’t forget to add it.

Top tip: Check whether other sites have different names for the virtual currencies

Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins are the two basic names for the social and sweepstakes virtual currencies, respectively. However, as I noted with Stake Cash at Stake.us (their version of Sweeps Coins), there can be differences.

Some sites like to give their virtual currencies different names to make them stand out. So, if you arrive at another social and sweepstakes casino, make sure you check the names and understand which virtual currency is for which type of play. You can usually figure this out just by checking which virtual currency you can purchase if you wish - although this is never required anywhere.

Stake.us
Stake.us Social Casino Deal
4.4/5
56 Stake Cash + 560K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Terms (WR):
3x
Min. Deposit:
-
Copy
Get Bonus
T&Cs / 18+

My top picks for social and sweepstakes sites available in Kentucky

Now that you’re aware of the format for these sites, you can explore other possibilities available to you in the Bluegrass State. Always read through the terms of use prior to creating an account, just to be sure the sites are still available in your state. As we’ve seen here, changes can occur almost without notice, depending on what’s happening in that state and what the site decides to do about it. You can’t play Stake.us in Kentucky just now, but you should be able to visit and play at either of these sites.

Real Prize - Social casino with a dedicated app

Real Prize
realprize-pro-contra-us-4.jpg
RealPrize: Pros & Cons
  • Over 500 games
  • Slots from top developers
  • Table games and live dealers
  • Inclusive rewards program
  • No mobile app for Android
Visit Real Prize

There is a solid signup offer at Real Prize if you’re new there. Create an account and you’ll receive 100,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins for starters. Once you’re inside, you will get the chance to play some social casino-style games from the likes of NetEnt and Pragmatic Play - two of the biggest names in the industry. Familiar slots including Sugar Rush 1000 are among the highlights but you’ll find many more from the software providers involved there. You can play online or download their iOS app directly from the App Store.

Pulsz - Access exclusive titles

Pulsz.com
pulsz reviews
Pulsz: Pros and Cons
  • Generous Welcome Bonus
  • Extensive Game Library
  • User-Friendly Mobile Experience
  • Secure and Legal Platform
  • Limited Customer Support Options
Visit Pulsz.com

You can collect 5,000 Gold Coins when you join this social and sweepstakes casino. You’ll get more via the daily login bonus as well. The more consecutive days you remember to login for, the better the daily offer could be. Slots and table games get their own areas in the lobby, while I also spotted some exclusive titles to check out. Pulsz Pigger and 3 Hot Teapots were among those titles. There’s also a Jackpot Race every Thursday, plus you’ll start at the Bronze level in their VIP program.

You can see that it’s not just about whether Stake.us is legal in a specific state. It’s also about the potential future in a certain location such as Kentucky. I’m keeping a close watch on how things are working out there, and whether there will be any legislation that prohibits these sites from operating.

If you live elsewhere, and you can sign up at Stake.us, you’ve got the exclusive code STFSOCIAL to use. This will bring you 55 in Stake Cash, 260,000 in Gold Coins, and 5% rakeback to help you get underway.

Social Casino Deal
4.4/5
Stake.us
Social Casino Deal
4.4/5
56 Stake Cash + 560K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Signup Offer
|
T&Cs / 18+
Copy
Get Bonus

❓ Why is Stake.us not available in Kentucky?

Stake.us has a list of banned states in their terms of service, and Kentucky is included in that list. The social casino's reasons for excluding Kentucky aren't clear.

🚫 Where is Stake.us not allowed?

Stake.us currently does not operate in Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia. Some of these states ban sweepstakes casinos entirely, while others are just states where Stake.us chooses to not operate.

🌐 Can you use a VPN to access Stake.us?

Technically, yes, but in practice this won’t work as it is against the terms and conditions laid out on their website. You must be able to prove you live in a legal state before you can use their website. This is a signup requirement.

👤 Who is the owner of Stake.us?

Stake.us is owned and operated by Sweepsteaks Limited. They are based in Cyprus.

💰 Can I play for free at Stake.us?

Yes, you can. Since Stake.us is a social and sweepstakes site, no GC purchase is necessary to play there. You can collect Gold Coins when signing up and each day you login, while Stake Cash is available for free in a variety of ways as well.

Further Reviews

Others

Show More
Social Casino
Stake.us Social Casino
Favicon
4.4/5
Stake.us Social Casino Bonus
56 Stake Cash + 560K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Promo Code
Copy
Play now
USA
USA Players Eligible
T&Cs / 18+
More Articles Related to Stake.us
Our Team
James LeelandJordan NobleAlyx TzamantanisAndrew BoggsMike McKean
James Leeland
James Leeland
Editor
Jordan Noble
Sports Writer
Alyx Tzamantanis
Alyx Tzamantanis
Editor
Andrew Boggs
Sports Writer
Mike McKean
Editor

21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Trading financial products carries a high risk to your capital, especially trading leverage products such as CFDs. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.
Virginia Town HallCloudflareSSLco² neutral
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of Stake.us was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site