Before you start
Stake needs your email and account verified before you can deposit. Set a deposit limit while you're in settings. If you don't own Bitcoin yet, Stake links MoonPay for buying crypto by card, or you can buy from a licensed exchange in your country.
How Bitcoin fees work
Bitcoin fees are paid to the network, not to Stake. They depend on how busy the network is and how much data your transaction uses, not on the amount you send. Sending a small amount costs about the same as sending a large one. That's why Bitcoin can be a poor choice for small deposits when the network is busy.
Most wallets let you pick a fee level. A lower fee can mean a longer wait for confirmation. If you're in no hurry, a lower fee is fine. If you want the deposit credited soon, pay the wallet's suggested fee.
Confirmations
A Bitcoin transaction is confirmed when it's included in a block. Blocks arrive on average about every ten minutes, though the gaps vary. Stake credits a deposit after a set number of confirmations, which Stake decides and can change. Check the cashier or Stake's help center for the current requirement. Until then, your deposit shows as pending.
What affects how long a Bitcoin deposit takes
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Fee you paid | Lower fees can wait longer for a block |
| Network congestion | Busy periods slow everything |
| Confirmations Stake requires | Each one adds time |
| Block timing | Varies around a ten-minute average |
Address formats
Bitcoin addresses come in several formats, starting with different characters. Modern wallets handle them all. The safest habit is the same for every format: copy the address from Stake's cashier, paste it, and check the first and last few characters match.
A safe first Bitcoin deposit
- Verify your email and account on Stake.
- Set a deposit limit.
- In the cashier, choose Bitcoin and copy the deposit address.
- Paste it into your wallet and check the first and last characters.
- Check the amount clears the minimum shown in the cashier.
- Send a small test and wait for it to be credited.
- Send the rest.
Exchanges and gambling transfers
Some exchanges restrict or block transfers to gambling sites. Check your exchange's terms before sending directly from it. Sending from your own wallet avoids that question, but you're then responsible for keeping that wallet secure.
Withdrawing in Bitcoin
Withdrawals work the same way in reverse: choose Bitcoin, paste your own receiving address, check the fee and minimum shown, and confirm with 2FA. Our withdrawal guide has the full steps, and withdrawal times and limits explains what moves the wait.
Lightning
Lightning is a separate payment layer for Bitcoin. Only use it if Stake's cashier offers it as an option; if it doesn't, send on the main Bitcoin network. Don't send Lightning payments to an ordinary Bitcoin address.
When another coin is better
Bitcoin or a cheaper coin
Price movement
If your balance is held in Bitcoin, its value moves with the Bitcoin price while you play. A winning session can still lose value if the price falls. Our crypto guide explains how balances and display currencies work.
Common Bitcoin mistakes
Mistake and what happens
| Mistake | What happens |
|---|---|
| Typing an address by hand | One wrong character can send coins elsewhere |
| Reusing an old deposit address without checking | Check the cashier each time; Stake shows the current address |
| Sending below the minimum | May not be credited |
| Sending a different coin, like Bitcoin Cash, to a Bitcoin address | Not credited; Bitcoin Cash has its own option in the cashier |
| Paying the lowest possible fee when in a hurry | Can wait a long time for a block |
Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash
Stake lists both BTC and BCH as separate coins. They share history but are different networks with different addresses. Choose the exact coin in the cashier and send that coin. A BCH payment to a BTC address, or the reverse, isn't credited.
A note on dates
Checked against Stake's own pages on 13 October 2026. Confirmation counts, minimums and fees change, so verify them in the cashier before each send. Depositing is for adults only (18+, or the higher legal age where you live). Stake.com isn't available in the US, the UK, Australia, Ontario or the other places on Stake's prohibited list, and that list can change. Only send money you can afford to lose.
FAQ
Can I send from an exchange?
Usually, but check whether your exchange allows transfers to gambling sites.
Why is my deposit pending?
It's waiting for network confirmations. Low fees and busy periods add time.
How many confirmations does Stake need?
Stake sets it. Check the cashier or help center for the current number.
Is Bitcoin anonymous?
No. Transfers are public on the blockchain, and Stake can ask for identity checks.
Can I speed up a stuck deposit?
Some wallets let you raise the fee on a pending transaction. Check your wallet's options.