STAKE IS SCAM ($12,000)

[vennali]

~snip~

There is no progress of the KYC verification problem of OP. The complaint is active on Casino Guru with the involvement of all parties (OP, Stake representative and Casino Guru team). Stake representative has provided the details again today of the acceptable documents for the level 3 and level 4 KYC verification. But OP said that managing those documents is impossible in his region. Seems like it is going to be a long process, or a never ending process.

Thanks for the link, I am following the case now. Hopefully a resolution is achieved soon.

[KosherMania]

~snip~

There is no progress of the KYC verification problem of OP. The complaint is active on Casino Guru with the involvement of all parties (OP, Stake representative and Casino Guru team). Stake representative has provided the details again today of the acceptable documents for the level 3 and level 4 KYC verification. But OP said that managing those documents is impossible in his region. Seems like it is going to be a long process, or a never ending process.

exactly. if you take notice, stake has dodged nearly all direct questions asked by casino guru.

it has been 25 days since stake has last replied to an email to me as well. i currently have lawyer who is able to assist me for process.

[Saint-loup]

I can understand your frustration, but let's try it one more time, this time through another method.

I don't think that's purely Stake's fault, becauase as far as I know, casino let a third party verifier to perform the KYC to ensure their client's privacy [their staff won't be able to look at the submitted document], so most likely than not, the one that reject your submission is the third party verifier. If I may suggest a drastic step, perhaps we can escalate it to casino.guru, see if their intermediation can help verifying the documents.

Do you need some guidance on escalating case to casino.guru?

Finally the casino representative hasn't talked about any third party issue, and he seems to have a full access to all the informations of OP's KYC procedure. We could notice that he is using the words "we" and "our team" and not "our provider" or "they", in addition.
The case is now open since one month there, and they've only replied 2 times, the second time just to repeat they require more documents. But they still haven't explained why they need all those documents while Casino Guru seems to have already independently checked the documents and OP identity without finding any weird things  

The player provided a credit card statement for Level 3 verification. However, we require proof of payment for that bill covering the past three months. Additionally, the document submitted for Level 4 matches the one provided at Level 3, yet unfortunately, they do not align with our verification criteria.

We have communicated our verification requirements to the player via email, but allow us to outline the necessary documents for each level again:
[...]
Upon the submission of documents meeting the specified requirements, we will promptly engage our team to expedite the process and review the account.

https://casino.guru/stake-casino-player-s-withdrawal-delayed-due-to-kyc

Last but not least, they are not able to give any contact to deal with his lawyer...

2 WEEKS AGO
it has now been 11 days since i have requested for contact information to legal department for my lawyer (i also asked for kyc clarification) and still no response.

[KosherMania]

exactly. my documents are all perfectly fine. seems they just want more documents, which i will give them. stay tuned.

[Get-Paid.com]

The pace they are "processing" the KYC is disgusting, these deposits are from November 2023 and we're now in January 2024.

[KosherMania]

i am still fighting the good fight. please everyone check in.

https://casino.guru/stake-casino-player-s-withdrawal-delayed-due-to-kyc

[holydarkness]

i am still fighting the good fight. please everyone check in.

https://casino.guru/stake-casino-player-s-withdrawal-delayed-due-to-kyc

Rest assured that we are still overseeing your case, although in silence, as the process is now completely at the hand of CG, and given the sensitivity of the case [KYC and ID being involved] the best course right now is through them, so you're already on the best path.

[KosherMania]

please community support my ongoing struggle against these scammers. i am awaiting more documents. as you can see from stake’s responses on my thread they are not being responsible at all and their service is pitiful and a big joke!

[Rating Place]

please community support my ongoing struggle against these scammers. i am awaiting more documents. as you can see from stake’s responses on my thread they are not being responsible at all and their service is pitiful and a big joke!

This is unacceptable. There's no reason for a book to hold your money hostage for over two months. I wish you luck in recovering your funds.

Too many people accept the terms of service and allow a book to confiscate deposits. If the ToS says that you can shoot a person, it doesn't mean it's legal to shoot a person.

Your Stake Account(s), retain all monies in such Stake Accounts and ban You from future use of the Website.

This is too intrusive.

Source of Funds and Source of Wealth.

[holydarkness]

[...]

Your Stake Account(s), retain all monies in such Stake Accounts and ban You from future use of the Website.

This is too intrusive.

Source of Funds and Source of Wealth.

SoW is one of the standard practice of casino for AML, it's not just stake that ask for this, many other casinos also require the same for their advanced KYC verification. The whole process of this verification and why they keep rejecting things though, is not standard.

[Mahdirakib]

please community support my ongoing struggle against these scammers. i am awaiting more documents. as you can see from stake’s responses on my thread they are not being responsible at all and their service is pitiful and a big joke!

Unfortunately, we can't help you in your issue. First of all, Stunna is inactive in the forum. And the active representative of Stake won't be able to do anything. If I'm not wrong, then the KYC verification process is done by a third party service. It has been almost 2 and a half months since you are struggling with the KYC verification. Have you ever tried to gather and verify those documents as the way they are asking for it? I can see that Stake also accepts stamped letter from educational institutions. Isn't it possible for you to get a stamped and signed letter from your educational institute?

[Saint-loup]

This is unacceptable. There's no reason for a book to hold your money hostage for over two months. I wish you luck in recovering your funds.

Too many people accept the terms of service and allow a book to confiscate deposits. If the ToS says that you can shoot a person, it doesn't mean it's legal to shoot a person.

Your Stake Account(s), retain all monies in such Stake Accounts and ban You from future use of the Website.

This is too intrusive.

Source of Funds and Source of Wealth.

I agree with you, especially since it's written in their T&C they only require KYC documentation "to determine the identity and location of a Player."
However, source of funds and source of wealth have nothing to do with the identity and the location of one customer.

4.8 Stake reserves the right, at any time, to ask for any KYC documentation it deems necessary to determine the identity and location of a Player. Stake reserves the right to restrict the Service, payment or withdrawal until identity is sufficiently determined, or for any other reason in Stake’s sole discretion. Stake also reserves the right to disclose a Player’s information as appropriate to comply with legal process or as otherwise permitted by the privacy policy of Stake (owner and operator of Stake), and by using the Service, you acknowledge and consent to the possibility of such disclosure.

https://stake.com/policies/terms

Actually their T&Cs only allow them to ask proofs of funds and wealth in case of money laundering or terrorism financing suspicions, they call it "Enhanced KYC diligence" but they've never talk about that till now. They've just accused OP of multi-accounting from what I read.

B. Enhanced Due Diligence and Ongoing Monitoring
Stake performs ongoing monitoring on its users in order to detect any behaviours or indicators that might raise suspicions in regard to money laundering and terrorism financing practices. For that purpose, Stake has implemented a set of red flag indicators that help it determine such behaviours and require further action from Stake in assessing the customer information.
Whenever one of those red flags is triggered, the user account will be suspended and Stake will pursue enhanced due diligence. Enhanced KYC diligence under this policy is deemed to include, but not limit to, the provision of:
Full legal name;
Country of citizenship;
Permanent Address (which, for an individual, must be a residential or business street address, and for an entity, must be a principal place of business, local office or other physical location);
Identification number (either a taxpayer identification number, or, if unavailable, a passport number and country of issuance, alien identification card number or number and country of issuance of another government-issued document evidencing nationality or residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard);
Identification Document; and
Source of Funds and Source of Wealth.

https://stake.com/policies/anti-money-laundering

[notblox1]

Unfortunately, we can't help you in your issue. First of all, Stunna is inactive in the forum. And the active representative of Stake won't be able to do anything.

Does anyone know what happened to Stunna and did anyone replaced him in bitcointalk?
Last time he logged in in July last year and I think he was very active in forum and helped resolved many issues with customers.
I would not call Stake a scam but maybe they made more strict terms in last few years.

[Rating Place]

[...]

Your Stake Account(s), retain all monies in such Stake Accounts and ban You from future use of the Website.

This is too intrusive.

Source of Funds and Source of Wealth.

SoW is one of the standard practice of casino for AML, it's not just stake that ask for this, many other casinos also require the same for their advanced KYC verification. The whole process of this verification and why they keep rejecting things though, is not standard.

Although source of funds is included in the ToS of most of the crypto sportsbooks, there are sportsbooks that do not ask for source of funds. The rules seem to be the same everywhere, but invoking this rule differs greatly from sportsbook to sportsbook. The AML seems to be nothing more than an excuse looking for a way to take funds. All books seem to have a rollover. If someone is money laundering, it's obvious. They will 1x roll, or a small rollover, for a very large amount. Books in the UK and US ask for selfies but some of these books in CR ask for a video selfie. Your chances of being asked for proof of funds is higher at a book with a license in Curacao compared to the UK or US. It's suspicious when a Curacao book is intrusive for an obvious case where money laundering isn't involved. By taking a look at his deposit amounts and dates, there's no money laundering going on.

[holydarkness]

Does anyone know what happened to Stunna and did anyone replaced him in bitcointalk?
Last time he logged in in July last year and I think he was very active in forum and helped resolved many issues with customers.
I would not call Stake a scam but maybe they made more strict terms in last few years.

Probably taking a time-off as Stake has a couple of representative for different sectors; marketing by Carollzinha and Symphonized monitoring threads on this board. And yes, someone replaced him in bitcointalk... well, kinda. Symphonized is the one in charge of forwarding every open cases against them to their team.

However, source of funds and source of wealth have nothing to do with the identity and the location of one customer.
[...]

Although source of funds is included in the ToS of most of the crypto sportsbooks, there are sportsbooks that do not ask for source of funds. The rules seem to be the same everywhere, but invoking this rule differs greatly from sportsbook to sportsbook. The AML seems to be nothing more than an excuse looking for a way to take funds. All books seem to have a rollover. If someone is money laundering, it's obvious. They will 1x roll, or a small rollover, for a very large amount. Books in the UK and US ask for selfies but some of these books in CR ask for a video selfie. Your chances of being asked for proof of funds is higher at a book with a license in Curacao compared to the UK or US. It's suspicious when a Curacao book is intrusive for an obvious case where money laundering isn't involved. By taking a look at his deposit amounts and dates, there's no money laundering going on.

This part, I have to agree. Though SoW is a common practice for AML investigation, I don't think OP's case require for such high level of verification. If they suspect him of multi-acc, the standard KYC is more than enough to prove this. They arguably can ask for a video verification [with live video call, not just a selfie] if they doubt the originality of OP's document, but SoW should not be part of this investigation, let alone keep rejecting it.

[Rating Place]

~snip~

There is no progress of the KYC verification problem of OP. The complaint is active on Casino Guru with the involvement of all parties (OP, Stake representative and Casino Guru team). Stake representative has provided the details again today of the acceptable documents for the level 3 and level 4 KYC verification. But OP said that managing those documents is impossible in his region. Seems like it is going to be a long process, or a never ending process.

exactly. if you take notice, stake has dodged nearly all direct questions asked by casino guru.

it has been 25 days since stake has last replied to an email to me as well. i currently have lawyer who is able to assist me for process.

I'm pulling for you but don't spend too much money on a lawyer. CasinoGuru, AskGamblers and ThePogg are the three with a possibility of helping. If this goes to Curacao, you will not win there vs. Stake. Decided to edit some of this.

[Mahdirakib]

Does anyone know what happened to Stunna and did anyone replaced him in bitcointalk?
Last time he logged in in July last year and I think he was very active in forum and helped resolved many issues with customers.

As holydarkness has said above, Stunna maybe on leave from Bitcointalk account as they have other active representative who are forwarding the issues to the relevant department. But those representatives aren't engaging in the accusations directly to give some light in the accusation. Which is a bit strange. Stunna was giving replies to the complaints when he was active.

I would not call Stake a scam but maybe they made more strict terms in last few years.

This isn’t a scam, but OP's inability to complete the KYC verification. However, their KYC policy is strict now. OP might get some solution from Casino Guru as Stake representative is replying there on time to time.

[Rating Place]

Does anyone know what happened to Stunna and did anyone replaced him in bitcointalk?
Last time he logged in in July last year and I think he was very active in forum and helped resolved many issues with customers.

As holydarkness has said above, Stunna maybe on leave from Bitcointalk account as they have other active representative who are forwarding the issues to the relevant department. But those representatives aren't engaging in the accusations directly to give some light in the accusation. Which is a bit strange. Stunna was giving replies to the complaints when he was active.

I would not call Stake a scam but maybe they made more strict terms in last few years.

This isn’t a scam, but OP's inability to complete the KYC verification. However, their KYC policy is strict now. OP might get some solution from Casino Guru as Stake representative is replying there on time to time.

Don't you think that Stake is going way overboard with this? There has to be some common sense involved. It's not that complicated anymore to catch guys that multi-account. Everyone is profiled and the software spits out betting patterns. Since the books share information maybe he was red flagged elsewhere. It just seems way too long. Bot use, steam play, markets played, it's all there to compare.

[holydarkness]

[...]

Don't you think that Stake is going way overboard with this? There has to be some common sense involved. It's not that complicated anymore to catch guys that multi-account. Everyone is profiled and the software spits out betting patterns. Since the books share information maybe he was red flagged elsewhere. It just seems way too long.

[This also reply to a topic brushed on your original post above, I was about to reply that earlier, but I have to take care of some things]

If I may assume, the KYC was not because OP is accused for multi-accounting, it's sadly a preliminary step to determine if OP did abusing multi-account. Casinos require KYC prior to investigation so they can match the ID of the user with their blacklist. So, after OP finished the KYC --if he ever managed get to it-- that's when they will look deeper into the account. It's normally just take few days, a week or two perhaps, so yeah, this case is way too long.

[KosherMania]

uploaded new credit card statement… awaiting verification again