HiStakes

HiStakes Review

How We Reviewed HiStakes

In the wake of its closure, HiStakes’ comically large Welcome Bonus of up to 5 BTC now appears too good to be true. But we at CryptoSpinners knew it was the real deal, and that it sat snug among the other generous promotions we’ll unpack in this retro review. We aim to crystalise the reputation HiStakes had as an up-and-running casino so, as always, you can expect a fair and thorough breakdown of what this digital playground had to offer. We’ll parse the following details:

1. Licence, safety & fairness
   With so many dodgy casinos out there, especially in the crypto space, establishing a site’s credentials are critical.
   
2. Evaluation of offers & bonuses
   Every casino claims to offer the best bonuses – but how good are they really?
   
3. Process to open a new account
   Signing up to a casino shouldn’t feel like pulling teeth, and shouldn’t take hours either. We’ll tell you what our experience was like.
   
4. Cryptocurrencies supported
   If you’re going to call yourself a ‘crypto casino’ these days, you need to accept more than Bitcoin and Litecoin! We’ll let you know how ‘crypto’ the casino really is.
   
5. Assessment of the games and providers selection
   Let’s face it, not all casino games are created equal. Some providers are leagues ahead of others, and we want to see both quality and quantity.
   
6. How to withdraw
   Most casinos make it easy to deposit, but withdrawing should be just as easy. After all, it’s your crypto!
   
7. Investigation of the customer support
   Too many casinos don’t invest enough in player support, and we don’t like that. We want to see several contact methods, including live chat and email, and ideally a freephone number too. Are the staff professional and knowledgeable too?
   
8. Responsible gaming tools available to players
   All good casinos take responsible gambling seriously. We want to see easy-to-use player management tools, clear advice, and links to additional help resources.
   
9. Awards won
   Okay, so, we can’t expect all casinos (especially new ones) to have a cabinet full of trophies in their boardroom – but, it’s definitely a plus if they do!
   
10. Overall gaming experience
    All things considered, how do we feel this casino stacks up against the competition?

HiStakes Licences, Safety and Fairness

HiStakes had the Following Licence

• Curaçao (#8048/JAZ – Antillephone)

What Made HiStakes Safe?

HiStakes.io was transparent about its owners and operators, which was very reassuring. It was operated by Curaçao-based Familypot B.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cyprus-based FifthStreet Tech Ltd. The site was secured by SSL encryption, so you could rest assured the connection was private and safe. 

While we always scour the web for other reviews and rankings of the casinos we review, HiStakes only launched in 2022, so it’s understandable that not many are yet available. Likewise, although a Curaçao licence isn’t worth much, there’s really no other option for crypto casinos right now. Hopefully, this will change, but for now, it’s better than no license at all. 

Welcome Offers and Bonuses at HiStakes.io Casino

Welcome Offer: Up to 5 BTC

Considering that HiStakes is a purely crypto casino, it’s not surprising the welcome offer is in Bitcoin – worth up to 5 BTC to be precise. At the time of writing, that was worth nearly US$100,000. High stakes indeed!

The way the welcome bonus works is pretty standard. Just click ‘Choose your bonus’ and select the offer, then make your BTC deposit (at least 0.0009 BTC), and you’ll receive a deposit match bonus of 100%, up to 5 BTC.  

As to be expected, the welcome bonus is subject to wagering requirements, but they are very reasonable, at just 25x. As with most casinos, only selected slots and instant win/scratch cards count 100% towards wagering, while live casino only counts 20%. However, you do get a relatively generous 60 days to meet wagering requirements.

Other Promotions at HiStakes

You can also get a sports welcome bonus, worth 100% up to 0.005 BTC. The minimum deposit required is 0.0009 BTC, and there’s a 5x wagering requirement with a 60 day limit.

HiStakes No Deposit Bonus

Unfortunately, at the time of reviewing, HiStakes did not offer a no deposit bonus.

HiStakes Rakeback Bonus

Unfortunately, at the time of reviewing, HiStakes did not offer a rakeback bonus.

HiStakes Promotions and Tournaments

Unfortunately, at the time of reviewing, HiStakes did not offer any tournaments.

HiStakes Loyalty Club and VIP program

At the time of reviewing, HiStakes had not launched any loyalty club or VIP program. However, we expect they will do so at some point in the future, so watch this space. 

How to Register a New Account with HiStakes

Getting your HiStakes.io casino account up and running is pretty simple. 

1. Sign-up: Click on the yellow ‘Sign Up’ button found in the top right corner. 
2. Enter your email address, and select a password. 
3. Provide your mobile phone number, date of birth, country and a few other details.
4. Verify your mobile numbers via the SMS the casino sends.
5. You are good to go. 

Note: before you can withdraw, you will need to verify your details – more on that in the withdrawal section later.

Cryptocurrencies Supported by HiStakes

HiStakes currently supports a handful of cryptos only. These are:

• Bitcoin (BTC)
• Ether (ETH)
• Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
• Litecoin (LTC)
• XRP (XRP)

How to Deposit at HiStakes

Depositing at HiStakes is simple. Just go to your account and select ‘deposit’. Then select the crypto you want to deposit. Copy the appropriate casino wallet address, then go to your own wallet and make a transfer to that address. Depending on which crypto you are using, the deposit can be almost instant (BCH, LTC, XRP), or take up to half an hour (BTC or ETH).

Games Available at HiStakes

When it comes to game choice, HiStakes does better – offering not only a decent selection of slots, jackpot games, table games, and live casino, but also titles from some of the most respected providers. 

Branded Tables and Exclusive Games

At the time of reviewing, HiStakes did not offer any of its own branded or exclusive games.

Slots at HiStakes

At the time of our review, HiStakes only offered 265 slots – which isn’t going to impress anyone. But, those slots were from providers including NetEnt, Push Gaming, and Relax Gaming. This means you can enjoy huge hits like Money Train, Aloha! Cluster Pays, Hotline, and Narcos. However, browsing the slots at HiStakes can be frustrating due to lack of a ‘providers’ filter. But, on the plus side, there aren’t that many slots to scroll through, so it’s passable. 

Live Dealer Casino at HiStakes

If you prefer live casino action, HiStakes offers a modest selection of live dealer roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps, sic bo, and poker from Evolution – one of the best providers in the field. In addition to standard live roulette, you can also enjoy games like Power Blackjack, Live Speed Roulette, and Side Bet City. 

Star in a Real Game Show

Alongside traditional casino games, you’ll also find several live game shows in the Live Casino section at HiStakes.io. Again, these are from Evolution, so you can look forward to high production standards and professional hosts. Game shows available include Crazy Time, Deal or No Deal, Monopoly Live, Dream Catcher, and Football Studio.

Game Providers

Withdrawing Your Crypto from HiStakes

Because it’s a crypto-only casino, withdrawing funds from HiStakes.io is quick and easy. Withdrawal times will vary depending on the crypto network you are using, so it’s best to allow a few hours.

However, do bear in mind that you will need to have verified your account first. There are several options for verification; ID, Address, E-wallet, and Other. Though verification is normally quick, you do have to wait for the HiStakes team to check your documents, so you might want to get verification out the way when you sign-up.

Step by Step Guide to Withdrawing from HiStakes

1. Go to your casino account
2. Select the crypto and how much you want to withdraw
3. Enter your destination wallet address
4. Confirm the transaction

Important Information About Withdrawing

• Always use copy and paste, and double check crypto wallet addresses.
• Remember that some crypto transactions can suffer significant delays due to network congestion (for example, Ether (ETH) and Ethereum-based tokens). 

HiStakes Mobile App

HiStakes does not offer a mobile app at this time, though the site works fine on most mobile devices using a regular browser.

HiStakes Player Support

When it comes to player support, HiStakes.io has the basics in place – namely email and live chat. The staff seem pleasant enough and know their job, so they should be able to solve any problems you run into.

Languages:

The HiStakes casino site is available in English, Finnish, Norwegian, German, and Japanese. 

Responsible Gaming at HiStakes

HiStakes provides useful tools in player accounts. Click on ‘Gaming Limits’ in your account, and you’ll be able to set deposit, loss, and wager limits, for a single day, week, or month. From here, you can also choose to block your account completely for a day, week, or month. Of course, you can also permanently self-exclude by contacting player support.

Links are also provided to Gambling Therapy, Gamblers Anonymous, and GamCare.

Awards and Recognitions

At the time of writing, HiStakes did not display any awards or recognitions.

Overall Impressions of HiStakes

On the plus side, HiStakes is clean and nicely designed, and it’s quick and easy to join. It also offers games from some of the best providers around, like Evolution, NetEnt, and Quickspin. And, let’s not forget, there’s the added bonus of sports betting too.

But, clearly, HiStakes’ biggest attraction is its potentially massive crypto casino Welcome Bonus – of up to 5 BTC, which, even at the time of writing, during the 2022 crypto winter, was still the equivalent to nearly $100,000. But, as things stand, it still doesn’t quite cut the mustard. This is due to a combination of lack of other bonuses and tournaments, a limited number of supported cryptos, and relatively low number of games.

All things considered, HiStakes.io has all the traits of a very promising crypto casino, and we’re sure it will mature into a great gaming destination. But, right now, it’s only really going to suit those who looking to spend big with Bitcoin.