News Brief: English
Summary
An investigation reveals how Stake.com, a major online casino licensed in Curaçao, used VIP hosts and bonuses to exploit a vulnerable player, “Oscar,” despite clear signs of his gambling addiction. Internal chat logs and data show the platform ignored his repeated pleas for help and self-exclusion, instead incentivizing further losses. This case is not isolated, with former employees describing systemic failures in responsible gambling interventions.
Key Points
- Targeted Incentives: After initial heavy losses, Oscar was immediately enrolled in a VIP program. Host “Jelena” consistently offered bonuses and encouragement to keep him gambling, even after he expressed a desire to quit.
- Ignored Red Flags: Oscar lost over $180,000, gambled beyond his means using loans, and asked multiple times to delete his account or self-exclude. Stake’s VIP host did not conduct welfare checks or inquire about his financial situation.
- Exploiting “Cooling-Off” Periods: When Oscar tried to self-exclude, the process involved a 24-hour delay, which Stake used to offer more bonuses, weakening his resolve. (Stake states its current policy has no cooling-off period).
- Systemic Issue: Former employees state signs of problem gambling were routinely ignored, with hundreds of similar cases daily. Interventions were rare unless a player explicitly mentioned suicide.
- Regulatory Arbitrage: Stake operates with a Curaçao license, allowing it to serve players in countries where it’s banned (like Australia, UK, US), bypassing local consumer protection and self-exclusion schemes.
- Legal Outcome: A Curaçao court in March 2025 did not formally recognize Oscar’s gambling addiction due to lack of a formal diagnosis. However, it ruled Stake operated unlawfully in Denmark and ordered the casino to refund 50% of his losses.
新闻简报：中文
摘要
一项调查揭示了主要在线赌场Stake.com如何利用VIP客服和奖金诱惑一名脆弱玩家”Oscar”，尽管其赌博成瘾迹象明显。内部聊天记录和数据表明，该平台无视他多次寻求帮助和自我排除的请求，反而激励他继续输钱。此案并非孤立，前员工描述了其在负责任赌博干预方面的系统性失职。
关键点
- 针对性诱惑：在初期巨额亏损后，Oscar立即被纳入VIP计划。客服”Jelena”持续提供奖金和鼓励，即使在他表示想戒赌后也是如此。
- 被忽视的危险信号：Oscar损失超过18万美元，通过贷款超负担赌博，并多次要求删除账户或自我排除。Stake的VIP客服未进行福利检查或询问其财务状况。
- 利用”冷静期”：当Oscar尝试自我排除时，流程包含24小时延迟，Stake利用此机会提供更多奖金，削弱他的决心。（Stake称其现行政策无冷静期）。
- 系统性问题：前员工称，问题赌博的迹象通常被忽视，每天有数百起类似案例。除非玩家明确提及自杀，否则很少进行干预。
- 监管套利：Stake持有库拉索执照，使其能够向被禁国家（如澳大利亚、英国、美国）的玩家提供服务，绕过当地的消费者保护和自我排除计划。
- 法律结果：2025年3月，库拉索法院因缺乏正式诊断，未正式认定Oscar的赌博成瘾。但裁定Stake在丹麦无照经营属非法，并命令赌场退还其50%的损失。
Original Article Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-04/case-against-the-worlds-biggest-crypto-casino-stake-vip-host/105884760