The online gambling space is split between two clear camps. On one side are the established traditional operators that have built their brands over decades. On the other are the crypto-first
The online gambling space is split between two clear camps. On one side are the established traditional operators that have built their brands over decades. On the other are the crypto-first casinos that have grown fast over the last few years. Bet365 sits firmly in the first camp. Stake.com is one of the biggest names in the second. Both have huge followings, but they appeal to very different kinds of players.
A new name is now starting to draw attention from both sides. ZunaBet launched in 2026 with a crypto-first design, more than 11,000 games, a complete sportsbook, and a loyalty program built around dragons. This article looks at how Stake.com and Bet365 compare and why ZunaBet is shaping up as the platform many players are trying next.
Stake.com built its reputation as a crypto-first casino and sportsbook. It runs on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major coins, and its identity has been shaped by speed, a clean interface, and a serious sportsbook that includes deep esports coverage. Stake has put a lot of money into sponsorships with major sports teams and creators, which has made it one of the most recognizable names in crypto gambling.
Bet365 took the opposite path. It came up through UK sports betting and grew into one of the largest traditional gambling operators in the world. The sportsbook is its strongest product, with deep markets and one of the best live betting setups in the industry. The casino, poker, and live dealer products came later. Payments stick to cards, bank transfers, and a small group of e-wallets, and Bet365 only operates in regulated markets with strict rules.
Both platforms work well for what they do. Stake serves players who want a fast crypto-based experience. Bet365 serves players who want a familiar, regulated, fiat-based one. The space between them, where crypto meets a massive game library and a fully featured sportsbook, is where newer platforms are stepping in.
ZunaBet runs under Strathvale Group Ltd and operates on an Anjouan gaming license. The team behind it has more than 20 years of combined industry experience, but the platform itself is brand new and built specifically for a crypto-first audience.
Playtech At ZunaBet The library is one of the biggest in the space. ZunaBet carries 11,294 games from 63 providers. The lineup includes Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, Yggdrasil, BGaming, and Evolution. Slots take up most of the catalog, with RNG table games and live dealer rooms covering the rest. That kind of variety puts ZunaBet at the high end of the crypto casino space.
ZunaBet Sports The sportsbook sits alongside the casino as a full product. It covers football, basketball, tennis, NHL, and other major sports with proper depth. Esports gets equal treatment, with markets for CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends, and Valorant. Virtual sports and combat sports finish out the menu. Players can move from a slot to a sports bet without leaving the platform.
Payments are where the three platforms split most clearly.
Bet365 runs entirely on traditional banking. Cards, bank transfers, and a few e-wallets handle the bulk of activity. These methods are familiar but slow. Withdrawals can take a few business days. Some banks block gambling transactions. Players in certain regions are stuck with very few options.
Stake.com is crypto-first and supports a solid list of cryptocurrencies. Withdrawals are quick, fees are light, and the overall flow is smoother than dealing with a bank.
ZunaBet Payments ZunaBet pushes the crypto-first model even further. It supports more than 20 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT across multiple chains, Solana, Dogecoin, Cardano, and XRP. The platform does not add processing fees, and withdrawals usually clear in minutes. Players in any region with a wallet and a connection can use it the same way, which removes much of the friction that comes with banking-based systems.
This kind of setup is a big part of why the newer wave of platforms is pulling players in. For a generation that already uses crypto for trading, payments, and saving, gambling with it is just one more natural use.
Loyalty systems are another spot where each platform shows its personality.
Bet365 runs a standard rewards system. Players earn points based on wagering and unlock perks like cashback and free spins. It works, but it tends to feel similar to most other traditional VIP setups.
Stake.com built a more modern rewards model with rakeback, weekly bonuses, and rank-based perks. It has been popular with high-volume players and is part of why Stake has held a strong place in the crypto market.
ZunaBet VIP ZunaBet went in a different direction altogether. Its loyalty system is built around a dragon evolution theme with six tiers: Squire, Warden, Champion, Divine, Knight, and Ultimate. Each tier brings better rakeback, starting at 1% and reaching 20% at the top. Higher tiers also unlock more free spins, with up to 1,000 available at the highest level. VIP club access, double wheel spins, and a mascot named Zuno round out the experience.
A 20% rakeback at the top tier is one of the highest in the industry. The bigger draw is how the progression feels. Climbing through dragon tiers feels closer to leveling up in a game than tracking points on a card. That kind of design lines up well with how players already engage with apps and games outside of gambling.
The welcome bonus is often the first signal of how generous a platform is willing to be. Bet365 offers welcome bonuses tied to a single deposit, usually with strict wagering rules. Stake.com tends to focus less on a big upfront bonus and more on ongoing rewards and rakeback for active players.
ZunaBet Welcome Bonus ZunaBet leans into the welcome offer in a big way. It spreads the package across three deposits, with a total value of up to $5,000 plus 75 free spins. The first deposit gets a 100% match up to $2,000 plus 25 spins. The second adds a 50% match up to $1,500 plus 25 spins. The third closes things off with another 100% match up to $1,500 plus 25 spins. Together that works out to a 250% bonus across the first three deposits, which is well above what most platforms in the space offer.
The strength of ZunaBet is not just one feature but the way the whole platform fits together. Crypto-first payments. A huge game library. A full sportsbook with serious esports coverage. A loyalty program with real personality. Each piece was designed with the same kind of player in mind. Someone who already lives online, manages money in wallets, follows esports, and wants a casino that actually feels modern.
Stake.com serves a similar crowd but with its own style. Bet365 serves a more traditional audience. ZunaBet sits in the middle of those two worlds, combining the speed and modern feel of crypto casinos with the kind of library size and loyalty design that newer players expect.
Stake.com and Bet365 are not going anywhere. Both have strong brands, big user bases, and proven products. They will keep doing what they do well for the players who prefer their approach.
But the bigger picture is shifting. Crypto has gone mainstream. Esports betting is now a major category. Players want faster payments, bigger libraries, and platforms that feel alive. ZunaBet was built around those expectations from day one rather than retrofitted from an older model. It is still new, but it is already drawing attention as one of the most interesting casino launches of 2026. For players asking which platform to try next, ZunaBet is quickly becoming the answer.
The post Stake.com vs Bet365: Is ZunaBet the Next Platform Players Try? appeared first on Blockonomi.
