When Stake partnered with SOFTSWISS in 2020, the crypto-first operator had just 15 proprietary games in its catalogue and a clear need to scale fast. Five years later, Stake has reached $4.7 billion in GGR and is actively expanding into regulated fiat markets worldwide — a trajectory that SOFTSWISS founder Ivan Montik and Stake co-founder Ed Craven attribute not just to technology, but to the quality of the partnership itself.
From Crypto Challenger to Billion-Dollar Operator
The relationship between Stake and SOFTSWISS dates to 2020, when the three-year-old crypto casino was seeking a game aggregator capable of scaling its content offering quickly while supporting crypto-optimised access across providers.
At the time, Stake’s catalogue consisted of 15 Originals — proprietary titles developed in-house. What it needed was a partner that could rapidly expand that library without sacrificing platform integrity.
SOFTSWISS provided exactly that. Through its Game Aggregator, Stake’s catalogue grew from 15 to 1,500 titles in a short period — a jump that required more than a standard API integration. It demanded a near-complete rebuild of the operator’s technical infrastructure.
“From the start, it was clear we shared the same pace and mindset,” said Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS. “That’s why the partnership developed so naturally.”
Trust as the Foundation for Growth
As Stake continued to grow, expanding into new markets and building its brand through high-profile sponsorships, the partnership with SOFTSWISS evolved from a supplier relationship into something closer to a shared strategic direction.
Ed Craven, Co-founder of Stake, credits this dynamic as a key factor in the operator’s growth:
“The right partner is someone who’s proactive, who brings opportunities to the table, and who’s willing to grow alongside you rather than just provide a service.”
For Montik, the partnership represents a validation of SOFTSWISS’ long-term vision:
“What truly defines success for us isn’t just the software, it’s the relationships behind it. Stake has become one of the leading names in iGaming, and seeing them grow using technology and mindset we both believe in is one of those achievements that validates our long-term vision.”
Expanding into Regulated Markets
With $4.7 billion in GGR reached by 2024, Stake is now focusing on expanding its presence in regulated fiat currency markets globally. This shift requires differentiating the operator’s product offering from existing licensed competitors — a challenge that keeps compliance, platform flexibility, and player experience at the centre of the SOFTSWISS partnership.
Montik notes that this balance defines where iGaming companies are headed:
“Innovation only matters when it creates value for the player. The challenge for modern iGaming companies is to maintain speed and creativity while ensuring trust and transparency. Stake manages that balance very well, and it’s something we at SOFTSWISS deeply value in our partners.”
The SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, continues to serve as a central pillar of the Stake platform, now offering access to titles from more than 300 game studios via a single API integration.
Source: Softswiss – original interview with iGaming Business
