Edward Craven (born 1996)[1] is an Australian billionaire. He is primarily known for co-founding the online casino Stake.com and the live-streaming platform Kick.[2][3][4]
Edward Craven | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Co-founder of online casino Stake.com and live-streaming platform Kick |
Career
Pre-Stake
After experimenting together with Bijan Tehran with virtual gambling in RuneScape, Craven and Tehran created Primedice, a cryptocurrency-based online dice game in 2013.[5] In 2016, they launched Easygo, a company specializing in online casino games.[6]
Stake.com
In 2017 the Stake.com brand debuted, operating through a license in Curaçao. The company maintains offices in Serbia, Australia, and Cyprus. It became one of the world's largest gambling companies.[7]
Stake.com expanded to the UK in December 2021 through a partnership with TGP Europe. It serves as the main shirt sponsor for Everton FC and Watford FC, and also backs the Alfa Romeo Formula One team.[8][9]
From 2022, Canadian musician Drake was paid $100 million annually to endorse Stake on social media.[10][11]
Kick
Launched in 2022 by Craven and his business partner, Bijan Tehrani, Kick is intended to compete with Amazon's Twitch as an online live-streaming platform.[12] The platform provides an alternative to the popular streaming service Twitch, as it provides a 95-5% split of revenues to content creators.[13]
Kick's sponsorships include the Alfa Romeo F1 Team and Everton Football Club.[4] In January 2024, Kick and Stake became the title sponsors of the Sauber F1 team[14] for the 2024 and 2025 seasons ahead of Audi taking control of the team in 2026.[15]
Personal life
Craven's father, Jamie Craven was banned from working in the financial services industry and jailed for 6 months in the 1980s over the collapse of investment company Spedley Securities.[16][17]
Craven plays online games and livestreams his gameplay on Kick. He has streamed alongside celebrities including Drake.[18]
Craven resides in Melbourne. In 2022 he purchased the most expensive house in Toorak, Victoria.[19]
References
- ^ Seeto, Tamika (21 June 2024). "Wild details revealed as 28-year-old builds Australia's most expensive home". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ Begley, Patrick (2024-02-21). "The private chat messages from inside an Australian billionaire's 'money machine'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
- ^ Bucci, Nino (2022-08-16). "High stakes: the cryptocurrency casino king who bought the most expensive house in Victoria". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
- ^ a b "Rich Lister accused of encouraging 'incredibly inappropriate' behaviour". Australian Financial Review. 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
- ^ "Stake.com: the Aussie gambling minnow that made it big on crypto". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ^ "The secret Australian origins of the world's biggest crypto casino". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 December 2021.
- ^ "No room at the inn for Stake.com crypto billionaires". theaustralian.
- ^ "Alfa Romeo F1 team announce co-title partnership with Stake". Reuters. 27 January 2023.
- ^ "Everton FC - News, pictures and video". The Mirror US. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
- ^ "Stake.com: the Aussie gambling minnow that made it big on crypto". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
- ^ Brown, Preezy (2 March 2022). "Drake Partners With Online Platform Stake For Live Betting Event". VIBE. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Top Twitch creator endorses platform connected to crypto gambling site". The Washington Post.
- ^ D'Anastasio, Cecilia (2023-03-03). "Twitch's New Streaming Rival Kick Tests Waters of Lighter Moderation". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- ^ "Sauber's new team name unveiled after Alfa Romeo departure". www.formula1.com (Press release). Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ "Audi expands commitment to Formula 1 with 100% takeover of Sauber". www.formula1.com (Press release). Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ Danckert, Sarah. "The secret Australian origins of the world's biggest crypto casino".
- ^ Macken, Lucy (10 April 2024). "Crypto casino billionaire Ed Craven's dad buys trophy beach house for $16m cash". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Drake and crypto betting site Stake officially announce partnership: 'It was inevitable'". USA Today. 4 March 2022.
- ^ Bucci, Nino (16 August 2022). "High stakes: the cryptocurrency casino king who bought the most expensive house in Victoria". The Guardian.