Ed Craven

Edward Craven (born 1995) is an Australian billionaire. He is primarily known for co-founding the online casino Stake.com and the live-streaming platform Kick.[1][2][3]

Edward Craven
NationalityAustralian
OccupationEntrepreneur
Known forCo-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.[4][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 due to its user-friendly interface, innovative betting options, the integration of cryptocurrency transactions and collaborations with celebrities.[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 as a competitor to Amazon's Twitch. Kick, an online live-streaming platform, was launched in Melbourne in 2022 by Craven and his business partner, Bijan Tehrani.[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]

According to the Australian Financial Review, Kick, under the management of Craven, has increased its visibility and appeal through sponsorships with well-known organizations, including the Alfa Romeo F1 Team and Everton Football Club. These sponsorships reflect Craven’s strategic efforts to establish a prominent presence for Kick in the live-streaming industry.[3]

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 learn much from his Father, Jamie Craven, who 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]

Craven plays online games and livestreams his gameplay on Kick. He has streamed alongside celebrities including Drake.[17]

In October 2022, Craven debuted on Australia's Young Rich List[18] and in March 2023 was included in the Richest 250 issued by The Australian,[19] with a reported net worth of $2.01 billion.[20] In 2021 he donated $10m to GiveWell.[21]

Craven resides in Melbourne. In 2022 he purchased the most expensive house in Toorak, Victoria.[22]

References
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. "Rich Lister accused of encouraging 'incredibly inappropriate' behaviour". Australian Financial Review. 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  4. "Stake.com: the Aussie gambling minnow that made it big on crypto". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  5. "The men conquering crypto … but are the stakes too high?". The Australian.
  6. "The secret Australian origins of the world's biggest crypto casino". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 December 2021.
  7. "No room at the inn for Stake.com crypto billionaires". theaustralian.
  8. "Alfa Romeo F1 team announce co-title partnership with Stake". Reuters. 27 January 2023.
  9. "Everton FC - News, pictures and video". The Mirror US. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  10. "Stake.com: the Aussie gambling minnow that made it big on crypto". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  11. "📰 Why Isn't Drake Playing High Stakes Poker?". HighStakesDB. 2023-11-21. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  12. "Top Twitch creator endorses platform connected to crypto gambling site". The Washington Post.
  13. "Kick Vs. Twitch: Choosing the Right Platform for Live Streaming". OBSBOT - The Best Auto-Tracking Webcam. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  14. "Sauber's new team name unveiled after Alfa Romeo departure". www.formula1.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  15. "Audi expands commitment to Formula 1 with 100% takeover of Sauber | Formula 1®". www.formula1.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  16. Danckert, Sarah. "The secret Australian origins of the world's biggest crypto casino".
  17. "Drake and crypto betting site Stake officially announce partnership: 'It was inevitable'". USA Today. 4 March 2022.
  18. "Meet this year's 26 Young Rich List debutants". Australian Financial Review. 25 October 2022.
  19. "'We've had to forge our own path'". The Australian.
  20. "Ed Craven Net Worth | Stake.com & Kick Founder". www.slotsup.com. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  21. Martinez, Olivia (2024-02-09). "The 5 Richest Gamblers and Their Net Worth – Who They Are and How They Accumulated Their Billions". Bettors Insider. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  22. Bucci, Nino (16 August 2022). "High stakes: the cryptocurrency casino king who bought the most expensive house in Victoria". The Guardian.
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