Runestake Overview
Runestake is a sweepstakes social casino launched in 2022 at runestake.com, operated under the Runestake brand. The platform runs a dual-currency system: Fun Cash (FC, play money) and Sweeps Cash (SC, redeemable for cash prizes at the standard 1 SC = $1 value). As of February 2026, the platform is available in 46+ US states, restricted only in Idaho, Michigan, Nevada, and DC. That coverage is significantly broader than Stake US (restricted in 19+ states).
We reviewed Runestake in February 2026. The platform is built around OSRS (Old School RuneScape) theming, Cases, Caskets, XP leveling, and in-game gold mechanics borrowed from the RuneScape universe. The result is a social gaming layer that traditional sweepstakes platforms like Chumba and Pulsz don't attempt. Community features (Discord giveaways, Twitter promotions, hourly token rains, and live chat) create a gaming-community atmosphere that differentiates Runestake from standard sweepstakes casino interfaces.
Runestake Bonuses & Promotions
Runestake takes an unconventional approach: there is no standard welcome bonus. Instead, players unlock offers through promo codes and the XP/leveling system. This departs from every other platform in our current review cycle, all of which offer some SC free on signup without a code requirement.
The first purchase bonus delivers 10 GC + 10 SC for $5: 10 Fun Cash plus 10 Sweeps Cash for $5. Purchase packages scale with a 1:1 FC:SC ratio all the way up, $500 yields 1,000 FC + 1,000 SC. The 1:1 ratio is transparent and predictable in a way that multi-tier bonus structures at competitors are not.
Up to 20% rakeback on all Sweeps Cash wagers, claimable daily, weekly, or monthly. For players who wager regularly, rakeback creates compounding value that one-time welcome bonuses don't match. At 20% rakeback, every 100 SC wagered returns 20 SC. Runewager offers a 6-tier rakeback structure (10-30%); Runestake's 20% flat maximum is simpler to track.
Cases and Caskets are earned through XP leveling, they contain loot items including Fun Cash and Sweeps Cash. This gamification layer creates ongoing rewards beyond standard login bonuses, with the progression mechanic encouraging sustained play rather than hit-and-run bonus hunting.
Community rewards: Discord giveaways, Twitter promotions, hourly token rains, and token prize pool races provide supplemental SC opportunities outside the standard bonus structure. The community-active player who engages across all channels can accumulate SC at rates that aren't reflected in the standard bonus figures.
Mail-in AMOE availability: not specifically documented in available data. Check sweepstakes rules at runestake.com for current procedures.
Restricted states: Idaho, Michigan, Nevada, DC, 4 jurisdictions. Available in 46+ US states.
Runestake Games & Providers
Hacksaw Gaming slots and Runestake Originals as of February 2026. Total game count is not disclosed. Categories: Slots (Hacksaw Gaming), Originals (Slide, Dice, Mines and additional Hacksaw-style arcade titles, Colors, Baccarats, HiLo).
Hacksaw Gaming's catalog is one of the most requested in the community for players crossing from real-money casino backgrounds. The studio's high-volatility titles and arcade-format games (HiLo, Mines, Dice) have strong followings on platforms like Roobet and Stake. Having Hacksaw in a sweepstakes format is a genuine draw for experienced players.
The Originals category with provably verifiable mechanics (Slide, Dice, Mines) adds transparency that most sweepstakes slot games don't offer. Runewager takes this further with 13 provably fair house games, Runestake's Originals offer a similar concept on a smaller scale.
The undisclosed total game count is a data gap we flag. Compared to Rich Sweeps (4,232) or Rolla (1,500), the library appears smaller based on provider scope. Runestake is a focused catalog play, not a breadth play.
Runestake Platform Features
No mobile app. Browser-based. Dark theme with orange highlights and active community elements: live chat, tip rain, and prize pool race boards visible in the interface. The OSRS theming runs throughout, it's not cosmetic only. The Cases/Caskets system, XP leveling, and integration with RuneScape gold as a redemption option (via Runewager, Runestake's close competitor) creates a vertical that serves the RuneScape gaming community specifically.
Hourly token rains are an active-player reward mechanic not common in the sweepstakes category. Discord giveaways and Twitter promos extend the reward system beyond the platform itself.
Runestake Banking & Redemptions
Redemption method: crypto-only. Processing time: minutes. Minimum redemption: 100 SC ($100) SC ($100).
Crypto-only redemption at minute-level processing is the fastest payout pipeline we've documented in the sweepstakes category. For comparison: Rich Sweeps runs 24-48 hours for crypto. Runewager is ~6 hours for Bitcoin. Runestake processes in minutes.
The tradeoff is real: crypto-only means no bank transfer, no gift cards, no Cash App. Players without crypto wallet setup are locked out of redemption entirely. For non-crypto users, alternatives with fiat redemption include Rolla (Visa/Mastercard), Scarlet Sands (Visa/PayPal/Cash App), and Rich Sweeps (debit card).
Purchases use fiat currency, you buy in with dollars, redeem in crypto. The 1:1 FC:SC purchase ratio means no hidden multiplier math. $100 in = 100 FC + 100 SC. Clean.
Runestake Customer Support
Live chat is available in-platform. Discord is an active support and community channel. The social-first infrastructure (Discord, Twitter, live chat) means support responsiveness may vary by channel, Discord typically has faster community response than email-based systems.
Runestake Trust & Legitimacy
Operator: Runestake (specific corporate entity not disclosed in available research). Registration jurisdiction not published. Launched 2022. No BBB or Trustpilot score is confirmed in our current dataset, though the 3-year operational track record is longer than most platforms in this review batch.
Runestake operates under US sweepstakes law, not a gaming license. Standard for the category. The crypto-only redemption model and 3-year track record with a niche community base are the primary trust indicators.
No sister sites are documented in available research beyond the thematic overlap with Runewager (a separate, competing platform targeting the same OSRS audience).
Runestake State Availability
Blocked in Idaho, Michigan, Nevada, and DC, 4 jurisdictions. Available in 46+ US states as of February 2026. This is broader coverage than most sweepstakes competitors: Stake US blocks 19+ states, Rich Sweeps blocks 5, Rolling Riches blocks 17.
Runestake Responsible Gambling
As of February 2026, specific responsible gambling tools are not detailed in public documentation. Contact support via live chat or Discord for self-exclusion and purchase limit options.
If gambling is causing problems, call the National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700 or visit ncpgambling.org.
Is Runestake Worth It?
For OSRS community members: Runestake is built specifically for this audience. The Cases/Caskets, XP system, and community events are not superficial theming, they're a genuine integration with RuneScape culture. No other sweepstakes platform in our tracker offers this.
For crypto users who want fast payouts: minute-level crypto redemptions are unmatched in the sweepstakes category. If you're comfortable with crypto and want the fastest possible payout pipeline, Runestake is the platform.
For players who want rakeback over upfront bonuses: 20% rakeback on all SC wagers rewards volume play in a way that one-time welcome packages don't. Long-term value at 20% rakeback competes with any welcome bonus at comparable volume.
For non-crypto users: crypto-only redemption is a hard blocker. Rolla, Scarlet Sands, and Rich Sweeps all offer fiat payout options.
For casual players who want a standard welcome bonus: the no-code, no-standard-bonus entry structure requires more effort than just signing up and claiming SC. Rolla's 10 SC across 7 days or Scoop's 1 SC instant welcome are simpler entry points.
Sweepstakes play involves real prize eligibility. Purchase costs are optional. PLAY RESPONSIBLY.