ClearStake raises £1.5M to expand UK iGaming verification

ClearStake, a UK-based verification technology company focused on enhancing compliance and player verification within the iGaming sector, has announced that it has raised £1.5 million in its latest funding round. The round drew support from some of the most prominent figures in the online gaming industry, underscoring growing interest in innovative, regulatory-friendly verification solutions.

This fresh injection of capital is intended to accelerate ClearStake’s expansion across the UK and Europe, with a particular focus on rolling out ID by Bank, its latest product designed to streamline player verification using secure banking technology.

A step forward for frictionless verification

ClearStake’s ID by Bank allows operators to instantly verify player identities through their existing banking applications. This innovation eliminates the need for traditional document-based verification, significantly reducing fraud risk and manual review times. For operators, the result is a faster onboarding process that maintains regulatory compliance while improving conversion rates and customer satisfaction.

According to the company, this solution directly addresses one of the major pain points in online gaming—balancing regulatory compliance with player experience. In recent years, increasingly stringent verification and affordability checks introduced by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) have required operators to adopt more robust, transparent processes. Many operators have found that manual verifications not only slow down player registration but also increase operational costs and create friction that drives players away.

By integrating with banks directly, ClearStake’s system leverages verified financial data in real time, reducing administrative burdens for operators and ensuring compliance with both anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) regulations.

Strong backing from leading iGaming entrepreneurs

Among those who participated in the funding round are several high-profile industry figures who have built and led successful gaming enterprises. Notable backers include Michael Brady (Bede Gaming, Conexus), Simon Collins (formerly of Foxy Bingo and Gaming Realms plc), Savvas Fellas (MrQ.com), Will Armitage and Philipp Strizke (BestOdds.com), Max Wright (White Hat Gaming), Ben Clemes (formerly of GiG, HappyHour), David Flynn (Glitnor Group), Paddy Power (Flutter), and Sam Swannell (PointsBet).

These investors bring not only financial resources but also deep operational experience and strategic insight into how compliance technology can enhance player engagement. Their participation reflects an industry-wide recognition that effective verification and affordability assessment tools are becoming essential for sustainable growth in regulated markets.

CEO Martin Burt: “Verification should drive growth, not kill it”

Commenting on the investment, ClearStake CEO Martin Burt said, “This raise is a strong signal that our mission matters more than ever. The investors backing us have built some of the most successful businesses in iGaming and have experienced first-hand the challenges of regulatory friction.

“Their support validates our approach: making all verification seamless, compliant and player-friendly. With products like ID by Bank and our affordability and source-of-funds solutions, we’re proving that exceptional customer experience around verification and compliance can actually drive growth, not kill it.”

Burt’s remarks highlight a broader shift in thinking within the iGaming sector: compliance and growth are no longer mutually exclusive. Rather than viewing regulatory processes as barriers, ClearStake seeks to position them as opportunities to improve transparency, build trust, and enhance player retention.

Building on earlier success and strong partnerships

This latest funding round follows an earlier raise in February 2024, which helped ClearStake expand its operations and establish key partnerships with major operators, including tombola, MrQ, and Ivy Casino. These collaborations have provided proof of concept for the company’s technology, demonstrating how automation and verified data can transform verification workflows.

The company’s tools have already played a role in multiple UKGC audits, supplying operators with transparent, audit-ready datasets. According to ClearStake, these capabilities not only simplify compliance reviews but also help operators maintain continuous oversight of their regulatory responsibilities—something increasingly critical as regulators demand higher accountability standards.

The growing need for smarter compliance in iGaming

The UK iGaming market is one of the most heavily regulated in the world. With continuous changes to affordability checks, source-of-funds assessments, and data transparency requirements, operators face mounting pressure to ensure every step of their customer journey complies with regulatory expectations.

Manual verification processes often involve back-and-forth communication, document uploads, and long approval times—all of which create frustration for players and operational inefficiency for operators. In contrast, automated systems like ClearStake’s ID by Bank can instantly validate a player’s identity through secure connections with their banking provider, reducing onboarding time from hours—or even days—to minutes.

Such advancements are crucial as regulators move towards a more data-driven, proactive model of oversight. Solutions that combine transparency with efficiency are likely to become the gold standard for operators seeking to maintain compliance while remaining competitive.

The ClearStake leadership and investor network

ClearStake’s investor network reads like a who’s who of global gaming executives. Beyond the latest backers, the company’s cap table already includes experienced industry leaders such as Seth Young (CEO, High Roller), Cormac Barry (former CEO, Sportsbet), Tom Cregan (former CEO, EML), Adam Perrin (formerly of Paddy Power), and Oliver Slipper, co-founder and former CEO of Stats Perform.

Their continued support signals confidence not only in the product but also in ClearStake’s broader mission: to make verification and affordability assessments more intuitive, transparent, and scalable.

A roadmap for growth and innovation

With new funding secured, ClearStake intends to expand its technology stack, enhance integrations with major financial institutions, and extend its reach into new regulated markets. While its core focus remains the UK, the company has already seen growing interest from European operators navigating similar compliance challenges.

Future product developments are expected to include enhanced affordability analytics and machine learning-driven risk detection. These upgrades will allow operators to better understand player behavior, ensure responsible gambling practices, and meet evolving expectations from both regulators and customers.

Setting a new standard for player verification

As iGaming continues to mature, the intersection of compliance, technology, and player experience will define which companies thrive. ClearStake’s approach—merging verified financial data with seamless user interfaces—offers a compelling vision for the future of responsible gaming.

By simplifying one of the most complex aspects of iGaming operations, ClearStake enables operators to focus on what truly drives growth: customer engagement, trust, and long-term sustainability. The company’s success reflects a growing consensus that innovation in compliance is not merely about avoiding penalties—it is about building a safer and more transparent digital entertainment ecosystem.

Conclusion

ClearStake’s £1.5 million funding round marks another significant step in the evolution of regulatory technology for the iGaming industry. Backed by experienced entrepreneurs and industry leaders, the company is well-positioned to redefine how verification and compliance are approached across regulated markets.

As CEO Martin Burt emphasized, ClearStake’s mission is not just to simplify compliance but to transform it into a competitive advantage. With ID by Bank and other upcoming tools, the company continues to prove that verification can be both compliant and customer-centric, supporting the long-term health and credibility of the gaming industry.

FAQs

What is ClearStake?
ClearStake is a UK-based technology company that provides verification and compliance solutions for the iGaming industry, helping operators streamline player verification and affordability checks.

What is ID by Bank?
ID by Bank is ClearStake’s new verification product that enables operators to instantly verify player identities through secure connections with banking apps.

How does ID by Bank benefit operators?
It reduces fraud, accelerates customer onboarding, and ensures full compliance with KYC and AML regulations without adding friction for players.

Who invested in ClearStake’s latest funding round?
Investors include leading gaming entrepreneurs such as Michael Brady, Simon Collins, Savvas Fellas, Paddy Power, and David Flynn, among others.

How much funding did ClearStake raise?
The company raised £1.5 million in its latest round to expand operations and develop new products.

Why is compliance such a major issue in iGaming?
Regulatory bodies require strict verification and affordability checks to prevent fraud, protect players, and promote responsible gambling.

What makes ClearStake’s approach different?
ClearStake’s technology focuses on making compliance seamless, transparent, and player-friendly, turning regulation into a driver of growth.

Which operators use ClearStake’s services?
Partners include tombola, MrQ, and Ivy Casino, among other regulated UK operators.

What will the new funding be used for?
The funds will support product innovation, expansion into new markets, and the continued rollout of ID by Bank.

How does ClearStake ensure low regulatory risk?
By providing audit-ready, data-driven verification processes that meet or exceed UKGC standards for transparency and compliance.