Short answer: these are the two oldest platforms in our index — Cloudbet since 2013, Bitstarz since 2014, a combined 25 years of documented payout history. If your first filter is "has this casino survived everything the industry has thrown at it," both pass like nothing else we review. From there the choice is clean: Bitstarz (91/100) is the better casino — highest tracked RTP on our list, more games, faster BTC payouts, 200 free spins. Cloudbet (84/100) is the better sportsbook — 50+ sports, the broadest coverage we track, plus 30+ cryptocurrencies. Veteran casino or veteran bookmaker: that's the whole question.
Bitstarz vs Cloudbet: side-by-side data
| Bitstarz | Cloudbet | |
|---|---|---|
| BetJudge score | 91/100 — #4 ranked | 84/100 |
| Established | 2014 | 2013 — longest-running on our list |
| Welcome offer | 100% match + 200 free spins (40×) | 10% rakeback + daily cash drops up to $2,500 (30 days) |
| Bonus code | BETJUDGE | None needed — auto-applied |
| Average slot RTP (tracked) | 96.8% — highest on our list | 95.9% — lowest on our list |
| Withdrawal speed (timed) | 9 min 22 sec average | ~18 min BTC · Tron under 2 min |
| Game library | 3,500+ titles | 2,000+ titles |
| Sportsbook | No — casino only | Yes — 50+ sports, broadest we track |
| Cryptocurrencies | 10+ | 30+ |
| Fiat payments | Yes — cards and e-wallets | No |
| KYC policy | Minimal | Standard (above thresholds) |
| License | Curaçao eGaming | Curaçao eGaming |
Trust: the one category where both win
Longevity is the hardest signal to fake in this industry. Casinos with payment problems don't survive 12 years of public scrutiny — and these two have the first and second longest track records in our index, both with documented payout histories and active licenses. Our methodology weights reputation and track record explicitly, and both platforms max out the longevity component. If trust is your only criterion, you can stop reading and pick based on whether you prefer slots or sports.
As a casino: Bitstarz, clearly
This isn't close. Bitstarz has the highest tracked slot RTP of all seven platforms we review (96.8%), while Cloudbet has the lowest (95.9%) — a 0.9-point gap, the widest RTP spread of any matchup on our list. Per $10,000 of slot wagering, that's roughly $90 of expected difference in the player's favor at Bitstarz. Add 75% more games (3,500+ vs 2,000+), the biggest free spins package we track (200, code BETJUDGE), fiat deposit options, and BTC payouts roughly twice as fast (9:22 vs ~18 min in our timed test), and the casino side is a sweep.
As a sportsbook: Cloudbet, by default and on merit
Bitstarz doesn't have a sportsbook, so any sports betting at all makes this a one-horse race. But Cloudbet doesn't just win by forfeit: it has been a sportsbook-first operation since 2013, covers 50+ sports — the broadest coverage in our index, ahead of even Stake's 40+ — and supports 30+ cryptocurrencies for funding. Its welcome structure (10% rakeback plus daily cash drops over 30 days, no code, no wagering on the rakeback) also suits bettors who deposit gradually rather than all at once. One caveat from our testing: BTC withdrawals averaged ~18 minutes and amounts above 0.1 BTC can trigger manual review — though Tron withdrawals cleared in under 2 minutes.
The verdict
Pick Bitstarz if…
- You play casino games — the 96.8% RTP, bigger library, and faster payouts win every casino category
- You want 200 free spins or the option to deposit with cards/e-wallets
- You prefer lighter KYC
Pick Cloudbet if…
- Sports betting is your main activity — 50+ sports is the broadest coverage we track
- You hold exotic coins (30+ supported) or withdraw via Tron (under 2 minutes)
- You prefer 30 days of no-rollover rakeback over a deposit match
Sports-first but want a bigger casino attached? See Stake vs Cloudbet. Pure casino showdowns: BC Game vs Bitstarz and Bitstarz vs Gamdom. Or use the Casino vs Casino tool.