Piles made from bets (6)

I believe the answer is:

stakes

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'bets' is the definition.
(staking is a kind of betting)

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for stakes that I've seen before include "prize money" , "Sharp sticks or bets on horses" , "Amounts bet; posts" , "Monies risked on gambles" , "Pointed sticks or shares in enterprise" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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