Stakes raised: it's hot in Sicily (4)
I believe the answer is:
etna
'it's hot in sicily' is the definition.
(the volcano)
'stakes raised' is the wordplay.
'stakes' becomes 'ante' (ante is a kind of stakes).
'raised' says the letters should be written in reverse (going up in a down clue).
'ante' reversed gives 'ETNA'.
(Other definitions for etna that I've seen before include "It could erupt" , "Constant smoker" , "Volcano in Italy" , "Highest peak in Italy south of the Alps" , "Explosive type" .)