Drake, Adin Ross, Stake Accused in Sweeping Case Linking Music Manipulation and Illegal Gambling
A new federal lawsuit names the popular Stake gambling site, rapper Drake, Kick streaming star Adin Ross, and alleged potential facilitator George Nguyen as defendants.
The civil action was filed on behalf of Stake.US users LaShawnna Ridley and Tiffany Hines in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on Wednesday.
The complaint alleges that the defendants promoted a sweepstakes platform that was actually an illegal online gambling site. It also claims that three individuals used the platform in “furtherance of their ongoing music botting campaigns.”
Not First Legal Trouble for Social Casinos
Stake.US is the brand’s sweepstakes platform that’s available to US residents in more than 40 states. It offers free-to-play slots and table games.
However, users have the option of buying additional in-game currency, and they can earn Stake Cash that is redeemable 1:1 for US dollars. The plaintiffs claim they were tricked into gambling with real money when they initially planned to enjoy the social casino.
These allegations are similar to other lawsuits relating to social casinos, including High 5 Casino and VGW. Stake itself is a defendant in a case that was filed in October in Missouri.
The Virginia complaint outlines how the enablement of real money gambling while claiming to be entertainment constitutes a breach of the state’s consumer protection law and federal racketeering statutes.
Another aspect of the complaint alleges that Drake and Adin Ross used funds given to them by Stake to promote the platform during livestreams, which encouraged viewers to gamble on Stake under false pretences. Drake reportedly gets paid $100 million annually to promote the site.
Questionable Tactics To Boost Listening Figures
The allegations surrounding the inflation of music streaming numbers is the more bizarre aspect of the lawsuit. It claims that Nguyen, Drake, and Ross used the platform’s “Tipping” feature to directly transfer money to one another and to bot operators and payifiers. This is a “wholly unregulated money transmitter” that doesn’t fall under the scope of any financial regulator, the suit claims.
The complaint alleges the defendants were inflating music streaming numbers to artificially increase play counts on music streaming platforms, such as Spotify. The goal of doing so was said to be misleading royalty and recommendation engines, boosting popularity, distorting chart positions, and directing audience attention from other artists.
Specific instances of money sent via Stake Tipping include a $100,000 transfer from Drake to Ross in 2023 and the rapper giving the Kick creator a car worth $220,000 in December 2025.
This isn’t the first time allegations about Drake inflating streaming numbers have come to light. A private investigator claimed in October that Roc Nation was suing Drake for using bots to boost his numbers.
Drake has claimed that other artists do so, too, saying in 2024 he believes Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify boosted listening figures for Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” diss track.
Suit Seeks To Block US Users From Accessing Stake
The Virginia RICO lawsuit is seeking class-action status, as well as financial damages, and an injunction that would block Stake.US from accepting US customers.
Plaintiffs are seeking damages of no less than $5 million, which includes “statutory, compensatory, consequential, punitive, and enhanced damages and attorneys’ fees where authorized by law.”
They also want a trial by jury for “all issues so triable.” Neither Adin Ross nor Drake has publicly commented on the legal action.
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