A new legal filing has placed global rap star Drake at the center of a high-profile class action lawsuit in the United States, raising serious questions about online gambling promotion and digital music metrics.
Drake Lawsuit Details: Class Action Alleges Illegal Stake.us Gambling Promotions
According to a class action lawsuit filed on December 31 and reviewed by USA TODAY, Drake is accused alongside streamer Adin Ross and George Nguyen of promoting an allegedly illegal online casino and participating in financial practices that plaintiffs claim violated U.S. law. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of LaShawnna Ridley and Tiffany Hines and also names all users of Stake.us as plaintiffs. Stake.us is described in the filing as the American-facing version of Stake.com, which the lawsuit alleges was banned from operating across the United States. The complaint characterizes Stake.us as one of the largest and most profitable illegal online casinos, asserting that it was created to bypass domestic gambling restrictions.
The lawsuit further alleges that Stake.us marketed itself as a “social casino” that prohibited real-money gambling, while in practice operating in a manner that plaintiffs claim involved real financial risk. The filing states that Stake.us uses virtual currencies called “Stake Cash” and “Gold Coins,” with Stake Cash allegedly carrying real-world monetary value because it can be exchanged for cryptocurrency. The plaintiffs contend that this structure effectively constitutes real gambling and violates laws in multiple states, including Virginia.
Allegations Expand to Music Streaming Manipulation and Financial Transfers
Beyond gambling promotion, the lawsuit broadens its scope by alleging that funds connected to Stake.us were used to artificially inflate streams of Drake’s music. The complaint claims that proceeds from the platform were allegedly used to create fraudulent music streams, distort recommendation algorithms, and fabricate popularity metrics. It also alleges that the involved parties used Stake’s tipping program to transfer money among themselves outside the oversight of financial regulators. George Nguyen is identified in the filing as an Australian national.
The lawsuit also states that Drake and Ross were allegedly paid to promote Stake.us by participating in livestreamed gambling sessions, with cash purportedly provided by the platform. The complaint argues that these promotions portrayed the games as safe and legal, while allegedly causing financial harm to consumers who lost money on the platform. All allegations remain unproven, and no court findings have been issued at this stage. The case remains a developing legal matter, with further responses expected as the process continues.
