Hip Hop/ Rap
Drake Faces RICO Lawsuit Over Alleged Illegal Online Gambling and Stream Manipulation
Toronto-born rap superstar Drake has been named in a high-profile class action lawsuit alleging involvement in an illegal online gambling and music stream-boosting scheme. Filed on Dec. 31, 2025, in Virginia federal court, the complaint accuses Drake, popular streamer Adin Ross, and Australian national George Nguyen of promoting an unlawful casino website — Stake.us — and using its proceeds to artificially inflate the rapper’s music plays on major streaming platforms. This major legal development could mark one of the most controversial intersections of music, gambling, and technology in recent years.
Allegations: Illegal Online Casino & Stream Manipulation
The lawsuit claims that Stake.us, the U.S. version of the globally controversial Stake.com, was marketed as a “social casino” but was in fact an illegal gambling operation. According to the plaintiffs, the site’s vague language simply masked real-money gambling, allowing users to obtain cryptocurrency in exchange for virtual tokens such as “Stake Cash” and “Gold Coins.” The complaint further alleges that Drake and Adin Ross received undisclosed cash and gambling credits from Stake to promote the platform during livestreamed gambling sessions, encouraging fans to participate.
The plaintiffs assert that these promotions exploited legal loopholes and deceived consumers by portraying the casino as safe and legitimate. “Stake has bombarded consumers with advertisements… depicting its games as safe, legal, and fun,” states the filing, which calls the platform “one of the largest and most profitable illegal online casinos.”
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Music Bots, Streaming Farms & Algorithm Abuse
What sets this lawsuit apart is its claim that money from the alleged gambling operation was used to manipulate music streaming data, artificially boosting Drake’s popularity. The complaint alleges that funds flowed from Stake.us through the site’s tipping mechanism to Nguyen, who then paid bot operators and streaming farms to generate fraudulent streams of Drake’s catalog on services like Spotify.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs argue this scheme was designed to distort recommendation algorithms and inflate Drake’s streaming numbers at the expense of authentic artists. The lawsuit contends that automated bots and fake streams suppressed legitimate content, harming both artists and consumers.
Legal Claims: RICO & Consumer Protection Violations
Filed on behalf of Virginia residents LaShawnna Ridley and Tiffany Hines, the complaint brings charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act as well as the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. Plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages and a jury trial, asserting widespread harm caused by the defendants’ alleged misconduct.
While no criminal charges have been filed, and representatives for Drake have yet to comment, this civil case could have substantial repercussions for celebrity endorsements, online gambling platforms, and digital music ecosystems alike.
