Drake has been named as a defendant in a sweeping civil RICO lawsuit that accuses the rap superstar of helping promote illegal online gambling and using the proceeds to artificially boost his music streaming numbers.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the lawsuit was brought by consumers LaShawnna Ridley and Tiffany Hines. It names Drake (Aubrey Drake Graham), livestreamer Adin Ross, Australian associate George Nguyen, and online gambling platform Stake.us as defendants. The plaintiffs allege violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and the Virginia Consumer Protection Act, seeking at least $5 million in damages and a jury trial.
At the center of the case is Stake.us, a platform that markets itself as a “social casino” using virtual currency. According to the complaint, Stake.us misled users by claiming it does not facilitate real-money gambling, while allegedly allowing wagers that can be cashed out for U.S. dollars in states where online gambling is illegal, including Virginia.
The lawsuit claims Drake, Ross, and Nguyen were not just promoters of the platform, but active participants in a scheme that used Stake’s internal “tipping” feature to move large sums of money between accounts. Plaintiffs allege these funds were then routed to bot operators and streaming farms to artificially inflate Drake’s music streams on platforms such as Spotify.
According to the filing, these alleged botting campaigns relied on automated systems designed to generate fake play counts. The plaintiffs argue the goal was to fabricate popularity, manipulate recommendation algorithms, mislead royalty calculations, and suppress competition by crowding out legitimate streams from other artists.
The complaint highlights publicly visible transactions between Drake and Ross, including a reported $100,000 tip sent via Stake’s platform in 2023. It also points to Drake gifting Ross a luxury vehicle reportedly worth around $220,000 in late 2025, which plaintiffs argue supports claims of coordinated financial activity.
Drake has been one of Stake’s most visible celebrity partners since at least 2022, when reports suggested he signed an endorsement deal worth up to $100 million annually. His promotion of the platform has included livestreamed gambling sessions, giveaways, and branded campaigns such as the “Drizzmas Giveaway” in late 2025. As of now, neither Drake nor Stake has publicly commented on the RICO lawsuit.
The case adds to mounting legal pressure surrounding Stake and its celebrity partners. Similar lawsuits in states like Missouri and New Mexico have accused the platform of deceptive marketing and illegal gambling practices, while other claims have previously raised questions about streaming manipulation tied to Drake’s catalog.
Whether the Virginia case ultimately succeeds will depend on the plaintiffs’ ability to prove their allegations in court. Still, the lawsuit represents one of the most high-profile attempts yet to link celebrity endorsements, online gambling, and alleged manipulation within the music streaming economy.