Rapper Drake, streamer Adin Ross, Australian influencer George Nguyen, and Stake’s parent company Sweepsteaks Ltd. are named in a federal class-action lawsuit. The suit, filed in late December 2025 in Virginia, accuses them of running a racketeering enterprise under the RICO Act.
The plaintiffs, Virginia residents LaShawnna Ridley and Tiffany Hines, claim the defendants promoted Stake.us, an online sweepstakes casino, as harmless while it facilitated real-money gambling. They also allege funds were used to inflate Drake’s streaming numbers on platforms like Spotify.
According to the lawsuit, Drake and Ross livestreamed high-stakes gambling using “house money” from Stake. This allegedly misled fans into thinking they were risking their own funds and encouraged risky gambling. Drake reportedly earns around $100 million annually from Stake promotions.
The suit also claims Stake’s peer-to-peer “tipping” system acted as an unregulated money transmitter. Public tips of $100,000 and $220,000 between Drake and Ross allegedly bypassed financial oversight. Additionally, Nguyen allegedly coordinated bot farms to generate fake streams for Drake’s music, affecting charts, playlists, and royalties.
The plaintiffs seek class certification for Virginia Stake.us users, at least $5 million in damages (potentially tripled under RICO), and other remedies such as profit disgorgement and injunctions. The alleged conspiracy dates back to 2022 and is said to still be ongoing.
Drake’s representatives have declined comment. No responses have been reported from Ross, Nguyen, or Stake. These claims are civil allegations and have not been proven in court.
The case reflects increasing scrutiny on celebrity gambling endorsements and music streaming integrity, following previous lawsuits involving Drake, Spotify, and Stake.
