Class Action Lawsuit Accuses Drake and Stake.us of Illegal Gambling Promotion and Streaming Manipulation

A fresh class action lawsuit is putting the spotlight on how celebrity promotion, sweepstakes casinos, and online influence intersect. Filed on the final day of 2025, the case ties online gambling claims to alleged music streaming manipulation, all centered around Stake.us and rapper Drake.

The filing blends gambling law, influencer marketing, and digital payments into one sweeping legal challenge. At the center sits a simple question with wide reach: where does social casino marketing end and illegal gambling begin?

Good to Know

• The lawsuit targets both gambling promotion and alleged artificial boosting of music streams
• Plaintiffs argue Stake.us operated as real-money gambling under a sweepstakes label
• The case includes RICO allegations, opening the door to triple damages

Lawsuit Filed in Federal Court Targets Sweepstakes Casino Model

The class action landed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, on December 31, 2025. Gaming attorney Daniel Wallach first reported the filing shortly after it appeared on the docket.

Two Stake.us users, LaShawnna Ridley and Tiffany Hines, serve as named plaintiffs. Both allege financial harm after using the platform, which they describe as an illegal gambling operation masked as a social casino since 2022.

Defendants listed in the complaint include Sweepsteaks Ltd, the operator of Stake.us, along with rapper Drake, online influencer Adin Ross, and George Nguyen.

Promotion Claims Focus on Celebrity and Influencer Reach

According to the filing, promotional content from Drake and Ross encouraged users to participate on Stake.us without clear disclosure about the nature of the gambling involved. Plaintiffs argue that these promotions led users into wagering activity that violated state gambling laws.

The complaint states:

“By masking its real money gambling platform as a free and safe ‘social casino,’ Stake and Defendants create a predatorial gambling environment, deliberately misleading consumers to the risk of gambling addiction and jeopardizing the financial well-being of consumers and their families.”

Plaintiffs also argue that Drake regularly played on the platform using house funds, a detail that allegedly never reached ordinary users watching the streams or social posts.

Alleged Money Flows Extend Beyond Gambling Activity

Beyond gambling claims, the lawsuit introduces a new angle by connecting platform funds to music streaming activity. According to the filing, internal transfer tools on Stake.us, including tipping features, allowed large sums to move between accounts with little friction.

The complaint alleges that such transfers helped fund bot farms used to inflate streaming numbers across major music platforms. It claims defendants shared a coordinated effort “to conceal, route, and distribute proceeds of the scheme through Stake.us pseudo-anonymous payment rails.”

Specific examples appear in the filing, including a $100,000 tip routed through the platform and a separate $220,000 transfer described as a gift sent to Ross.

Similar Sweepstakes Casino Lawsuits Add Context

The Virginia case joins a growing list of legal challenges aimed at sweepstakes casino models. Television host Ryan Seacrest previously faced a lawsuit tied to promotion of Chumba Casino. Separate litigation in Missouri already names Stake.us, Drake, and Ross as defendants over similar claims.

Plaintiffs argue that together, these cases show a pattern where entertainment figures amplify gambling platforms while financial mechanics remain hidden from users.

Damages Sought Include RICO Penalties

The plaintiffs seek class certification along with damages of no less than $5 million. Requests also include injunctive relief, declaratory judgments, and disgorgement of funds described as improperly obtained.

Because the lawsuit alleges violations under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, potential exposure could multiply. RICO claims allow for triple damages, legal costs, and attorney fees if violations are proven.

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