The Internet Is Shook: Drake’s Gambling Empire Just Took a Hit
When we say this story is blowing up online, we mean it. Drake the global rap superstar and online crypto casino Stake are officially being sued in Missouri in a major class action lawsuit that could change the future of influencer gambling promotions forever.
- The Internet Is Shook: Drake’s Gambling Empire Just Took a Hit
- The Missouri Lawsuit That’s Making Headlines
- Drake’s Role in the Scandal
- What the Lawsuit Claims About Stake.us
- The Involvement of Adin Ross
- How Stake Responded
- What This Means for Influencers and Online Gambling
- Missouri’s Hard Line on Gambling
- The Stakes (Pun Intended) for Drake
- The Bottom Line
According to court documents filed in Jackson County Circuit Court on October 27, 2025, Drake, Stake, and even popular streamer Adin Ross are being accused of running what plaintiffs call an “illegal online gambling operation disguised as a social casino.”
The lawsuit claims Stake.us, the U.S. arm of Stake, “enticed American users into gambling real money through misleading marketing tactics” all while pretending to be a fun, legal, play-for-free casino.
The Missouri Lawsuit That’s Making Headlines
The case, first reported by Legal Sports Report and KCTV5 News, alleges that Stake.us violated Missouri gambling laws by allowing users to wager with digital tokens that could be exchanged for cash prizes effectively turning a “social casino” into an unlicensed gambling platform.
KCTV5 described the lawsuit as “a deliberate deception lawsuit targeting Stake and Drake for alleged illegal gambling practices.”
The plaintiffs, represented by attorney Michael Foster, argue that the company’s structure and marketing were “engineered to confuse players into believing they weren’t gambling with real money.”
“Stake and its celebrity promoters misled the public for profit,” said Foster in the filing. “They knew exactly what they were doing.”
Drake’s Role in the Scandal
At the center of the chaos is none other than Drake, who has been a high-profile ambassador for Stake since 2022. His flashy gambling livestreams where he’s seen betting millions on crypto roulette and slots have drawn millions of viewers worldwide.
The lawsuit accuses Drake of “glamorizing online gambling and luring U.S. citizens, including minors, into participating in illegal betting.”
The complaint points to multiple promotional posts and livestreams where Drake publicly announced massive winnings, allegedly without disclosing the risks or the legal limitations for American users.
“Drake’s influence was used to normalize and promote a gambling operation that shouldn’t have been accessible to U.S. residents,” the suit states.
While Drake has not yet issued a public comment, legal analysts suggest that his promotional partnership could make him financially liable if the court finds he materially benefited from the alleged scheme.
What the Lawsuit Claims About Stake.us
According to the class action filing, Stake.us operated under the guise of being a “social casino” a common loophole that allows platforms to operate legally by offering virtual currency instead of cash bets.
However, plaintiffs claim that Stake.us crossed the line by letting users purchase digital coins with real money and then redeem winnings for gift cards or cash-equivalent prizes, which would make the operation functionally identical to a real casino under U.S. law.
“They advertised a safe, free-to-play experience while pocketing millions in deposits,” the lawsuit alleges. “This was gambling in disguise and Drake helped sell the illusion.”
If proven true, these allegations could have massive implications for other social casino platforms and influencers promoting them online.
The Involvement of Adin Ross
Popular streamer Adin Ross, another celebrity ambassador for Stake, is also named in the lawsuit.
The filing claims Ross helped “target younger audiences through Twitch and Kick livestreams, encouraging them to join Stake.us and gamble online.”
“Adin Ross has a large underage fan base,” attorney Michael Foster said. “He leveraged his popularity to funnel impressionable viewers into Stake’s system, many of whom were not old enough to gamble.”
This marks the first time Ross has been formally named in a U.S. class action lawsuit tied to gambling promotion.
How Stake Responded
A Stake spokesperson has so far declined to comment on ongoing litigation but said in a brief statement to media outlets that “Stake operates fully within legal boundaries and maintains strict compliance with local regulations.”
However, legal experts aren’t convinced.
Attorney Lisa Hightower, a Missouri gaming law specialist, told reporters: “If Stake was allowing players to redeem digital coins for real prizes, that’s gambling under Missouri law, plain and simple.”
What This Means for Influencers and Online Gambling
The lawsuit could open the floodgates for further legal action against influencers promoting gambling platforms. With Drake and Adin Ross named as defendants, this case may redefine how celebrity endorsements are regulated in the digital age.
“When celebrities like Drake push these sites, people assume it’s safe,” said legal analyst Christopher Bell. “But if the site operates illegally, that endorsement becomes part of the fraud.”
If the plaintiffs win, Drake and Stake could face millions in damages and a potential nationwide injunction that restricts them from advertising to U.S. audiences again.
Missouri’s Hard Line on Gambling
Missouri’s gambling laws are notoriously strict. The state allows regulated casinos, but online gambling remains illegal unless explicitly authorized.
The lawsuit claims Stake.us violated Missouri’s consumer protection statutes, arguing that the company intentionally misled players by using vague terms like “sweepstakes” and “social casino.”
“You can’t just call it sweepstakes and dodge the law,” said Foster. “If people are spending real money and winning real money, that’s gambling.”
The Stakes (Pun Intended) for Drake
This isn’t the first time Drake has faced scrutiny for his Stake sponsorships, but this is by far the most serious.
Legal commentators believe that even if Drake avoids criminal liability, the class action could still result in substantial financial penalties or settlements for misleading advertising.
“Even if he didn’t run the company, Drake’s face sold the brand,” said Bell. “That’s enough to make him accountable if consumers were deceived.”
As of now, Drake has remained silent, but his legal team is expected to respond soon.
The Bottom Line
The Drake and Stake class action lawsuit in Missouri is one of the most significant legal challenges yet to hit the influencer gambling scene.
It accuses Drake, Stake, and Adin Ross of promoting an illegal online casino operation disguised as a harmless sweepstakes site one that allegedly took advantage of consumers and broke state gambling laws.
Whether the claims hold up in court remains to be seen. But one thing’s certain: the era of unregulated influencer gambling promos might just be coming to an end.
