A federal class-action lawsuit alleges that rapper Drake, streamer Adin Ross, and online sweepstakes casino Stake.us participated in a coordinated scheme that violated the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. This also includes Virginia consumer protection laws. The complaint claims the defendants used gambling promotions and related financial transactions to engage in deceptive practices, resulting in millions of dollars in damages.
The complaint, filed Dec. 31 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia’s Alexandria Division, takes a broader legal approach than an earlier lawsuit filed against Stake in Missouri by alleging violations of the RICO Act.
According to the filing, Drake is accused of using Stake.us as a financial intermediary to route money to Australian personality George Nguyen, allegedly to purchase artificial streams of Drake’s music and inflate its performance on platforms such as Spotify.
Plaintiffs also argue that Drake’s public association with the gambling platform encouraged their participation in what the lawsuit characterizes as a predatory gambling environment that benefited both the artist and the company financially.
The lawsuit further alleges that Stake.us, Drake, Adin Ross, and Nguyen have engaged in conduct violating both the Virginia Consumer Protection Act and federal RICO statutes since 2022. This is when Drake began promoting the platform on social media.
The complaint claims Stake.us pays Drake approximately $100 million annually and provides him with gambling credits, echoing allegations made in the Missouri case. No criminal charges have been filed in connection with the allegations. Plaintiffs Tiffany Hines and LaShawnna Ridley are seeking $5 million in damages and have requested a jury trial.
The Virginia lawsuit adds to a growing wave of class-action cases targeting celebrities for promoting gambling platforms that operate outside traditional regulatory frameworks. Similar litigation emerged last year when Ryan Seacrest was named in a lawsuit involving the sweepstakes casino Chumba Casino, though that case was later dismissed.
The Virginia complaint differentiates itself by alleging that Stake.us was not merely a gambling platform but an active participant in a broader fraudulent scheme unrelated to wagering.
The filing claims Drake and alleged co-conspirators used automated bots and streaming farms to artificially boost music play counts on major platforms, a practice the plaintiffs argue distorts discovery algorithms, disadvantages legitimate artists, and undermines consumer trust in curated digital content.
Court records show that Drake, Adin Ross, and George Nguyen have been ordered to respond to the complaint within 21 days, though none have issued public statements regarding the allegations.
Beyond the specific allegations against Drake and the other defendants, the case highlights increasing legal pressure on the sweepstakes casino model and the marketing strategies used to promote it.
By framing Stake.us as an alleged participant in deceptive conduct rather than a passive platform, the lawsuit raises questions about how closely such operators may be scrutinized for activities that extend beyond gambling itself.
If the claims survive early motions, the case could test the boundaries of how sweepstakes-based platforms are regulated and how financial relationships with influencers are evaluated under consumer protection and racketeering laws.
