Drake, the Toronto-based music superstar, along with online streamer Adin Ross and the gambling platform Stake, is facing a federal class action lawsuit under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). The lawsuit alleges involvement in illegal gambling promotions and unscrupulous activities that may have inflated Drake’s music streaming numbers.
The lawsuit, initiated by plaintiffs LaShawnna Ridley and Tiffany Hines, claims that Drake, Ross, and their associate George Nguyen exploited Stake’s “tipping” feature. This feature purportedly allowed them to transfer funds to each other, which the plaintiffs argue was used to artificially enhance streaming numbers for Drake’s music on major platforms. According to reports from Loren LoRosa on Twitter, the complaint details how this practice resulted in “fraudulent streams” that misrepresented Drake’s popularity and undermined competitors.
The filing alleges that the defendants engaged in practices that included financing artificial streaming, manipulating recommendation algorithms, and obscuring the flow of funds under the guise of public giveaways. The complaint highlights a specific instance of a $100,000 tip transfer between Ross and Drake in 2023 as evidence of these activities. Additionally, the suit references a promotional stream titled “Drizzmas,” held in 2024, where the two allegedly cycled tips among themselves to further fuel these artificial engagement tactics.
In a striking claim, the lawsuit mentions a luxury vehicle valued at $220,000, allegedly gifted to Ross by Stake shortly before the filing was submitted on New Year’s Eve.
The legal action, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, seeks damages amounting to $5 million. As stated in the complaint, the plaintiffs identify themselves as “Stake.us users within the United States,” establishing their standing to challenge the defendants’ practices.
Drake’s legal troubles are not new; he faced similar lawsuits in New Mexico and Missouri last year. Just days before this latest filing, he conducted a streaming event that involved giving away part of his earnings from Stake, further intertwining his activities with the allegations presented in the current lawsuit.
LoRosa has reached out to Drake’s team for comments regarding these allegations but has yet to receive a response. As the case unfolds, it could have significant implications not only for the defendants but also for the broader landscape of online gambling and music promotion.
