Drake Named in Lawsuit Alleging Illegal Online Casino Promotion & Music Stream Inflation
Drake has been named in a proposed class action lawsuit.
According to court documents reviewed by USA Today, the 39-year-old rapper is accused of promoting an illegal online casino and using proceeds from the platform to artificially inflate streams of his music. Comedian and Twitch streamer Adin Ross, as well as George Nguyen, are also named in the filing.
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The lawsuit, filed on December 31, alleges that the defendants used the website Stake.us to “obscure transmissions of money” in order to advance what the complaint describes as “ongoing music botting campaigns.”
The proposed class action seeks to represent U.S. users of Stake.us, which plaintiffs describe as an illegal online casino created after Stake.com was barred from operating in the United States. While the site is marketed as a “social casino” that prohibits “real money gambling,” the filing alleges that this branding was used to mislead regulators and consumers.
According to the lawsuit, Stake.us uses virtual currency known as “Stake Cash” and “Gold Coins,” but plaintiffs allege that Stake Cash can be exchanged for cryptocurrency, giving it real monetary value.
On that basis, the filing argues the platform effectively offers real gambling. The lawsuit also alleges that Drake and Ross were compensated to promote the site by participating in livestreamed gambling sessions using funds that were “surreptitiously” supplied by Stake.
In addition, the complaint alleges that money from the platform was used to “create fraudulent streams of Drake’s music; fabricate popularity; disparage competitors and music label executives; distort recommendation algorithms; and distribute financing for all of the foregoing, while concealing the flow of funds.”
Plaintiffs’ attorneys allege violations of the RICO statute and the Virginia Consumer Protection Act and are seeking damages and a jury trial.