A class-action lawsuit, filed on December 31, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Alexandria Division), has accused rapper Drake, popular streamer Adin Ross, the online gambling platform Stake.us, and co-defendant George Nguyen of orchestrating an illegal online gambling operation. The lawsuit claims that the defendants used the internal transfer features of the site to disguise how money was being funneled to support a scheme designed to “artificially inflate the play counts of Drake’s music across major platforms like Spotify.”

The plaintiffs, LaShawnna Ridley and Tiffany Hines, who are described in the complaint as “Stake.us users within the United States,” allege that the promotions run by Drake and the other defendants lured them and others into engaging in unlawful gambling activities. The lawsuit seeks at least $5 million in damages and argues that Stake.us was used to conceal financial transactions intended to fund ongoing efforts to manipulate streaming counts.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to order Stake.us to “stop preying on consumers,” and to impose civil penalties on all defendants to prevent further wrongdoing. This legal action comes on the heels of Drake’s statement that he hoped to conclude his “roughest gambling year on a good note” by giving away 10% of his gambling winnings to a fan during a three-night livestream event.

Allegations of Hidden Money Transfers and Misleading Promotions

The lawsuit asserts that since 2022, Stake.us has operated as one of the largest and most profitable illegal gambling platforms in the U.S., masquerading as a “social casino” to evade federal and state regulations governing real-money gambling. The platform, according to the plaintiffs, falsely portrays itself as a legal entity that does not involve real money gambling, thus avoiding scrutiny under U.S. federal law and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s gambling laws.

By concealing its real-money gambling operations behind the façade of a harmless “social casino,” Stake.us and the other defendants are said to have created a predatory gambling environment that misleads consumers. The complaint further argues that this deception exposes users to the dangers of gambling addiction while also jeopardizing their financial security and that of their families. The plaintiffs claim that they were misled about the legality of Stake.us as well as the operation of its internal features. Specifically, they argue that promotional materials from the platform failed to disclose crucial information about how bets were placed, how winnings were redeemed, and how money flowed on the site.

The lawsuit further suggests that Stake.us’s tipping program and internal transfer features played a pivotal role in concealing the true nature of the platform’s financial activities. These internal systems made it difficult for users to track where money was coming from or where it was going. According to the lawsuit, these features were used to obscure transactions, allowing money to be funneled through various intermediaries in a way that concealed the identities of the parties involved. This covert financing, the plaintiffs argue, was central to sustaining and expanding an illicit operation that artificially amplified the streaming numbers of Drake’s music.

“Stake.us facilitates this covert financing scheme through its user-to-user ‘Tipping’ and internal transfers that effectively obscure the identities of counterparties,” the lawsuit states. “These transactional features enable the concealment, covert routing, and disbursement of funds to bot operators, intermediaries, and amplifiers integral to sustaining and expanding the artificial streaming and amplification operations.”

As a result of these alleged misrepresentations, Ridley and Hines claim they suffered financial harm and were encouraged to engage in illegal gambling activities. They are seeking restitution, injunctive relief, and other remedies under both federal and state law.

A Pattern of Legal Trouble for Drake and Adin Ross

This is not the first time that Drake and Adin Ross have been involved in legal disputes over their promotion of gambling on Stake.us. Earlier in 2025, a separate class-action lawsuit was filed in Jackson County, Missouri, accusing the duo and Stake.us of violating state gambling laws by promoting what is described as an illegal gambling operation.

Additionally, Drake and Ross were named in another lawsuit filed in New Mexico, which challenges their promotion of Stake.us and questions the legality of the platform’s sweepstakes-based model. Much like the Missouri case, this complaint argues that the site operates as a real-money gambling platform, despite being marketed as a legal alternative under U.S. law.

The lawsuits in Virginia, Missouri, and New Mexico share a common theme: they all challenge the operation of Stake.us within the U.S. and examine the legal risks posed by celebrity-endorsed gambling promotions. Despite each lawsuit relying on different state and federal statutes to press its claims, they all address the same fundamental issue: whether sweepstakes-style platforms and influencer promotions are being used as a loophole to bypass gambling restrictions.

Critics of celebrity-backed gambling promotions argue that they often target vulnerable populations, especially young fans who may not fully understand the legal implications of online gambling. These lawsuits are increasingly highlighting the growing concern over how influencers and celebrities are using their platforms to endorse activities that may be illegal or harmful to their audiences.

The Bigger Picture: The Legal Ambiguities of Online Gambling

The controversies surrounding Stake.us and its celebrity promoters are part of a larger debate over the regulation of online gambling. While traditional gambling activities like casinos and sports betting are heavily regulated in many parts of the U.S., online gambling platforms like Stake.us often find ways to skirt these rules by operating in gray areas of the law. These platforms frequently market themselves as “social casinos” or use sweepstakes-based models to avoid legal scrutiny, yet many critics argue they are little more than gambling sites that prey on consumers.

As the legal landscape around online gambling continues to evolve, cases like this one may serve as a precedent for how other states and federal authorities address the growing influence of celebrities in promoting gambling products. As online gambling becomes more prevalent, it’s likely that the courts will need to decide how to balance the interests of consumers with the need for stricter regulations on gambling activities, especially when they involve high-profile figures like Drake and Adin Ross.

This lawsuit is a significant step in addressing the legal issues surrounding online gambling promotions and influencer endorsements. Whether or not it succeeds in holding the defendants accountable, it is clear that the legal questions it raises about the regulation of online gambling and celebrity endorsements are far from resolved.