At a Glance
- A federal RICO lawsuit accuses Drake of using the online casino Stake.us to inflate music streams.
- The suit names Adin Ross and George Nguyen as co-conspirators.
- No criminal charges have been filed.
- Why it matters: The case could reshape how streaming data is manipulated and impact the music industry.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, alleges that Drake and his allies used automated bots and streaming farms to boost his tracks on platforms like Spotify. The goal was to manufacture popularity and distort playlists and charts.
The Allegations
The court documents say Drake deployed bots and streaming farms to artificially inflate play counts. The scheme also involved internal transfer features on Stake.us to hide how money was used to finance the fraud.
- Automated bots and streaming farms
- Internal transfer features to conceal funds
- Aim: manufacture popularity and distort charts
Defendants and Deals
Stake.us and its parent company Sweepstakes Limited are named as defendants. Drake is a brand ambassador for both companies and signed a promotional deal in 2022 worth at least $100 million a year. The lawsuit also details how George Nguyen, an Australian national, served as a facilitator converting Stake-based cryptocurrency to cash.
Other Legal Actions
Separate lawsuits in Missouri and New Mexico allege that Drake and Ross promoted illegal online gambling. Those cases are scheduled for trial in March 2025 and are pending.
Key Takeaways
- Drake faces a federal RICO claim for inflating streams.
- Adin Ross and George Nguyen are alleged co-conspirators.
- The suit highlights the use of Stake.us’s tipping feature to hide money movements.
The case underscores the growing scrutiny of streaming manipulation and the legal risks for artists tied to gambling platforms.
