Overview
- Filed Dec. 31 in the Eastern District of Virginia, the proposed class action names Drake, Adin Ross, Stake.us and parent Sweepsteaks Limited, and Australian national George Nguyen as defendants.
- Plaintiffs allege Stake.us operates an illegal real-money casino through a dual-currency model that bundles redeemable “Stake Cash” with virtual Gold Coins despite marketing claims of free social gaming.
- The complaint says Drake and Ross promoted Stake using company-provided “house money,” citing livestreamed gambling and a public $100,000 tip, which allegedly helped conceal transfers.
- Stake’s user-to-user tipping feature is alleged to have funneled funds to bot vendors to inflate Drake’s streaming counts, distort recommendation algorithms, and run coordinated amplification campaigns led by Nguyen.
- The suit seeks injunctive relief and damages under federal RICO and the Virginia Consumer Protection Act; the allegations are unproven, and separate Stake-related suits are pending in Missouri and New Mexico, with a Missouri trial set for March 20.