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Rapper Drake and influencer Adin Ross, along with sweepstakes casino giant Stake, have been accused of promoting illegal online gambling in Missouri in a class‑action suit filed in the 16th Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri.
Justin Killham, the lead plaintiff, claims the two celebrities’ conduct in collaboration with Stake “threatens the welfare of Missouri residents and especially its young people.” Gaming and sports‑betting attorney Daniel Wallach added that the suit seeks to hold the celebrities liable for gambling losses suffered by the class members.
Stake has denied all allegations in the lawsuit. Drake recently ended his partnership with Stake on bad terms after a falling‑out with the co‑founder, whom he called a “snake.”
Lawsuit claims celebrities livestreamed sweepstakes casino gambling under misleading pretenses
According to Killham, Stake pays Drake and Adin Ross millions in promotional fees to livestream their online casino gambling activities “under deeply fraudulent pretenses.” The lawsuit alleges the celebrities gamble online with money that isn’t theirs while claiming otherwise.
“Stake apparently fronts Drake and Ross ‘house money,’ so any reported losses are part of a marketing tactic designed to draw attention,” the suit states.
The plaintiffs also cite additional evidence of alleged false pretenses by highlighting Drake’s transformation from ordinary gambler to partner. An excerpt from a promotional page on Stake.com reads:
“Drake fell in love with both the platform and the perks associated with our VIP program. It was then that this partnership was formed, based on mutual appreciation between mega‑star and product.”
Celebrity endorsements driving online gambling interest
The class action focuses heavily on the relationship between Drake and Stake. It notes that Stake.com and Stake.us “prominently” promote Drake on their platforms. According to the suit, Stake’s strategy is to use Drake’s “celebrity influence to encourage impressionable users to gamble.”
The suit also underscores Drake’s social media presence: 142 million Instagram followers and 38 million on X. The suit says his profiles feature prominent Stake branding.
“Drake’s role as Stake’s unofficial mascot is quietly corrosive—he’s glamorizing the platform to millions of impressionable fans, many of whom treat his wild betting habits like gospel,” the lawsuit states. It adds marketing “especially through Drake and Ross, is directed at teenagers in Missouri and in other states.”
The case comes as lawmakers, including US Senator Katie Britt, have increasingly focused on youth-targeted online gambling and offshore sweepstakes casinos, calling on federal regulators to intervene and curb operations that reach underage audiences.
Online casino gambling is illegal in Missouri. The state is, however, preparing to launch legal online sports betting on Dec. 1, 2025, with temporary licenses already awarded to nine major sportsbooks.
Lawsuit could reshape sweepstakes casino rules
Earlier reporting noted that Stake firmly rejected the allegations and pledged to “vigorously defend” itself, while warning that a ruling against the company could have significant ramifications for the sweepstakes casino industry.
This case is emerging amid broader regulatory and marketing scrutiny of sweepstakes casinos. For example, Google LLC recently updated its advertising policy to explicitly prohibit sweepstakes casinos from advertising under the “social casino games” category, effectively reclassifying them as closer to real‑money gambling. This signals that digital marketing channels are tightening for such operators.
Meanwhile, the sweepstakes casino industry is bracing for major revenue losses following state action such as California’s ban on most sweepstakes casinos (effective Jan. 1, 2026) and regulatory moves in other jurisdictions.
Within this context, the lawsuit against Drake, Ross and Stake may trigger:
- Changes in influencer disclosures
- Marketing practices
- Regulatory oversight of sweepstakes and social casino platforms
The dispute could also influence how states and platforms treat celebrity‑driven promotional partnerships and online gambling‑adjacent models.
At minimum, the case highlights how influencer marketing intersects with an evolving regulatory environment. For the sweepstakes casino industry, it may usher in greater oversight—or force structural change in how promotional payments, endorsements and “house money” narratives are handled.
