A federal judge has paused a lawsuit alleging Drake and streamer Adin Ross used the online casino platform Stake.us to fund bot activity that artificially inflated Drake’s music streams, ruling that plaintiffs must first arbitrate claims against the casino.
U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema ruled Thursday that the plaintiffs agreed to binding arbitration with Stake when they accessed the platform to play casino-style games. The 20-page opinion requires the plaintiffs to pursue their claims against Stake before a private arbitrator rather than in court.
Brinkema effectively halted the plaintiffs’ related claims against Drake, whose legal name is Aubrey Drake Graham, Ross, and Australian co-defendant George Nguyen until the arbitration concludes. The judge noted in her opinion that the plaintiffs had not yet served any of the three men with the lawsuit.
The Virginia federal court case, filed last December, alleges that Drake and Ross participated in a conspiracy to “prey upon consumers,” unlawfully expose them to gambling addiction risks, and jeopardize their financial well-being. According to the plaintiffs, they were influenced to participate in Stake’s alleged “predatorial gambling environment” after viewing Drake’s paid promotions of the site, which included live-streamed gambling sessions and giveaways.
Central to the lawsuit is the claim that Stake bankrolled a “bot army” that artificially inflated streams of Drake’s music on platforms like Spotify. The plaintiffs accuse Drake and Ross of using the online casino to finance this alleged scheme.
Stake’s Dual-Currency Model Under Fire
Both the Virginia lawsuit and a similar proposed class action filed in Missouri last October target Stake.us over its dual-currency system. The system bundles virtual “gold coins,” which are purportedly non-redeemable, with a second token type called “Stake Cash” that can be cashed out for real money.
This dual-currency model has drawn criticism as a regulatory loophole. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation last year aimed at addressing concerns about such systems.
Separate Spotify Lawsuit Continues
The Virginia case follows a separate lawsuit filed in California federal court in November that alleges Spotify “turned a blind eye” to billions of allegedly fraudulent streams of Drake’s music. Drake is not a defendant in that case.
A judge dismissed an earlier version of the Spotify complaint in June, finding that the plaintiff, rapper RBX (Eric Dwayne Collins), failed to demonstrate Spotify owed him a duty of care or show how he was substantially harmed. RBX filed an amended complaint on July 13, claiming the alleged fraud diverted at least $600 million in royalties from other artists over a nearly four-year period through 2025. The amended complaint argues that streamshare calculations are critical to an artist’s career and must be accurate. Spotify is due to respond by August 11.
Representatives for Drake and Ross could not be reached for comment. Lawyers for Stake did not respond to requests for comment.
This article reports on allegations and legal proceedings as described by the cited source. Any charges or accusations mentioned are unproven, and all individuals are presumed innocent unless and until found guilty in a court of law.
Key questions answered
Why did the judge pause the lawsuit against Drake and Adin Ross?
The judge ruled that the plaintiffs must first arbitrate their claims against Stake.us because they agreed to binding arbitration when they accessed the platform to play casino-style games.
What is the main allegation against Drake in this lawsuit?
The lawsuit alleges that Drake and Adin Ross used the online casino platform Stake.us to bankroll a “bot army” that artificially inflated streams of Drake’s music on platforms like Spotify.
What is the dual-currency system that Stake.us uses?
The system bundles virtual “gold coins,” which are non-redeemable, with a second token type called “Stake Cash” that can be cashed out for real money.
Is this the only lawsuit involving allegations about Drake’s streaming numbers?
No, a separate lawsuit filed in California federal court alleges that Spotify “turned a blind eye” to billions of allegedly fraudulent streams of Drake’s music, though Drake is not a defendant in that case.