Drake and Adin Ross Face Missouri Lawsuit Over Illegal Online Gambling Promotion

Allegations of Illegal Gambling and Deception

Missouri law currently bans online casino gambling. The lawsuit argues that Stake.us operates an unauthorized gambling platform in the state despite this prohibition.

The lawsuit claims that Stake.us is a “virtual clone” of the main Stake.com site. The platform allegedly uses a dual-currency system to hide illegal gambling behind a “superficial disguise of social gaming.”

The core of the alleged deception involves two types of tokens:

• Gold Coins: Users purchase these tokens, which have no real cash value.
• Stake Cash: These tokens are included in the Gold Coin purchase package. Stake Cash can be wagered in casino games and then redeemed for real money at a one-to-one ratio with the U.S. dollar.

According to the plaintiff, Stake Cash serves as a “clear vehicle for real-money gambling.” This mechanism, the suit argues, allows the company to run an “unauthorized and illegal online casino in Missouri.”

Fraudulent Promotional Practices

The lawsuit claims that the promotional activities of Drake and Ross were “deceptive, fraudulent and unfair.” The complaint highlights several ways their content allegedly misled the public.

Drake and Ross receive millions of dollars yearly from Stake to host promotional live streams of the online casino. The lawsuit asserts that they often fail to properly disclose this paid promotion. Crucially, the suit accuses the promoters of deceiving the public about the money being wagered. While the duo publicly state they are betting with their “own money,” the complaint alleges they frequently use funds supplied by Stake, commonly known as “house money.”

The defendants are also accused of falsely presenting Stake as a “social casino” in their promotional roles, rather than a genuine gambling enterprise. The suit claims these promotions, which glamorize gambling and normalize online wagering, are aimed at a wide audience. This audience includes teenagers in Missouri and elsewhere who cannot legally gamble.

Lawsuit Demands and Broader Context

This action is proceeding as a class action lawsuit. The plaintiff seeks to recover gambling losses on behalf of himself and others affected by the defendants’ activities.

The claims include a demand for compensatory damages. The plaintiff also seeks an injunction forcing Drake and Ross to disgorge any profits made from their alleged misconduct.

The lawsuit is a notable action in the U.S. It represents one of the first times that influencers are being held legally responsible for allegedly promoting unauthorized gambling platforms.

This is not Stake’s only legal challenge. A similar lawsuit is already underway in California against Stake and its streaming service affiliate, Kick.