Another day, another RICO lawsuit—this time, it’s Drake and Adin Ross in the crosshairs over alleged illegal gambling and music streaming tricks. Looks like the stakes have never been higher.
In a recent civil RICO class action lawsuit filed in the United States, music star Drake, online streamer Adin Ross, and gambling platform Stake have been accused of illegal activities that blur the lines between entertainment and financial misconduct. This marks the third such legal action involving these parties, adding to a mounting pile of controversy.
The lawsuit, filed on January 1, 2026, claims that the defendants engaged in a scheme where they allegedly used Stake’s tipping feature to transfer funds among themselves. These transactions are purported to have been aimed at artificially inflating Drake’s music streams across key digital platforms. The plaintiffs, LaShawnna Ridley and Tiffany Hines, who are users of Stake.us, allege that this manipulation was intended to create a fabricated sense of popularity for Drake’s music, undermine competitors, and distort recommendation algorithms.
Specific allegations include that Drake knowingly allowed these transactions, disguising them as giveaways that were mostly inaccessible to the public. Furthermore, the complaint mentions a significant $100,000 tip transaction between Ross and Drake that occurred in 2023. A notable incident cited is Drake’s “Drizzmas” livestream in 2024, during which funds were allegedly circulated to bolster botting and enhance paid engagement.
Adding fuel to the fire, the lawsuit references a $220,000 luxury car that Stake purportedly presented to Ross just days before the legal filing on New Year’s Eve. This detail raises eyebrows over the nature of their financial dealings.
The lawsuit is currently filed in the Eastern District of Virginia, demanding $5 million in damages. This new development isn’t the first time Drake has faced such allegations; he previously dealt with similar lawsuits in New Mexico and Missouri last year. Notably, the latest filing follows a livestream event where Drake reportedly gave away a portion of his earnings from Stake, further complicating his legal standing.
