KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Global music icon Drake and online streamer Adin Ross are facing a major class-action lawsuit accusing them and Stake.us of deceiving players through “fraudulent” and “unlawful” online gambling promotions.
Filed Monday in Jackson County Circuit Court, the 34-page complaint by Missouri resident Justin Killham alleges that the celebrity endorsers profited from “unjust enrichment” while promoting Stake.us as a “harmless” sweepstakes-style casino. The lawsuit, however, claims the site operates as a “highly addictive” and illegal online gambling platform that exploits vulnerable users.
Killham’s suit argues that Stake.us violated state consumer protection laws by using “deceptive, fraudulent and unfair” marketing tactics that led to significant financial losses among users — particularly those “prone to gambling addiction” and “younger consumers targeted through Stake’s ‘free play’ marketing.”
At the center of the case is Stake’s dual-currency model, which combines virtual “gold coins” with another token, “Stake Cash,” that can be wagered and redeemed for real money. According to the filing, this system disguises real-money gambling as a “free” or “social” experience, misleading players into believing their bets carry no real risk.
The lawsuit further claims Drake and Ross were paid millions to promote the platform through livestreams and social media campaigns, drawing in millions of fans. These broadcasts, the complaint alleges, were carried out “under deeply fraudulent pretenses.”
“When Ross and Drake purport to gamble online with Stake.com, they often do not do so with their own money despite telling the public in Missouri and elsewhere the opposite,” the filing states.
Killham’s legal team contends that this influencer-driven marketing intentionally appeals to teenagers and young adults, amplifying the harm caused by the alleged deception.
If successful, the lawsuit could have sweeping implications for celebrity gambling endorsements, digital advertising ethics, and online gaming compliance, at a time when the U.S. online casino industry continues to surge in revenue and regulatory scrutiny.
Stake.us, Drake, and Adin Ross have yet to issue public statements regarding the lawsuit.
