A lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia names online cryptocurrency casino Stake, its co-founder Ed Craven, rapper Drake, streamer Adin Ross, and Australian George Nguyen. The plaintiffs, LaShawnna Ridley and Tiffany Hines, allege a scheme involving illegal online gambling operations and the use of bots to inflate Drake's streaming numbers during his public dispute with rapper Kendrick Lamar. Stake's spokesman has called the filing a "nonsense claim" and expects it to be dismissed. Stake has not yet filed a response to the lawsuit.
Allegations Against Stake
The lawsuit claims Stake.us operates as an illegal online casino, bypassing state and federal laws by requiring users to bet with virtual tokens redeemable for cryptocurrency pegged to the US dollar. Plaintiffs allege Stake.us preys on consumers, luring them into real money gambling and exposing them to addiction risks. Stake, co-founded by Craven and Bijan Tehrani, was established in Australia despite being illegal there for use and has faced other lawsuits in the US.
Allegations Against Drake, Ross, and Nguyen
Drake, who reportedly signed a promotional deal with Stake in 2022, is accused of influencing consumers to engage in harmful gambling on the platform. The lawsuit further alleges that Drake, Ross, and Nguyen violated US Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) laws. According to the filing, Nguyen acted as a "broker and facilitator" in this scheme, receiving cash and cryptocurrency to fund and orchestrate bot campaigns to boost Drake's streaming figures. Stake's spokesman denied the existence of a tipping function that could be used in such a manner.
George Nguyen's Identity and Role
George Nguyen, an Australian national, is described in the lawsuit as operating Instagram meme pages and maintaining a close association with Drake. Online chatter suggests Nguyen also manages the Instagram page for hip-hop podcaster DJ Akademiks. Nguyen's social media activities included promoting Drake during his rivalry with Lamar. While court documents indicate Nguyen's communication with Drake, his offline identity remains largely private. Nguyen registered the business name Grandavious Chat and sources suggest he lives in Cabramatta, Australia. Despite claims within the lawsuit, a Stake spokesman stated there is no affiliation between Nguyen and Stake or Ed Craven.