BREAKING: Drake Hit By Rico Charge

Описание: In early January 2026, news broke that rapper Drake, along with streamer Adin Ross and the online gambling platform Stake, have been named in a federal class-action RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) lawsuit.

The Core Allegations
Illegal Gambling Enterprise: The lawsuit alleges that Stake.us operates as an illegal, unregulated online casino under the "façade" of being a legal sweepstakes promotion.

Influencer Promotion: Drake is accused of being paid nearly $100 million per year to promote the site. The lawsuit claims he and other influencers like Adin Ross helped lure "unsuspecting individuals" into the gambling scheme.

Streaming Fraud & Market Manipulation: A major part of the complaint involves the "tipping" platform on Stake. It is alleged that Drake and others used this feature to transfer money to engagement farms and bots to artificially inflate streaming numbers for Drake's music.

Harm to Other Artists: By allegedly "pumping up" his play counts via these fraudulent bots, the lawsuit claims Drake has negatively impacted the royalties of other artists on platforms like Spotify, whose payouts are based on the relative share of total streams.

The Nature of the "RICO" Charges
Civil, Not Criminal: It is important to note that this is currently a private civil class-action lawsuit, not a criminal prosecution brought by the government.

Triple Damages: Because it is filed under RICO, if a jury rules in favor of the plaintiffs, they could be awarded triple damages.

Potential Scrutiny: Legal experts suggest that while this is a civil matter now, the high-profile nature of the case may attract the attention of federal prosecutors and state investigators.

Context and Impact
Influencers "Holding the Bag": Since many of these gambling sites are based offshore, plaintiffs are increasingly targeting the US-based celebrities and "brand ambassadors" who promote them.

Broader Trend: This lawsuit follows a similar pattern to the litigation seen after the FTX collapse, where celebrity influencers faced legal action for aiding and abetting the promotion of unregulated financial products.