Full Breakdown
Federal Lawsuit Accuses Drake, Adin Ross, and DJ Akademiks of Illegal Gambling Promotion
4/30/2026, 1:49:01 AM
New Jersey Federal Lawsuit Targets Influencers and Stake.us
On April 22, 2024, Jason Nufio of Roselle, New Jersey filed a federal civil complaint alleging that rapper Drake, streamer Adin Ross, DJ Akademiks, and the casino Stake.us engaged in racketeering and illegal gambling. The suit says the defendants used their platforms to persuade New Jersey residents to buy Stake’s virtual gold coins and Stake Cash, enabling real-money wagering in violation of state law.
Legal Background and Prior Actions
New Jersey banned sweepstakes-casino participation on August 15, 2025, making online sweepstakes gambling illegal. Stake.us, a Curacao-licensed site, uses a two-token system. Similar complaints have been filed in Missouri, New Mexico and Virginia, alleging influencer-driven targeting of young users.
Parties Involved
Drake is a Grammy-winning rapper who has promoted Stake on Instagram. Adin Ross streams high-stakes gambling content on Twitch. DJ Akademiks is a YouTube commentator covering hip-hop. Stake.us is a Curacao-licensed online casino. Plaintiff Jason Nufio claims personal losses after using the platform.
Allegations and Mechanisms
The complaint says Drake, Ross and Akademiks promoted Stake without financial risk, creating a false impression of free gambling. It alleges Akademiks helped Drake inflate streaming numbers using bot networks and false information. Stake’s gold-coin system is described as a “fig leaf” that hides real-money wagering via Stake Cash, which can be cashed out at a 1:1 U.S. dollar rate. Plaintiffs assert the scheme caused consumers to lose real money.
Official Statements & Responses
Adin Ross dismissed a related New Mexico lawsuit as nonsense. Drake and DJ Akademiks have not issued public comments. Stake.us has not provided a statement.
Criticism & Opposition
Plaintiffs argue the promotions have inflicted harm on consumers who lost real money and that the campaign specifically targets young audiences, exploiting influencer reach to bypass gambling safeguards.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Stake.us is described as a “social casino” that does not offer real-money gambling, yet the complaint alleges Stake Cash can be cashed out for actual dollars, creating a factual tension. The claim that Drake’s streaming numbers were inflated via bots is unverified, and Nufio’s exact losses remain undisclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “They have inflicted harm on consumers across the State who have lost real money chasing gambling wins on the Stake platform,” — Complaint, New Jersey filing
- “Stake bundles every purchase of Gold Coins with a second type of token called ‘Stake Cash’ as a supposedly free bonus. Unlike Gold Coins, Stake Cash can be wagered on casino games and cashed out for real money at a fixed 1:1 ratio to the U.S. Dollar – exposing Stake Cash as a clear vehicle for real-money gambling,” — New Mexico lawsuit filing
- “a fig leaf to superficially avoid the appearance of illegal gambling and afford Stake a veneer of deniability.” — New Jersey filing
- “f—-g bull—t.” — Adin Ross, response to New Mexico lawsuit
