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(AsiaGameHub) – A new racketeering and illegal gambling lawsuit has named several well-known entertainers and public figures, and it was filed in New Jersey last Wednesday, April 22.
Influencers and a Major Gambling Platform Named in Gambling Lawsuit
Drake, Adin Ross, and DJ Akademiks are targeted in the lawsuit due to their purported promotional connections and backing of Stake.us—also a defendant in this case. This lawsuit joins a series of similar legal actions already filed across the United States, specifically in Missouri, New Mexico, and Virginia.
These prominent figures are accused of using their celebrity status to persuade people to use the website and place bets.
The plaintiff, Jason Nufio of Roselle, New Jersey, argues in the complaint that he lost money on Stake.us and that the website violates state gambling laws. Stake.us, however, identifies itself as a social casino only and does not technically offer real-money gambling.
The lawsuit also challenges this claim, contending that Stake.us uses a virtual currency called gold coins as a “fig leaf” to “avoid the appearance of illegal gambling.”
New Jersey, nevertheless, banned sweepstakes casinos as early as August 15, 2025. The lawsuit then outlines detailed allegations against each defendant, including Akademiks, who “knowingly and directly helped Drake inflate his streaming numbers through bot networks by publishing and promoting information he knew to be false.”
Similar Claims Arise in New York, But No Convictions Have Been Secured
Stake.us is also accused of failing to disclose that Adin Ross and Drake “did not face financial risk” when they gambled on stream to promote the service.
“They have inflicted harm on consumers across the state who lost real money chasing gambling wins on the Stake platform,” the complaint adds.
A similar complaint was filed in New York, where another plaintiff alleged that Stake.us had targeted young people through influencers.
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