A recent investigation by Bloomberg has raised questions about the gambling results of rapper Drake on the cryptocurrency casino Stake. After reviewing extensive livestream footage, the publication concluded that Drake secured large payouts on certain games at a rate far exceeding that of typical users. Stake has rejected the findings, calling them inaccurate, while legal challenges against the company and some of its celebrity promoters continue in several U.S. states.

Bloomberg Businessweek examined roughly 1,500 hours of Kick livestreams featuring 25 gamblers, including five high-profile influencers: Drake, Adin Ross, Tyler Niknam, Ishmael Swartz and Félix Lengyel. Reporters analyzed about 500 hours of slot gameplay in detail and used software to track balances, bets and outcomes before manually verifying more than 600 major wins.

The review focused on “big wins,” defined as payouts worth at least 1,000 times the base wager. According to the findings, Drake hit those outcomes on slot titles operated by Easygo Entertainment—Stake’s parent company—about four times as often as the average player. The data indicated he achieved such wins approximately once every 2,500 spins on Easygo games, compared with about once every 10,000 spins for others.

By contrast, when Drake played slot games run by third-party providers, his results aligned with normal averages. Bloomberg also reported that he won big twice as frequently as the next-luckiest player in the group studied. Four players who logged a comparable number of spins did not record a single qualifying win.

One August session illustrated the pattern. Drake began with $3.5 million in Bitcoin and saw his balance drop sharply during 82 minutes of slot play. After inviting Stake co-founder Ed Craven into the livestream, he shifted to roulette and later to Easygo slots. During a single hour on Easygo titles such as Puffer Stacks and Rooster Returns, Drake recorded four major wins, including two $800,000 payouts, before eventually ending the stream with $730,000.

Stake Disputes Findings as Lawsuits Advance

Stake responded forcefully to the report, describing Bloomberg Businessweek’s conclusions as “categorically incorrect.” The company argued that labeling certain outcomes as “big wins” imposes an arbitrary metric and that comparing win rates across different games “ignores how game mathematics work.” Stake declined to provide its own player win-rate data, according to Complex.

Ed Craven has previously denied that sponsored influencers receive preferential odds. In a 2022 blog post, he wrote, “despite certain widespread notions of odds being rigged in some people’s favors or money not being real, we have no direct control of the odds of any of our games.” In a separate statement cited in coverage of the investigation, Craven added: “I can assure everyone that despite certain widespread notions of odds being rigged in some people’s favors or money not being real, we have no direct control of the odds of any of our games as these are controlled by a third-party. Odds are the same for all players regardless of their sponsorship status and money spent by promoters is very real. Real odds, real money, real players- These are things I believe should be the industry norm when it comes to influencer marketing.”

The scrutiny arrives as Stake, Drake and Adin Ross face multiple class-action lawsuits. A case filed in Missouri alleges their livestreams portray rare wins as commonplace and claims that by “prominently advertising these exceedingly rare outcomes, Stake exploits players’ cognitive biases.” Another lawsuit filed in California accuses the defendants of having “perpetrated one of the largest and most profitable illegal gambling enterprises in California’s history.” In Virginia, a separate filing alleges Stake has operated as a major illegal online casino since at least 2022.

Ross’ representative has said, “We are confident that when the court applies the relevant law to the facts of these case[s], Mr. Ross will be dismissed from these lawsuits.” Stake has rejected the California allegations and described other class-action claims as meritless. Representatives for Drake did not respond to requests for comment, according to Bloomberg.

Crypto Casino Growth and Influencer Strategy

Stake operates from Australia and is registered in Curaçao. The company says its main site and affiliated domains receive at least 127 million monthly visits. It estimates it processes about 10 billion bets each month and accounts for roughly 4% of annual Bitcoin transactions. In 2024, Stake reported $4.7 billion in revenue after payouts, an 80% increase from 2022.

Kick, the streaming platform tied to Stake, has played a major role in that growth. Influencers often share promotional links and codes during broadcasts. Bloomberg reported that some streamers receive crypto wallet refills and other benefits as part of their marketing agreements. Tyler Niknam has said he accepted $360 million over 16 months leading up to October 2022. In July, Niknam won $37.5 million on an Easygo slot, and Ishmael Swartz followed with a $45.4 million win on another Easygo title days later.

Critics argue that such clips circulate widely on social media and can influence viewers’ perceptions of gambling risks. Regulators in countries including the United Kingdom, France and Ukraine have ordered internet providers to block access to Stake. In the United States, several states have enacted or considered measures against sweepstakes-style crypto casinos, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed anti-sweepstakes legislation into law in December last year.

Drake’s Broader Betting Record

Drake’s gambling activity extends beyond slots. In February, he posted on Instagram that he had placed a $1 million bet on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, writing, “Bet against me if you dare.” The Patriots lost 29-13 to the Seattle Seahawks, leaving him without a payout that would have totaled $2.95 million. The rapper has previously won and lost large sports wagers, fueling online discussion of the so-called “Drake Curse.”

While his sports bets have produced mixed results, Bloomberg’s analysis suggests his slot performance on Easygo-operated games stands apart statistically. Stake maintains that all players face the same odds. Courts in multiple jurisdictions will now weigh the legal claims surrounding how those games—and their marketing—operate.