After attempting to sue UMG over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, Drake now finds himself on the receiving end of a lawsuit- this time over gambling promotions.

Oh, how the tables turn

Drake can’t seem to get enough of a legal battle lately. Just weeks after his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) was dismissed, the rapper now finds himself on the receiving end of a fresh legal dispute.

But this time, it’s not about music or Kendrick Lamar’s diss track ‘Not Like Us’. Instead, Drake is being sued over his high-profile partnership with the crypto-backed gambling platform Stake.

Inside the Stake lawsuit

Filed in Missouri by Justin Killham, the new lawsuit accuses Drake, streamer Adin Ross, and Stake of engaging in “deceptive, fraudulent, and unfair” business practices. The complaint argues that the trio misled the public through promotional streams and social media posts that encouraged gambling, including among young fans.

At the heart of the case is Stake’s dual-currency system, which allows users to buy tokens to gamble. The lawsuit claims this system disguises illegal gambling by gamifying it in a way that violates Missouri law.

Both Drake and Adin Ross have reportedly been paid millions to promote Stake, with the Financial Times even reporting that Drake signed a $100 million-per-year deal with Stake earlier this year. The problem? The promotions are often targeted at audiences too young to gamble, and often suggest the pair are using their own money to gamble, despite the funds coming from Stake itself.

Despite the controversy, Drake has continued to promote Stake on his Instagram account, where gambling-related posts still appear regularly.

Meanwhile, back in the UMG saga…

While the gambling case is just getting started, Drake is continuing to fight his ‘Not Like Us’ battle. This week, the rapper officially filed a notice of appeal in his dismissed lawsuit against UMG.

Drake had accused the label of defamation over its alleged involvement in releasing and promoting Kendrick Lamar’s viral diss track, claiming the track was defamatory. Earlier this month, District Judge Jeannette Vargas dismissed the claim, ruling that the lyrics in question were “nonactionable opinion” typical of the “fiery rhetoric or hyperbole” found in rap battles.

Drake’s defamation lawsuit officially dismissed

Drake’s legal team quickly signaled their intent to appeal, and now they’ve followed through. While the full details behind the appeal haven’t been made public yet, they’re expected to be revealed in time.

So, just three weeks after the first case was dismissed, Drake now has two on his hands. With two major cases now running side by side, the industry will be watching closely to see what comes next for one of the world’s biggest artists.

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