In other broadcast news, political commentator Tucker Carlson has urged young men not to pay their gambling debts.

In a stream posted on Kick two days ago titled “Max Win or Week Break – Pray Please”, he racked up more losses to add to the previous four losing sessions. In total, his losses over the five days added up to $19.5 million. 

He then stated, “I gotta force myself to just get off for the next f*cking week or something,” 

“Yeah, I lost 19.5 mil… 19.5 mil in the last five streams. I can’t even see straight, I’m shook, I’m actually fully shook, I’m fully f*cking shook.”

His sponsorship deal with Stake offsets the streamer’s losses. The exact amount of the deal has not been officially revealed, but Trainwreck has indicated that it exceeds $19.5 million.

In a stream in October 2022, he stated, “I’ve been paid $360 million for 16 months of gambling.”

He has over 400,000 followers on Kick, a platform under the same ownership group as Stake. 

Celebrities Revealing the Other Side Of Gambling

Stake also sponsors Drake in a deal reportedly worth $100 million a year. The rapper is estimated to make around $3.4 million per weekly stream on Kick. 

He recently also revealed big gambling losses on the platform, showing his monthly losses of over $8 million. 

Like Trainwreck, Drake emphasized how his gambling losses were affecting him. He commented in a story posted on Instagram, “Gotta share the other side of gambling… Losses are so fried right now. I hope I can post a big win for you all soon cause I’m the only one that has never seen a max these guys max once a week.”

It is unclear whether the two influencers are under any sort of directive from Stake to highlight the dangers of gambling, as well as showcase their wins when they occur. 

Similarly, Fanatics Sportsbook recently showed Jay-Z losing $1 million on a bet on the NBA Finals. The rapper, who holds a significant stake in the company, wagered the huge sum on the Oklahoma City Thunder to beat the Indiana Pacers 4-1 in the series. 

Oklahoma eventually won the series, but in seven games, thus seeing Jay-Z lose his bet.

Don’t Pay Your Gambling Debts, Says Tucker Carlson

While Drake, Trainwreck, and Jay-Z offset their gambling losses with their ties to the gambling companies, Tucker Carlson this week urged bettors not to pay their gambling debts. 

Speaking on a recent episode of The Tucker Carlson Show, he said, “I really do want to start a political party: ‘Don’t Pay Your Credit Card Bill.’ ‘Do Not Pay Your Gambling Debts.”

Carlson blamed the gambling companies for preying on young men to lead them to big gambling losses.

In comments noted by Awful Announcing, he said to guest Saagar Enjeti, “Why not just say it’s disgusting and it’s predatory?”

Fellow journalist Enjeti agreed before Carlson continued, “And by the way, they’re preying … on the frustration and sadness of young men who know they’re never going to be able to afford a wife, kids, and a house.”

Drake and Trainwreck have received similar criticism for promoting gambling, but the recent revelation of significant losses has gained some praise for highlighting the dangers of the activity. 

The post Trainwreck Loses $19.5 Million on Stream, Carlson Says “Don’t Pay Your Gambling Debt” appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The story, shared with his 142 million followers, revealed jaw-dropping figures, including that Drake wagered $124.5 million in the last 30 days, losing $8.2 million. In the past week alone, he wagered $50.2 million, losing $5.8 million.

He then addressed his followers:

“Gotta share the other side of gambling… Losses are so fried right now. I hope I can post a big win for you all soon cause I’m the only one that has never seen a max these guys max once a week.”

He also shared some recent bets, which include a $200,000 wager on the Oklahoma Thunder to beat the Indiana Pacers by 6-10 points and a $600,000 bet on the Thunder to win straight up on the road.

Drake’s Known For Placing (and Losing) Large Wagers

The June 18 stories are not an isolated incident where Drake posts some of his bets. The rapper is famous for placing substantial amounts, often ending up on the losing end. Some examples of large bets resulting in losses include:

• $1.2 million on Jake Paul to beat Tyson Fury in 2023
• $1 million on the Toronto Maple Leafs to beat the Florida Panthers
• $1 million on Argentina to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup in regular time (they won, but in extra time).
• $565,000 on Tyson Fury to beat Oleksandr Usyk
• $355,000 bet on Mike Tyson to beat Jake Paul in 2024.
• $210,000 on Tyler Fritz to win the US Open in 2024.

Of course, the rapper has also won some sizeable bets. That includes a $1.15 million bet on the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl LVIII, earning him over $2.3 million.

The “Drake Curse”

Drake’s fortunes have also been associated with more than just his bets. The “Drake Curse” is a long-running online joke suggesting that athletes or teams that Drake publicly supports or endorses lose shortly after.

There are numerous examples of soccer stars, UFC fighters, boxers, and football players taking photos with the rapper and losing afterward. In 2019, Italian soccer club AS Roma even joked that club players are prohibited from posting pictures with Drake.

That said, there have been examples of curse breakers. That includes his hometown Toronto Raptors winning the NBA title in 2019, despite the rapper acting as an ambassador.

Critics Slam Influence and Lack of Transparency

Drake’s photos of betting slips have also sparked considerable criticism surrounding the influence of celebrities and responsible gambling.

Critics argue that his posts show gambling as a get-rich-quick scheme and that his large bets create unrealistic expectations for ordinary followers who do not understand the risks associated.

His posts have also faced scrutiny due to his connection with crypto casino Stake. Critics point out that his posts can lead fans to gamble at the platform, which is illegal in many countries, including the US and, recently, the UK.

His connection to Stake also draws transparency questions. Rumours suggest that his partnership with the platform is worth a nine-figure sum. Also, that Stake at least partly funds his bankroll.

That raises doubts about whether the money he bets is actually his own. Or is he simply playing a role as a high-roller influencer, not affecting his finances?

The post Drake Reveals $8 Million Gambling Loss in a Month, Reigniting Controversy Over Celebrity Betting appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The lawsuit, reported by gambling legal expert Daniel Wallach, was filed last Friday in the US District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. It names Laura Hall and her minor child as plaintiffs, along with other Alabama residents who claim they’ve been similarly affected.

“Stake attempts to separate the element of consideration from chance by offering a two-tiered system of virtual coins, both of which function like casino chips, while calling the whole affair a “sweepstakes,” the lawsuit reads.

Hall contends that Stake continues deceptively marketing itself as a legal sweepstakes platform when it’s an unlicensed provider of casino games. She also claims that her child, who is a minor, “suffered an injury in fact resulting in the loss of money and/or property that is recoverable in Alabama” in the last six months.

This is already the third lawsuit against Stake, which is also involved in cases in California and Illinois.

What is Online Sweepstakes Gaming?

These unregulated platforms allow players to play casino-style games like slots, roulette, and poker, which are banned under Alabama law. However, instead of real money, players can use virtual currencies like coins or tokens, which can then be exchanged for prizes or additional credits.

Because these platforms are not classified as traditional gambling sites, they operate in a legal gray area and have been widely scrutinized by lawmakers and regulators.

Several states — including Connecticut, Louisiana, Montana, and New York — are advancing in legislative efforts to ban them, citing concerns about consumer protection and market integrity.

The lawsuit compares Stake’s operations to internet café gaming establishments, which have been shut down throughout the United States.

“Stake will ask the Court to disbelieve its own eyes and conclude that Stake.us is not really a gambling operation, but instead offers legal ‘sweepstakes,’” the lawsuit states. “That is an old gimmick that was once popular among criminals in the early 2000s.” 

Stake.us Rejects Claims of Illegal Gambling

The complaint claims that Stake.us operates under the guise of Sweepstakes Limited and promotes over 200 games, including slots, poker, and table games.

On its website, customers are presented with the opportunity to “win big” alongside Canadian rapper Drake, who is described as a “long-time member of the Stake community.”

Stake has fired back at claims it is operating illegally, telling ReadWrite it “does not operate an online casino in Alabama. It operates a social casino with free-to-play games in compliance with all relevant local laws and regulations.”

The post Alabama Woman Accuses Stake.us of Running Illegal Gambling Operation appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Mirroring a similar case filed in California last week, Stake faces a second legal battle, but this time in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Filed by Illinois resident Brayden Urdan, the suit primarily targets its sweepstake casino platform, Stake.us. He claims it is operating an unlicensed and illegal online gambling site under the guise of being a “social casino.” 

Dual-Currency System Constitutes Gambling

Central to Urdan’s lawsuit challenge is the platform’s use of a dual-currency system, which he believes is deceptive as users buy “Gold Coins” but receive “Stake Cash” as a bonus. The plaintiff argues that while Gold Coins cannot be wagered, Stake Cash can, and any winnings can be cashed out, effectively qualifying as real-money gambling.

Despite Stake.us advertising claiming that users do not need to purchase to receive Stake Cash, the complaint argues that these procedures are obscure and insufficient for sustained gameplay.

The legal action asserts that while players can technically obtain small amounts of Stake Cash via platform promotions, daily logins, or a long-winded mail-in request process, he maintains most users on the site end up making real money deposits to play. 

Stake Using Misleading Advertising in Illinois

In conjunction with the concerns raised regarding the dual-currency system, the filing also calls into question the operator’s use of celebrity endorsements. Stake uses stars like Drake and UFC star Israel Adesanya to promote both casino platforms. The plaintiff contends that Stake is using high-profile partnerships to actively normalize gambling while masking the risks, packaging it instead as an entertainment app.

Furthermore, Urdan is also seeking financial restitution, statutory damages, and an injunction to halt Stake’s operations in Illinois after claiming to have lost more than $15,000 on the platform since 2022, with $10,000 lost in the past six months.

These losses, he argues, illustrate the social casino platforms’ lack of responsible gambling measures, which should include safeguards, addiction support resources, and self-exclusion tools, which are typically mandated by law for licensed operators.

Illinois a Hotspot for Gambling-Related Class Actions

In light of Urdan’s recent filing against Stake.us, the move has also reaffirmed Illinois’ reputation as a hub for gambling-related lawsuits—due in part to its unique centuries-old statute, the Illinois Loss Recovery Act (LRA).

Under the LRA statute, plaintiffs in the Prairie State are entitled to reclaim three times their gambling losses if the losses stemmed from unlawful betting activities. The only caveat to the application of this statute is that the claimant must file the suit within six months.

The lawsuit in California could impact Urdan’s case in Illinois, as the law firm Edelson PC is challenging it. Edelson is the firm behind a recent prominent court case that secured a $24.9 million win against High 5 Games in Washington state over their comparable social casino model.

With the Washington state ruling against High 5 Games setting a new precedent that non-cashable virtual chips can constitute “something of value” under their state gambling laws, should a similar adjudication be made in California and Illinois, Stake may likely face more legal challenges in the near future.

The post Stake Faces Second Lawsuit Over Alleged Illegal Gambling Practices in Illinois appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The plaintiff, Dennis Boyle, is suing Sweepsteaks Limited, claiming Stake.us constitutes an illegal gambling website. The case alleges that Stake.us is in breach of California civil code, given that it provides unlawful online gambling and engages in unfair business practices. 

Allegations Center on Stake Virtual Currency and Playthrough Rules

The lawsuit was remanded and escalated from state court to federal court. The case centers around Stake’s social casino and sweepstakes product. Boyle alleges that the company provides real-money online wagering under the guise of free gaming. 

Sweepstakes and social casinos effectively use a dual-currency system. In the case of Stake, digital currencies such as Stake Cash and Gold Coins are alleged proxies for real-money wagering as they are used to play promotional games and sweepstakes. 

Boyle’s complaint states: “Because social casinos operate as if they are not subject to gambling regulations, they do not comply with the regulations that govern the operation of slot machines or other gambling.”  

“A user playing promotional games with Stake Cash is gambling in the purest sense – they are wagering something of value (Stake Cash) on a random event with the hope and intent of winning more Stake Cash than wagered,” the complaint continues. 

It also alleges that Stake’s play-through requirement, tied to Stake Cash, constitutes unfair business practices. Stake’s welcome bonuses and promotional giveaways are subject to a 300% playthrough wagering requirement before any winnings can be redeemed. 

Boyle’s individual claims do not exceed $75,000 in the claim, but the plaintiff is seeking injunctive relief with the shuttering of the site. 

This is not the first lawsuit brought by California resident Boyle. The former gambling addict also has an ongoing case with Yellow Social Interactive, centered around sweepstakes brand Pulsz. 

Boyle also seeks injunctive relief, accusing Pulsz of running operations that constitute an online casino without a license. 

Sweepstakes Casinos Face Rising Scrutiny Nationwide

Online sweepstakes casinos and sports events contracts are under intense regulatory scrutiny across the United States.

Mississippi’s proposed legislation to ban sweepstakes casinos recently died at the Committee level. The Magnolia State Senate was the first chamber in the United States to pass a bill prohibiting sweepstakes casinos. Representatives then amended the wording in early March to include sports betting language. 

Ultimately, the Senate rejected the amended legislation due to the language change. 

The Mississippi Senate became the first chamber in the U.S. to pass a bill banning sweepstakes casinos. In early March, the House of Representatives amended the bill to include language on online sports betting.

After the deadline for conference committee reports, the bill took its place in the legislative graveyard. 

Legislation to regulate or prohibit online sweepstakes casinos is still pending in Arkansas, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. As often happens with United States law, if one state sets an example, others may follow in quick succession. 

The post Stake Faces Lawsuit in California Over Alleged Illegal Online Gambling appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Matt Bastock

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has announced Stake as the official betting sponsor of both the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean Cup by Gainbridge. 

An extension to the existing partnership was confirmed this week after what the International Tennis Federation describes as ‘rigorous due diligence’ conducted in accordance with ITF rules for betting sponsorship and in consultation with the International Tennis Integrity Agency. 

Stake will continue as the competitions’ global partner until at least the end of the 2026 season. Details of the deal’s exact terms are scarce, but the release promises courtside branding and sponsored content across social media channels.

Akhil Sarin, Chief Marketing Officer for Stake, commented, “We are delighted and extremely proud to become the official betting partner of the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. Tennis is a universally popular sport, and these competitions are two of the most passionately followed across the globe. We look forward to some exciting initiatives spread across the tennis calendar and working with the ITF to promote the sport to our worldwide audience.”

Stake has promised to ‘promote and enhance’ the fan experience across both events. The company is ‘aiming to bring supporters closer to the on-court action’. 

Stake’s Expanding Influence in Sports Sponsorship

Australia-headquartered Stake has a comprehensive sponsorship portfolio across the world of sport and popular culture. Headline sponsorships include English Premier League outfit Everton, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and the Stake Formula One team. Both superstar Drake and footballing great Sergio Aguero also hold brand ambassador roles with the gambling company.

David Haggerty, ITF President, added, “We are excited to announce these partnerships as we look to build on the success of the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge in 2023. We thank our partners for their continued support, and we look forward to working with Stake, whose track record across a range of major international events speaks for itself. 

Regarding the selection process, he continued, “Protecting tennis integrity is at the center of all we do, and we are pleased to partner with Stake – an organization with a portfolio of high-profile clients, a stated commitment to responsible business practices and significant reach among global sports fans – having conducted rigorous due diligence in line with ITF rules for betting sponsorship, which were developed in consultation with the ITIA.”

In August last year, Stake entered the Peruvian market after the regulator granted it both casino and sportsbook licenses. It also partnered with FCB Melgar, a Peruvian football team with a stadium capacity of over 60,000. The Stake logo will feature across the men’s, women’s, and Liga 3 team kits.

Written By

Matt Bastock

Matt is a casino and sports betting expert with over two decades’ writing and editing experience. He loves getting into the nitty gritty of how casinos and sportsbooks really operate in order to make solid recommendations based on real experiences. His favourite games are blackjack and poker, and he loves watching NFL and soccer in his spare time.

The post Stake Extends Sponsorship of Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The streaming platform outlined in a wave of new regulations that from February of next year, gambling content can only be streamed from gambling sites that have utilised ID to verify the KYC of their viewers. 

The action follows the partnership agreement between Kick and Internet Watch Forum (IWF), which is clamping down on “harmful and exploitative” content. 

Further strengthening these efforts, Kick has also commenced with a significant update to its safety hub, as well as enabling streamers to personalise their chat in a bid to eradicate bots. 

Gambling content, however, has always been a key part of what Kick offers, after it was initially founded by Bijan Tehrani and Ed Craven, who also co-founded Stake. 

Since then streaming has evolved significantly, especially around gambling content with the growth of crash games and the gamification of slots aligning with enhanced engagement for streamers. 

Gambling content has always very much been at the forefront of what Kick offers, with an abundance of some of the most famous streamers expanding into the sector. 

The tightening of Kick’s rules also coincides with a sharp rise in streamers moving directly to the Stake platform to stream content. 

Whilst there was significant praise for the latest steps by Kick, Streamer Xposed did take to X to emphasise his disappointment at the decision. 

He stated: “The sole purpose to create kick was for a place for gamblers to have the freedom to stream wherever they want and have a home to stream at. Now these guys at Stake are losing streamers by the day and were forced to provide an extra level of KYC check to the website.” 

“All this shows is CONTROL over their website entirely and to make everybody come back to Stake and promote only their product. 

“On top of that, any streamer that is streaming other gambling websites viewers are deflated and they are not allowed to be shown on the front page or on the recommended section of Kick making them more difficult to be discovered which hurts the streamers who aren’t streaming Stake and backing them into a corner.”

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Underlining just how much attention and excitement the market has garnered from operators, a total of 113 registered in a bid to operate in the region. 

The 113 applicants are looking to operate under the framework, which after much back and forth has all but been cemented and will include igaming as a key component. 

According to SIGAP’s website Kaizen Gaming, which has considerably bolstered its marketing presence in South America in recent months, is one of the key players pursuing licensing in the space. 

A myriad of key players from the sector also make up the rest of the submissions, including the likes of Betfair, Stake and Meridian Gaming. 

As a result of being part of the 113 initially registered companies, they will get priority in terms of the reviewing of their registration. That being said, Plínio Lemos Jorge, President of the ANJL, revealed his belief that there will be an increasing number of companies that apply for a licence until the end of the year.  

“We are certain that next year we will have a completely different market. Honest, responsible and regulated, where bettors will be able to be sure that they are playing on a serious and safe platform,” Lemos Jorge said. 

The current submissions are expected to be approved or rejected by mid-November, with the wider regulated market set to launch on 1 January, 2025.

The post Brazil’s gambling market begins to take shape with influx of operator applicants  appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The Sauber F1 team competes at most international races as ‘Stake F1 Team’ as the gambling provider is the team’s main sponsor. However, Stake doesn’t hold a KSA licence and therefore is not allowed to offer or advertise gambling in the Netherlands.

The KSA noted that legislation states that gambling can’t be offered, advertised or promoted by an operator in the Netherlands without a licence. 

As such, operators without a licence must “take measures to prevent participation” in the Netherlands, such as applying geoblocking, to stop Dutch players from being able to reach their website. 

Despite geoblocking measures taken by Stake, the KSA “still sees participation by Dutch players” and therefore finds it “undesirable that illegal gambling is advertised at a Dutch event with the reach and size of Formula 1, also because the event attracts a lot of attention among vulnerable groups (minors and young adults)”. 

As a result, KSA’s board has urgently requested Sauber to not drive under the name Stake this weekend, as well as the Dutch Grand Prix organisers to not advertise the provider.

Previously, Sauber has removed its Stake sponsorship and has raced as Kick Sauber to comply with gambling regulations in certain countries.

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The cryptocurrency casino operator will enter its latest territory with a new hire after appointing Jennyfer Escobar to the role of Country Manager in Peru. 

Stake will launch its online casino and sports betting platform in Peru with Escobar’s leadership, leveraging her expertise in the nation’s gaming sector – having worked in the industry for nine years. 

“I am thrilled to join team Stake and help to guide efforts in Peru,” said Escobar. “The Peruvian market has significant growth potential and we look forward to engaging even further with the region. I’m excited to continue contributing to the dynamic world of gaming in Peru and to drive innovation in this evolving industry.”

Peru has attracted a whole host of igaming companies since opening a regulated market in February 2024. Stake has become the latest online casino firm to tap into the Latin American nation’s growing audience for gambling, following the likes of SkillOnNet, Playson and SYNOT Games. 

“We are delighted to bring Stake to Peru, a country that has a lot of potential for digital growth, which has been evident in recent years,” said Diana Otalora, General Manager, Latin America at Stake. “This shows our ambition to provide world-class entertainment to Peruvian customers and to expand our reach in LatAm.”

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