Drake, Adin Ross, and DJ Akademiks Hit With New Jersey Class Action Are You Owed Compensation?

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against official court records and PR Newswire case announcement on April 25, 2026. Last Updated: April 25, 2026

Drake, Adin Ross, DJ Akademiks, Stake, Kick, and George Nguyen are facing a consumer class action lawsuit filed in Monmouth County Superior Court, New Jersey, alleging they conspired to run an illegal sweepstakes gambling platform and used it to covertly finance a campaign to fraudulently inflate Drake’s streaming numbers. If you are a New Jersey resident who used Stake.us and lost real money on the platform, this lawsuit may directly affect you.

Quick-Facts: Drake & Stake New Jersey Class Action Lawsuit

Field	Detail
Lawsuit Filed	April 22, 2026
Defendants	Aubrey “Drake” Graham, Adin Ross, Livingston “DJ Akademiks” Allen, George Nguyen, Stake, Kick
Lead Plaintiff	Jason Nufio, Roselle, New Jersey
Alleged Violation	New Jersey sweepstakes gaming ban (passed August 15, 2025); racketeering; consumer deception
Who Is Affected	New Jersey residents who used Stake.us and lost money on the platform
Current Court Stage	Litigation phase — recently filed, pre-class certification
Court & Jurisdiction	Monmouth County Superior Court, New Jersey
Lead Law Firm	Impresa Legal Group, Alexandria, Virginia
Next Hearing Date	TBD — no hearing scheduled in public record as of filing date
Official Case Website	TBD — no administrator site; monitor court docket at Monmouth County Superior Court
Last Updated	April 25, 2026

What Is the Drake and Stake New Jersey Lawsuit About? Nufio v. Graham et al., Monmouth County Superior Court (Filed April 22, 2026)

New Jersey resident Jason Nufio of Roselle filed the lawsuit on April 22, 2026, accusing Stake.us of violating state gambling regulations after he lost money on the platform. The complaint alleges that Drake, Adin Ross, and DJ Akademiks all used their celebrity status to promote Stake while hiding their paid deals with the platform, leading Nufio and others to lose real money.

The complaint further alleges that all defendants worked together to finance a campaign to create fraudulent streams of Drake’s music, falsely inflate his popularity, distort recommendation algorithms, disparage competitors and music label executives, and ensnare New Jersey residents in an unlicensed online gaming platform. This is not just a gambling lawsuit — it is a consumer rights lawsuit alleging that ordinary people were deliberately misled into a rigged system designed to benefit the defendants.

Related article: South Carolina Receives $63,095,224 in 2026 Tobacco Settlement Here Is What That Money Pays For

The complaint describes how the parties allegedly leveraged Stake’s encrypted “tipping” feature to send payments to bot operators in a way that is hidden from public and regulatory view. George Nguyen, an Australian national, is alleged to have acted as a facilitator to convert Stake-based cryptocurrency into cash, which was then used to execute integrated paid campaigns. If you used Stake.us while living in New Jersey, the allegations in this complaint speak directly to your experience on that platform. For context on how federal racketeering law applies to cases like this, see our full explainer on what a RICO lawsuit means and how it could triple your damages.

Are You Part of the Drake and Stake New Jersey Class Action Lawsuit?

Here is how to know whether this lawsuit includes you. The case was filed on behalf of New Jersey Stake users, and the following criteria define who may be part of the class.

You may be part of this class if:

• You are a New Jersey resident who created a Stake.us account
• You deposited money and placed wagers on Stake.us, including after August 15, 2025, when New Jersey’s sweepstakes gaming ban took effect
• You lost real money on the Stake.us platform
• You were exposed to promotional content from Drake, Adin Ross, or DJ Akademiks that influenced you to use or continue using Stake.us
• You relied on representations that Drake and Ross were gambling with their own money, when in fact the lawsuit alleges they faced no genuine financial risk while ordinary consumers who followed their lead stood to lose real money

You are likely NOT included if:

• You used Stake.us but lived outside New Jersey at the time
• You never placed a wager or deposited real money on the platform
• You used Stake.us exclusively before August 15, 2025, and have no documented losses tied to the promotional campaign

This lawsuit was filed as a consumer class action, meaning you do not need to have filed anything individually to potentially be included. Class members are generally covered automatically if they meet the criteria above. A class action lawsuit attorney can help you evaluate whether your specific situation qualifies and what your options are.

What Are the Plaintiffs Seeking in This Lawsuit?

The plaintiffs are not just asking for gambling losses back — they are asking the court to hold all defendants financially and legally accountable for running what they allege is an organized scheme targeting New Jersey consumers.

The lawsuit seeks refunds of all wagers made by class members, payment of all taxes owed for ongoing illegal gaming, and a permanent injunction barring Stake from operating its gaming platform in violation of New Jersey law. No specific dollar settlement amount has been filed — this case is in its earliest stage, and no claim form or settlement fund exists yet. What the plaintiffs are asking for is compensation for damages suffered by every New Jersey resident who lost money on the platform.

The plaintiff is also seeking compensation for gambling losses and additional damages beyond the wagers themselves. If the court certifies this as a class action, every qualifying New Jersey Stake user could be entitled to a share of whatever the court ultimately awards. This case should be watched closely — no money is available today, but the scope of the alleged harm to consumers is significant.

This lawsuit is one of several Impresa Legal Group has filed across multiple states. The original federal RICO lawsuit against Drake, Stake, and Adin Ross was filed in the Eastern District of Virginia in January 2026 — you can read the full background on that case in our earlier report on the Drake federal RICO lawsuit and streaming bot allegations.

What Should You Do If You Were Affected by Stake.us in New Jersey?

If you are a New Jersey resident who used Stake.us, here are your practical options right now.

Most class members do not need to take any action yet. If the court certifies this as a class action, you will receive formal notice explaining how to participate, opt out, or object. Until that happens, you are not required to file anything.

Save every record you have. This is the most important step you can take right now. Gather screenshots of your Stake.us account, records of deposits and withdrawals, transaction histories, any promotional content from Drake, Adin Ross, or DJ Akademiks that you saw before joining the platform, and any communications from Stake. These records establish your connection to the case and prove your losses.

If you want to pursue an individual claim, consult a consumer rights lawyer privately. Some people — particularly those with large, documented losses — may benefit from evaluating whether an individual lawsuit makes more sense than waiting for class resolution. Most class members will be better served by staying in the class action, but free legal consultation from an attorney familiar with consumer fraud and illegal gambling claims can help you decide.

Monitor for updates. The Monmouth County Superior Court docket is where all case filings will appear. Watch for a class certification motion, which is the next major milestone that will determine who is officially included.

Drake and Stake New Jersey Lawsuit Timeline

Milestone	Date
New Jersey Sweepstakes Gaming Ban Enacted	August 15, 2025
Virginia Federal RICO Lawsuit Filed	January 2, 2026
New Jersey Class Action Filed	April 22, 2026
Class Certification Motion	TBD — not yet filed as of April 25, 2026
Last Major Court Ruling	TBD — case is in early litigation phase
Next Scheduled Hearing	TBD — no hearing date set as of publication
Expected Settlement Timeline	TBD — complex multi-state litigation; resolution unlikely before 2027–2028

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a class action lawsuit against Drake, Adin Ross, and Stake in New Jersey?

 Yes. Impresa Legal Group filed a consumer class action lawsuit in Monmouth County Superior Court on April 24, 2026, on behalf of plaintiff Jason Nufio and others against Drake, Adin Ross, DJ Akademiks, George Nguyen, Stake, and Kick. The case is in its earliest stage.

Do I need to do anything right now to be included in this lawsuit? 

No. Class action lawsuits work differently from individual claims. If the Monmouth County court certifies the class, qualifying New Jersey Stake users will receive official notice and instructions. You do not need to register, file, or contact anyone at this stage.

When will a settlement be reached in the Drake and Stake New Jersey case?

 There is no timeline yet. This lawsuit was filed April 22, 2026, and is in the pre-certification stage. Multi-state consumer fraud and racketeering cases of this complexity typically take two to three years or more before any settlement or trial verdict. Do not expect a payout in 2026.

Can I file my own lawsuit against Stake instead of joining the class action?

 You can consult a class action lawsuit attorney about individual options. Most people with moderate losses are better served by the class action, but those with large, documented wager losses may want a separate legal consultation. An attorney can help you weigh the costs and potential recovery of each path.

How will I know if the Drake and Stake lawsuit settles?

 If a settlement is reached, the court must approve it as fair before any money is distributed. At that point, all identified class members — New Jersey residents who lost money on Stake.us — will receive formal notice by mail or email explaining the terms and how to file a claim. You can also monitor the Monmouth County Superior Court docket directly for updates.

Why is DJ Akademiks named in this New Jersey lawsuit specifically? 

Akademiks, whose real name is Livingston Allen, is accused of “knowingly and directly assisting” Drake’s inflation of streaming numbers through bot networks by publishing and promoting information he allegedly knew to be false while receiving payment through Stake’s tipping feature. Allen is also a resident of Monmouth County, which gives the New Jersey court direct jurisdiction over him.

Is this the only Stake and Drake lawsuit? 

No. This New Jersey case is part of a broader pattern of legal action against Drake, Adin Ross, and Stake, with similar lawsuits filed in New Mexico, Missouri, and Virginia. The New Jersey case adds DJ Akademiks and Kick as defendants and focuses specifically on violations of New Jersey’s 2025 sweepstakes gaming ban.

What makes Stake’s gambling allegedly illegal in New Jersey?

 New Jersey passed legislation on August 15, 2025, making it no longer legal to join or participate in a sweepstakes casino while in the state. The lawsuit alleges that Stake continued operating in New Jersey after this ban and used virtual currency called “gold coins” to disguise what it characterizes as real-money gambling and avoid the appearance of violating state law.

Sources & References

• Impresa Legal Group PR Newswire Announcement (April 24, 2026): https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/impresa-legal-group-files-class-action-lawsuit-against-drake-adin-ross-dj-akademiks-stake-kick–george-nguyen-for-conspiring-to-defraud-new-jersey-residents-302753402.html
• Monmouth County Superior Court, New Jersey (case docket — monitor for filings): https://www.njcourts.gov

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.