Gambling Weekly News Summary in Canada – 2026/01/10
Drake and two others face legal action over ties to Stake.us
Toronto rapper Drake has been named in a class-action lawsuit in the US, which alleges he and others used proceeds from a gambling website to inflate his streaming numbers artificially.
Drake worked as a promoter for online casino operator Stake on its US website, Stake.us, alongside social media influencer Adin Ross. Both were paid by the platform to promote its online casino by gambling with virtual currencies provided by Stake.
Filed on December 31 in Virginia, the suit names all users of Stake.us as plaintiffs and George Nguyen as an additional defendant. In its statement of claim, it alleges that Stake.us is an illegal online gambling platform created to bypass restrictions after Stake.com was banned from operating in the US.
While the site promotes itself as a “social casino” that doesn’t gamble real money, the website allows users to exchange its “Stake Cash” for cryptocurrency or digital gift cards.
Drake, Ross, and Nguyen allegedly used the “tipping” function on the platform to transfer money among themselves, with some of it used to manipulate streaming platforms, including Spotify, to inflate Drake’s streaming numbers.
As a result, it claims authentic artists were suppressed, and the inflated streams narrowed consumers’ access to legitimate content.
Peter & Sons Expands Ontario Presence with Casino Time Partnership
Independent online gaming studio Peter & Sons has announced a partnership with Ontario online casino operator Casino Time, aiming to expand its presence in the region.
In collaboration with gambling technology provider Light & Wonder, Peter & Sons will offer Casino Time players its growing portfolio of online casino games, including its flagship launch, Barbarossa Dragon Empire, Zombie Road, and various seasonal offerings, such as Bad Santa.
The gaming studio also revealed that, in addition to slot games, it will also offer Ontario players live casino and bingo games.
“Ontario has long been a major focus for us, and partnering up with Casino Time marks an exciting milestone for our expansion in the region. Their commitment to delivering top-tier entertainment aligns perfectly with our bold vision, and we’re looking forward to sharing some of our most beloved titles with Casino Time’s audience,” said Yann Bautista, Peter & Sons Founder and Commercial Director.
Jeffery Holmes, Chief Operating Officer of Casino Time, added that the partnership with Peter & Sons represented a major step in offering its customers high-quality games.
OLG Appoints Amanda Marshall to Chief Lottery Officer
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has announced the promotion of former Vice President and Digital Product Specialist Amanda Marshall to Chief Lottery Officer.
Marshall and her team will work to continue the advancement of the crown corporations’ lottery business, as well as improving the player experience, expanding its product portfolio and finding new commercial opportunities.
Additionally, the team will ensure the OLG keeps up to date with the iGaming market as it expands through working with the OLG’s other lines of business and its external partners.
The OLG commented, “Amanda brings a wealth of experience in driving enterprise growth, leading large-scale transformations, and championing customer-focused innovation across multiple industries. Her stewardship will help shape the holistic customer journey across all OLG channels.”
Marshall has worked with the OLG since 2021, following previous stints with Scotiabank and Deloitte. She has most recently spent the past four years serving as the Vice President of Digital Product Integration and Delivery, with a focus on modernizing initiatives to improve the OLG’s digital capabilities.
Ziv (Steve) Chen
CEO at Major League Content
Ziv has been working in the iGaming industry for more than two decades, serving in senior roles in software developers like Playtech and Microgaming. He then followed his lifelong passion of writing and became a fulltime journalist, covering casinos, sports betting, legislation and other gambling topics and news with a specialty in North America.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziv-steve-chen-94b01b5/
