MoonBet Founder Urges Players to Verify Casino Licenses Amid Drake and Adin Ross Lawsuit Fallout
A Celebrity-Driven Gambling Storm
In late October 2025, Forbes reported that rapper Drake and streaming personality Adin Ross were being sued for allegedly promoting an online casino platform, Stake, that prosecutors claim operated without proper licenses in the United States.
The civil lawsuit, filed in the state of Missouri, accuses the parties of “deceptive online gambling practices” specifically, enticing U.S. consumers to gamble on a site that was not legally authorized to offer its services domestically.
According to Forbes, Stake is registered offshore and licensed through Curaçao, a jurisdiction known for granting international gambling licences but outside the U.S. regulatory perimeter. While Curaçao’s licensing framework is legitimate, it does not permit direct operations within the United States unless a state-level licence has been obtained.
The story quickly rippled through the gaming world. It raised uncomfortable questions about the growing intersection between celebrity endorsements, streaming culture, and online gambling, particularly as influencers leverage their massive reach to promote betting platforms to largely young, global audiences.
The “Fake Bet” Problem
Around the same time, independent writer DJ En published an investigative essay titled “Online Casinos Are Fake Bet Machines” on Substack. The article argues that much of the influencer-driven casino content on social media is little more than “a façade of excitement built on simulation rather than transparency.”
According to that critique, many streamers promote or showcase casino brands that operate from opaque jurisdictions. In some cases, the platforms may be legitimate offshore casinos, but the content presented on livestreams isn’t always representative of genuine betting activity. The influencer may be playing with company-funded balances, or the games themselves might not be accessible to their primary audiences due to local restrictions.
Together, the Forbes report and DJ En’s analysis shine a spotlight on what industry observers have dubbed the “fake-bet ecosystem.” It’s an ecosystem powered by influencer marketing, global access, and loose jurisdictional boundaries — one that regulators are now scrambling to catch up with.
MoonBet’s Founder Weighs In
Amid the renewed scrutiny, Alex Jenkins, founder and CEO of Moonbet crypto casino, is calling for clarity, education, and personal responsibility.
Jenkins, a gaming entrepreneur with more than a decade of experience in international betting operations, says the rise of influencer partnerships has blurred the lines between entertainment and regulated gambling.
“Technology has advanced faster than the rules. Viewers might assume a site is legitimate just because a famous name is attached, but that’s not how regulation works,” he explained. “Licensing determines your protections everything from how disputes are handled to whether your deposits are actually insured or auditable.”
MoonBet itself operates under an offshore licence, primarily serving markets such as Canada and parts of Europe where such licensing is permitted. The company says it regularly reminds users to confirm the legal status of online casinos in their specific jurisdiction before registering or depositing.
“If you’re in the United States, you should only play on platforms licensed by your state’s gaming authority,” Jenkins said. “If you’re outside the U.S., make sure your local laws allow offshore play. Just because a website accepts you doesn’t mean you’re protected by your country’s laws.”
Why Licensing Matters
Licensing may seem like bureaucratic paperwork, but in gambling it’s everything.
Regulated casinos must meet strict standards: independent auditing, anti-money-laundering (AML) compliance, fair-play certification, and segregation of player funds. Without oversight, players may have no recourse if a casino refuses payouts or shuts down overnight.
For U.S. residents, online gambling legality varies by state. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Nevada issue their own licences and enforce them vigorously. Playing on unlicensed sites can expose players to forfeited winnings or even legal jeopardy.
In contrast, offshore jurisdictions such as Curaçao or the Isle of Man issue international licences allowing global operations, but these licences don’t override domestic law in countries that prohibit or restrict online gambling.
“Licensing is the firewall between fun and fraud,” Jenkins noted. “When that firewall doesn’t exist, you’re just sending money into the void.”
The Influence Economy Meets Regulation
The Forbes report underscores a broader regulatory headache: the collision of influencer culture with tightly controlled financial industries.
Drake and Adin Ross are among dozens of high-profile streamers who have partnered with betting platforms over the last three years, turning gaming sessions into branded entertainment events viewed by millions. Ross, for example, regularly streams casino gameplay to massive audiences on Kick, a streaming platform with ties to the Stake brand.
While influencer marketing isn’t new, the scale and youth of these audiences have drawn fresh concern. Critics argue that it normalizes gambling for minors and casual viewers, while promoting brands that might not even be legally accessible to them.
Jenkins sees this as a wake-up call for regulators and players alike.
“We’re living through the social-media era of gambling,” he said. “Marketing budgets have shifted from television and sponsorships to Twitch streams and TikTok clips. The problem is that regulation hasn’t adapted at the same speed. The onus is now on players to self-educate and on responsible operators to help them do so.”
Educating the Player Base
To that end, MoonBet plans to launch a public awareness campaign titled “Are you getting the best from the online casinos” The initiative will include educational videos, infographics, and in-app prompts reminding users to verify the regulatory status of any gaming platform they join.
Jenkins says the campaign is about “empowerment, not fear.”
“Online gaming isn’t inherently bad, it’s entertainment,” he said. “But just like you wouldn’t buy stock from an unregistered broker, you shouldn’t gamble on an unlicensed site. We want to make that idea second nature.”
The company also intends to partner with Canadian and European compliance organisations to produce an open-source database of verified offshore licences, so players can cross-check operator legitimacy before depositing funds.
A Moment for Reform
The lawsuits and exposés are prompting a new wave of discussion across the gambling industry. Regulators in several U.S. states are reportedly evaluating how to handle foreign-licensed casinos accessible through VPNs. At the same time, streaming platforms are reviewing advertising policies to prevent deceptive promotions.
In Jenkins’ view, this shift is overdue.
“For too long, the industry treated licensing like a back-office concern. But in 2026, transparency is marketing,” he said. “Players choose brands they trust, and trust begins with compliance.”
He believes the next few years will see a bifurcation: fully regulated casinos working in partnership with governments and auditing bodies and shadow platforms struggling to survive increased scrutiny.
“The platforms that survive will be the ones willing to be transparent about where and how they operate,” he concluded.
Takeaway for Players
The key lessons, Jenkins says, are simple but essential:
- Verify before you play. Licensing details should be easy to find on a casino’s homepage footer.
- Understand your jurisdiction. Laws differ between countries and even between U.S. states.
- Don’t be swayed by celebrity promotions. A famous face doesn’t guarantee legal compliance.
- Look for transparency signals. Auditing seals, licensing numbers, and responsible-gaming tools indicate legitimacy.
By checking these factors, players can protect themselves from the deceptive practices alleged in the Forbes case and avoid the “fake-bet” environments.