People are entitled to their opinions. Some believe Drake shows signs of gambling addiction while others maintain it is not problem gambling, really, but just signs of massive wealth. Drake is free to do as he pleases with his money, but we are really interested in trying to get to the bottom of this.
We will take a look at his public gambling activities, wealth, influence, and more.
Drake’s Public Gambling Activities
Does Drake have a gambling problem? Before we can answer that, we need to look at his public gambling activities. First, he has been closely associated with Stake, a leading online crypto casino as part of his lucrative sponsorship deal. He also live streams his gambling sessions while betting huge sums on sports, roulette, and slots. Some examples you will know of include betting millions on roulette spins and NBA games.
Though he might not be one of the most successful celebrity stakeholders we have covered on Gambling Zone, his high-profile wins and losses are fuel for public curiosity for sure. He publicises his losses as well, without getting deterred by them. Is he gambling responsibly or recklessly?
With a reported net worth of roughly €190 million, his gambling might just be a part of how he enjoys his vast wealth. There is the argument to be had that everyone spends on recreation according to their budget and proclivities. Perhaps, Drake’s proclivities and massive wealth find a natural outlet in gambling.
Losing millions is not the same for him as it is for a normal person. He can absorb these losses fairly well just because he makes a lot of money. So, it is quite difficult to tell if his gambling is problematic for him from a financial standpoint.
High-rollers often look at gambling as entertainment, not a means of making money. But at the same time, Drake’s behaviour might be reflective of high-risk gambling, not just a leisure activity he can afford.
Canadian Rapper Drake
Publicising Gambling
Drake likes to livestream his gambling sessions and post his wins. This can definitely influence his fans to follow his behaviours. The risks of glorifying gambling are way too big, particularly considering how his fanbase is mainly composed of young and impressionable minds. These fans might not always have the right mindset or access to resources to gamble responsibly.
That being said, it is important to note that Drake is the brand ambassador of Stake.com. As such, his gambling is a part of his public image. He promotes the platform to millions of followers as part of his deal. The gambling could just be a way to further normalise signing up on Stake and give it a spin. The questions about responsible advertising are too complex to be discussed in an article.
I will just leave you with the thought that more than an actual issue, Drake’s gambling might just be a promotional tool for Stake. It could even be encouraged by Stake or a part of his deal to be very public in posting about his wins.
Signs of a Gambling Problem
So, what does it all mean? Does Drake have a gambling problem? Or is the famous rapper just enjoying the perks of his massive wealth? Well, we cannot know for sure with the information we have right now.
There are several warning signs of gambling. One does not need to publicise their winnings on gambling sites to make it clear. What we can say for sure is this—high-frequency gambling with large sums of money is highly likely to be a sign of problem gambling.
Typical problem gambling behaviour extends to escalating bets and advertising emotional responses to losses. Drake might as well be showing signs of relying on gambling for excitement, and not really doing it for promotional or recreational reasons (only).
Alas, there is too little to go off of here. There has been no clear, public admission from Drake or those who personally know him about having any issues with gambling addiction. His social media posts, to the optimist, might even suggest the notion that he merely enjoys the thrills of gambling without having any financially negative impact.
The Question of Celebrity Gambling
Let me leave you with some food for thought. It is no secret that many wealthy celebrities gamble big. Floyd Mayweather, Michael Jordan, and Charles Barkley spring to mind almost instantaneously. High-stakes gambling is often seen as part of the celeb lifestyle package. Some might even say that it is hard to avoid. And what one does in their private life is none of our business—but when they publicise it, it can normalise gambling.
So the question is not does Drake have a gambling problem, but whether he should be advertising his gambling habits or not. The majority of people who are influenced by him do not have the financial foundation to suffer big losses. And in gambling, the house always wins.
