PR or Real Feud: Drake’s “Snake” Roast of Stake CEO Ed Craven

Drake slams Stake.com and Kick boss Ed Craven amid withdrawal woes. But is it real drama or a savvy publicity stunt?

In the latest casino drama and news, comes Drake’s public outburst. It is aimed at Stake Casino and co-founder Ed Craven and has sent the iGaming and streaming communities into overdrive!

But the question everyone is asking: Is this a genuine falling-out or just another headline-grabbing stunt? Join us as we unpack the drama.

Drake vs Stake

On 18 August, during a TrainwrecksTV stream, Drake launched a blistering critique of Ed Craven, calling him a “snake” and a “goof” while bemoaning how platform owners profit at the expense of creators.

He likened himself to Steph Curry and crunched the golden narrative: “If Stake is the Warriors, I am Steph Curry. The owners get rich. F**KING GOOFINOS.”

Two days later, Drake took his frustrations public. He went straight to Instagram, sharing a customer-support screenshot that highlighted four blocked withdrawal attempts. “Is this personal?” he asked his millions of followers, fanning speculation of a deeper dispute.

Things escalated swiftly. His Kick account vanished by 20 August, prompting a show from fellow streamer Adin Ross, who discovered the 404 Error, and he said: “F*** Eddie. F*** this goof.”

Compounding the drama, rumours swirled that Drake offered to box Ed Craven and even Kick co-founder Bijan Tehrani for charity. Ross reportedly jabbed: “Drake fights Eddy. I fight Bijan. We run it.”

Real or publicity stunt?

The question hovering over the feud is whether Drake's anger is real or if it was carefully planned. At first glance, they show clear signs of frustration. More than one issue (e.g., blocked withdrawals, limits on affiliate earnings and a breakdown in trust) suggests that this is more than just acting.

High-profile partnerships often fall apart when financial arrangements or deals become restrictive, and Drake’s complaints echo issues that other affiliates and creators have raised previously in the online gambling industry.

The fight has generated exactly the kind of attention that marketing teams dream about. Take the unusual Sydney drone incident, for example. A drone was spotted circling Drake’s penthouse, and in response, he theatrically threw a sandle at it, conveniently while a laptop displaying the Stake logo was visible in the background.

Later that same day, Drake shared an image on Instagram wearing a Stake-branded T-shirt with the caption: “The Stakes are high, but so am I.”

This sequence of events felt almost too polished to be spontaneous. It placed both Drake and Stake at the centre of online discussions and social media feeds and they have sparked debate across gambling forums and casino streaming platforms.

Honestly, it does not matter if it was real or just a big act. Drake's love for gambling and Stake is on everyone's lips. That is their way as they use wild marketing stunts, roping in celebrities and popping up all over.

Publicity stunts are not new

The gambling industry has seen its fair share of "is this real or staged" moments. Back in 2020, American influencer Dan Bilzerian, who partnered with online casino giant GGPoker, made headlines by publicly slamming the casino on Twitter for payment issues.

He then appeared in their promotional campaigns weeks later. The controversy sparked debate among players, but it undeniably pushed GGPoker into mainstream conversation.

Drake’s spat with Ed Craven carries the same flavour. Personal grievances turned into a spectacle that keeps Stake Casino, Kick.com, and online gambling trending across social media and streaming platforms.

Drama with a side of drama

So what is the verdict? The evidence suggests this is both real and strategic. Drake likely feels genuinely slighted. Unresolved withdrawals and affiliation obstacles would frustrate any high-profile creator. Yet, the theatrics, the drone, the ring offer and the public dismantling of a partnership came too neatly packaged to ignore the publicity angle.

As for Ed Craven, the once-quiet tycoon of one of the most popular crypto casinos is now thrust into the spotlight, not entirely unwillingly, as one suspects. It doesn't matter if he sparked the fight or if he simply found himself at the epicentre. The result is that Stake is trending hard, and the numbers are climbing.

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By Deni

Verified Casino Expert

Expertise: Casino Content Writing, Journalism & (PR), Gambling Regulations, Dutch & German Gambling Markets

Hi, I'm Deni! I'm a research obsessive with a passion for gambling regulations, market trends, and casino news. I dig deep into every topic I cover - so every article, review, or guide I write is built on solid research and real detail.

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Last updated: September 2, 2025

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PR or real feud: Drake’s “snake” roast of Stake CEO Ed Craven

Drake vs Stake

Real or publicity stunt?

Publicity stunts are not new