Maple Leafs' victory results in Drake losing $1.25 million
In the world of sports and entertainment, Drake has made a name for himself not only as a successful rapper but also as a high-stakes gambler. His ventures into sports betting have gained significant attention, particularly through his association with Stake.com, a cryptocurrency-based sportsbook.
Recently, Drake has experienced some major losses in sports betting. According to reports, his losses exceed $8 million in recent high-stakes bets totaling about $125 million, including $75 million on Fortnite-related wagers. This has fueled talk of a so-called "Drake Curse," a superstition suggesting that teams or fighters he bets on tend to lose.
One of Drake's most notable losses was betting $565,000 on Tyson Fury to win against Oleksandr Usyk, but Fury lost the match by split decision. This loss extended the Toronto Maple Leafs' streak to seven consecutive Game 7 defeats, the longest in NHL history.
Other significant losses and controversies include:
- Losing $355,000 betting on Mike Tyson to beat Logan Paul in November 2024, and more than $1 million on the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2025 Super Bowl, which they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Losing $300,000 on Canada in the 2025 Copa America semi-final against Argentina. Argentina’s soccer team responded to Drake’s failed bet with a viral diss referencing rapper Kendrick Lamar’s song, heightening media attention and creating a cultural moment that intertwined sport and music rivalries.
- Drake publicly sharing screenshots of his significant gambling losses on social media, which stirred debate about the risks and realities of high-stakes sports betting for celebrities.
- In 2025, Drake was involved in a minor controversy related to promoting gambling platforms on social media, leading to viral moments including an incident where he tried to chase away a drone filming him gambling in his hotel room in Sydney.
Despite these losses and controversies, Drake maintains a candid, if sometimes humorous, stance about his betting flaws and hopes for major wins in the future. The media and sports communities continue to speculate about the "Drake Curse," though it remains largely a meme rather than an established phenomenon.
Meanwhile, Justin Bieber continues to express his support for the Toronto Maple Leafs on social media, even after their recent loss. Fans at Scotiabank Arena, however, expressed their frustration during the game by throwing beers and jerseys onto the ice.
[1] The Guardian [2] ESPN [3] CNN [4] The New York Times [5] BBC News
- In addition to his love for sports and entertainment, Drake's notable losses in high-stakes gambling have extended to casino-and-gambling activities such as betting on the outcome of football matches, esports like Fortnite, and even on the results of boxing matches.
- The "Drake Curse," a superstition based on the assumption that teams or fighters he bets on tend to lose, continues to gain traction in the entertainment and sports industries, with significant events such as the Kansas City Chiefs' loss in the Super Bowl and Argentina's victory in the Copa America semi-final often referenced as evidence.
