Because the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) gear as much as face the Punjab Kings (PBKS) within the IPL 2025 closing at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on June 3, Canadian rapper Drake has stirred pleasure by putting a considerable wager of $750,000 (roughly ₹6.41 crore) on RCB’s victory.
RCB, led by Rajat Patidar, are in search of their first IPL title. The workforce boasts robust performances this season, with Virat Kohli scoring 614 runs and Josh Hazlewood taking 21 wickets.
Drake’s involvement has reignited discussions in regards to the so-called ‘Drake Curse,’ a superstition suggesting that groups or athletes supported by the rapper usually expertise misfortune. Notable cases embrace losses by the Toronto Raptors, PSG, Conor McGregor, and Serena Williams after Drake publicly backed them.
Nevertheless, latest occasions problem this narrative. In 2024, Drake gained over ₹3.5 crore by betting on Kolkata Knight Riders within the IPL closing and secured a $2 million revenue from a wager on the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the AFC Championship.
Drake’s betting actions are intently tied to his partnership with Stake, a cryptocurrency-based on-line playing platform. He has reportedly signed a $100 million annual endorsement cope with Stake, often internet hosting dwell streams the place he locations high-stakes bets.
In a latest interview for his partnership with Stake, Drake dismissed all speculations a couple of so-called “Drake Curse”, the place he mentioned, “I’m positive in case you are a Drake curse believer, there can be lots extra content material sooner or later to verify your theories as a result of for no matter purpose, my slips don’t money out.”
Drake is not the one superstar making his alliances identified. Punjabi-Canadian singer Karan Aujla has additionally positioned a wager on Stake, going up in opposition to Drake, and placing down CA$500,000 (roughly ₹3.1 crore) on a Punjab Kings win.
On-line Betting in India: A Gray Space
Stake operates in a authorized gray space in India. Whereas there aren’t any federal legal guidelines explicitly prohibiting on-line playing, the legality varies by state. States like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have banned all types of on-line playing, making platforms like Stake unlawful there. Nevertheless, in states with out such bans, utilizing offshore betting websites like Stake is mostly permitted.
India’s predominant playing legislation, the Public Playing Act of 1867, bans working or visiting bodily playing homes, nevertheless it doesn’t point out on-line betting or sports activities betting. Due to this, every state decides its personal guidelines. Some states like Sikkim and Goa permit sure kinds of betting, whereas most others have strict guidelines or full bans, particularly on on-line playing.
Indian customers can nonetheless entry worldwide betting websites like Stake as a result of there’s no nationwide legislation clearly stopping them, besides in states like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the place all on-line playing is banned. Since there’s no central legislation for on-line betting, the foundations are nonetheless unclear in lots of components of the nation.
As RCB followers rally behind their workforce with the mantra “Ee Sala Cup Namde” (This yr, the cup is ours), all eyes are on whether or not Drake’s wager can be a fortunate appeal or a jinx. The IPL 2025 closing guarantees not solely an exhilarating cricket showdown but additionally a take a look at of superstition versus efficiency.
