Duncan Levin was interviewed by Harvard Law Today about a new civil RICO lawsuit alleging that Drake and others promoted an illegal online casino and used proceeds to artificially inflate streaming metrics on platforms such as Spotify. In the interview, Mr. Levin explains why plaintiffs turn to RICO in cases like this: it allows them to frame a broader “enterprise” narrative rather than a single transaction, and to connect multiple actors, marketing practices, and money flows into one alleged scheme.
Mr. Levin also discusses how courts are likely to evaluate the lawsuit’s core premise that a “token” system can function as a stand-in for real money. He notes that judges tend to look past labels and focus on economic reality—whether users are effectively paying real money, whether value predictably flows to the platform, and whether the structure mirrors traditional gambling mechanics. The interview further addresses procedural hurdles that often define these cases, including class certification, motions to dismiss, and the demanding pleading and causation requirements unique to civil RICO claims.
Read the full article here.