Pop icon Drake has given a glimpse into the risks of big-money betting, sharing that he has lost $8 million in just the past month. The 38-year-old singer famous for songs like In My Feelings and God’s Plan posted on Instagram to express his annoyance and discuss a tough run of bad luck that has cost him millions.
Drake Shares Painful Losing Streak and New High-Stakes NBA Bets
In his Instagram Story, the Toronto-born artist said he felt he had to show what he called the “other side of gambling.” He described his recent losses as too much and hinted at how it affected him, saying that while others often win big, he has not had a similar big win yet.
Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, also shared his current bets for Game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. The Thunder lead the series 3-2 after winning 120-109 earlier in the week. The rapper said he bet $800,000 on Oklahoma City to win the championship.
The bets include a $200,000 wager that the Thunder will win by 6 to 10 points, which could make him $712,000. He also put down a straight $600,000 bet on Oklahoma City to win outright, hoping to earn $222,000.
Drake mentioned Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the post, telling him to “check that box,” but his meaning was not clear. The player had not responded on social media by Wednesday night.
Drake’s Betting Woes Add Weight to ‘Curse’ Theory
Drake’s no stranger to gambling. He has been a big name in betting for a while now, and fans even came up with a “Drake curse” theory. They think teams or athletes he backs often lose. This idea has spread from the Toronto Raptors to Canada’s national soccer team.
Giving fuel to the curse theory, in 2024, Drake put on a jersey supporting baseball star Shohei Ohtani right before Ohtani’s translator, Ippei Mizuhara, got arrested in a major gambling scandal. Mizuhara later said he was guilty of fraud and got almost five years in federal prison.
Drake’s recent losses stand out against the flashy image of celebrity betting wins. He is not alone in gambling; Ben Affleck and the late Norm Macdonald also liked to play, but his openness this week seems to carry a warning. As Drake said, not every bet leads to a party, and sometimes, the house comes out on top.