Subject: Just Another Day in The Great Enshittification of
On Truth Social, Trump has repeatedly promoted Stake, an unregulated online casino that, according to state gambling regulators, is operating illegally. Trump publicized Stake alongside the UFC match being held at the White House on his 80th birthday, June 14. He posted AI-generated images featuring himself, UFC CEO Dana White, and the Stake logo on April 9, May 8, and twice on May 20.

Stake is a major sponsor of the UFC, including prominent placement in the UFC octagon.

Stake.us users play traditional casino games like slots and roulette. The company, which is based in Cyprus, claims it is a “safe and free gaming experience.” But gambling regulators across the country say it is an illegal online casino. Stake.us has two types of currency: 1. “Gold Coins” which cannot be converted into real money, and 2. “Stake Cash” which can be converted to crypto currency or gift cards. To obtain “Stake Cash” players buy “Gold Coins” and receive “Stake Cash” for free.


A lawsuit by the Los Angeles City Attorney called this “a ruse” that is indistinguishable from real money gambling. Nevertheless, Stake.us has not obtained or sought gambling licenses from any jurisdiction in the United States.

Why is Trump lending his image — and the White House itself — to this kind of scheme? One possible answer was included in the May 20 FEC filing of MAGA Inc., the primary Super PAC connected to Trump. On April 27, Bijan Tehrani, the co-owner and co-founder of Stake, donated $1 million to MAGA Inc.

https://open.substack.com/pub/...