The increasing use of deepfakes to advertize unlicensed gambling sites in Canada has been highlighted by an AI-generated gambling ad featuring the family of soccer star Alphonso Davies.
An Instagram advertisement posted by an account called Prime Spin Zone falsely depicted Davies’ father being arrested by police in Edmonton. Then the video shows a lot of cash and suggests the money came from gambling, according to the Edmonton Journal.
Later, the digitally created version of Davies’ father appears, urging viewers to use the same casino. A deepfake of Canadian rapper Drake is also reportedly being used to give the ad credibility.
By clicking on this promotion, users will be redirected to Oxibet, an online gambling operator based in Comoros. The site does not have a license to operate within the regulated iGaming market in Alberta.
Davies’ agent Nedal Huoseh slammed the claims in the advertisement, saying the Davies family has nothing to do with gambling. He also said he plans to go after the people who created the material.
The event has reignited questions about the increasingly convincing use of artificial intelligence in fake gambling promotions. Old ads abuse pictures of celebrities, but this new campaign actually makes it look like people are talking and endorsing a gambling service.
Alberta Works to Move Players From Offshore Sites to Legal Operators
Alberta launched its regulated online gambling market on July 13. The system was designed in part to shift players away from offshore operators and toward licensed platforms that are subject to provincial requirements. Latest reports say there are now 31 registered iGaming operators in Alberta. Oxibet is not one of those.
Licensed operators must comply with Alberta’s advertising requirements. All marketing material must include the Alberta iGaming Corporation logo, and rules also restrict the use of athletes in gambling promotions.
Alberta’s rules do not allow professional athletes to directly promote gambling products. They can, however, participate in campaigns that promote responsible gambling and player protection.
Regulators have also warned consumers about false advertisements for online gambling. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis regulator has warned residents to make sure an operator is authorized before using its services.
The problem is not just the Davies advertisement. Canadian gambling regulators and industry groups have repeatedly cited cases of fake casino promotions using the identities of well-known people, gambling companies and physical casinos.
And the increasing use of AI adds another layer to the problem. Old scams usually used stolen photos or logos. Deepfake technology has now advanced to the point where it is possible to produce believable video and audio that makes a person appear to endorse a service they never have.
Thus, the Davies case comes as Alberta continues to grow its legal iGaming market, while trying to curb the influence of offshore operators. Consumers are urged by authorities to check the province’s official list of approved operators before depositing funds or placing bets online.