Lynnae is a journalist covering the intersection of technology, culture, and gambling. She has more than five years of experience as a writer and editor, with bylines at SlashGear and MakeUseOf. On the iGaming side,...
Read Full BioMGM China issued a public warning after an AI-generated deepfake video of its Chairperson and Executive Director, Pansy Ho, surfaced online. In the video, Ho is depicted promoting a fictitious investment scheme.
Watching the clip, viewers were led to believe that the company was backing an investment opportunity with extraordinary returns. MGM has sharply criticized the content as “entirely fraudulent,” saying it has “no connection whatsoever with the Company or Ms. Ho.”
Strong Denial & Warning to Public, Media
In its statement, MGM China made it clear that neither the company nor Ms. Ho had ever been associated with the phony promotion.
The operator said: “MGM China condemns these acts of impersonation and misrepresentation in the strongest terms,” and emphasized that it reserves the right to take legal action against those responsible for the deepfake.
MGM stressed that it has never promoted this type of scheme and reminded the public that company announcements are communicated exclusively through its official platforms.
The operator asked the public and media to exercise “the utmost vigilance” if they come across any investment promotions or other content purportedly endorsed by MGM China.
It also asked the public not to share the video. It cautioned against believing its content, pointing to the potential legal and financial consequences for anyone misled by the fraudulent material.
Growing Risks of Deepfakes in Gambling Industry & Beyond
This case is just another example of how deepfake technology can facilitate scams across the gambling and investment sectors.
AI-powered impersonations of executives and public figures are becoming increasingly common, and oftentimes, it’s almost impossible to distinguish the fakes from the real thing.
Recent incidents highlight just how significant the problem has become: scammers have used deepfakes of Sky News journalists to promote illegal online casinos, while Meta’s Oversight Board recently reviewed a case involving an AI-manipulated video that falsely showed soccer legend Ronaldo Nazário endorsing a gambling app.
Authorities in Macau have already flagged deepfake videos used to impersonate public figures in investment scams. Meanwhile, in the US, regulators such as the Federal Trade Commission are advancing rules targeting AI-driven impersonation fraud, particularly deepfakes.
The MGM incident is the latest in a growing list of cases that are adding pressure on the gambling industry to guard against reputational risk, enforce stricter guardrails, and increase public awareness of the dangers of fake content.
