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Bellingham & Fernandes targeted by illegal operators’ AI ads
According to a report from The Guardian, multiple illegal gambling operators have used the identities of footballers Jude Bellingham and Bruno Fernandes to create AI deepfakes of the stars promoting their platforms.
Two online casinos, Nightwin and QH88, have allegedly exploited both players’ identities by generating AI content and deepfakes of Bellingham and Fernandes promoting their brands.
The Guardian wrote:
“In a significant development, the illegal online casinos Nightwin and QH88 have hijacked the identity of two of the world’s most famous players, Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, to present them as official partners of their brands, using fake news articles, photographs and AI-generated video to fool their customers into believing that the stars’ endorsement was legitimate.”
Regarding Nightwin, the operator used Bellingham’s image to falsely announce on Instagram that the footballer had launched his gambling platform called Bellingham Bet, with links leading to a website with a fake 4.9/5 rating and 1.9 million downloads. The website was accessible to British users despite Nightwin not holding a UKGC license and being regulated only in Curacao. Currently, all publications connected to Bellingham have been taken down, with the website having been available for just a few days.
In the case of Fernandes, Vietnamese sportsbook and casino brand QH88 created a website revolving around the footballer’s affiliation with the operator, with a deepfake video presenting Fernandes signing an ambassadorship contract with QH88 representatives.
Since then, a UKGC spokesperson has urged users to check the licensing and fairness of gambling platforms before depositing money, additionally stressing that the commission takes action when it identifies unlicensed operators offering their products to local players.
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