Illegal online casinos have escalated their tactics by using AI-generated deepfake videos and fake news articles to falsely claim endorsements from active footballers, with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham among the latest victims.
How the deepfake was created
QH88, a Vietnamese sportsbook and casino, produced a strikingly realistic AI-generated video purportedly showing Fernandes signing an ambassadorial contract with the brand at Old Trafford. The one-minute film was analyzed frame-by-frame by an expert for the Norwegian website Josimar, who identified multiple tell-tale signs of AI intervention, including blurred details, minute continuity mistakes, and generic faces. However, these red flags would have been indiscernible to casual viewers, making the video appear credible as it plays on a loop on QH88's main website.
Targeting active players
Until now, illegal casinos typically recruited retired players as "global ambassadors" to avoid violating Article 27 of the FIFA code of ethics, which prohibits active footballers from benefiting from association with sports betting operators. Active players who ignore this rule risk fines and bans; for example, Yerry Mina was fined £10,000 by the Football Association in 2019 for appearing in a TV advert for a Colombian sportsbook. By hijacking the identities of Fernandes and Bellingham, Nightwin and QH88 have crossed a new line.
Fake BBC stories and Instagram ads
In Bellingham's case, Nightwin bought Instagram advertising space to target users with a fabricated story attributed to the BBC, announcing the launch of "Bellingham Bet" with the tagline "Britain's most honest betting app." The ad included a logo incorporating the footballer's stylised signature used by his sponsor Adidas. Clicking the link led to an app named "Bellingham Bet" with a fake rating of 4.9/5 and a fanciful 1.9 million+ downloads. Visitors were then directed to the gambling platform, which has no connection to Bellingham. Nightwin is accessible and registrable within the United Kingdom without a VPN, yet it does not appear in the Great Britain Gambling Commission's register of licensed operators.
Offshore licensing and opacity
Nightwin is licensed only in Curaçao, a longtime offshore haven for dubious operators. It was launched this year by Flybergom B.V., a company incorporated in Curaçao in May 2024, which acquired its gaming licence there in September 2025. Flybergom B.V. also operates the DK88 (Dashking88) brand targeting illegal markets in Malaysia and Singapore. The company's registered address in Willemstad is an office building known for housing corporate services companies that act as trustees for thousands of opaque businesses, making enforcement nearly impossible.
Impact and vulnerability
For Bellingham, the scam was short-lived; the Instagram ads disappeared within days, leaving only screenshots. Fernandes has not been as fortunate. QH88 built an entire website around the fictitious association with the Portugal international, devoting considerable resources to the deepfake video. According to a spokesperson for the Great Britain Gambling Commission, "Whenever we become aware of an unlicensed operator we take action. Before depositing money we urge consumers to check the business holds a commission licence and consequently must ensure the gambling it provides is safe, fair and crime-free." The Guardian contacted QH88, Fernandes's management, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, but received no response or declined comment. The global players' union Fifpro was unable to respond in time. The Premier League directed inquiries to Manchester United and Fernandes's representatives.
Regulatory challenges
Illegal sports betting is defined by the Macolin Convention, which the UK has signed, as "any sports betting activity whose type or operator is not allowed under the applicable law of the jurisdiction where the consumer is located." This definition is also accepted by the World Lotteries Association. Unless regulators worldwide coordinate their efforts to combat illegal sportsbooks, incidents like those involving Bellingham and Fernandes are likely to become more common.
