Fake AI Ad Uses Davies' Father To Push Illegal Casino
An AI-generated Instagram advertisement falsely depicted the father of Bayern Munich and Canada defender Alphonso Davies being arrested and then released after his gambling winnings were confirmed as legitimate, before directing viewers to Oxibet, an offshore casino site not licensed in Alberta.
The ad, posted by an account called Prime Spin Zone, showed an AI-generated image of Davies' father being taken into custody by Edmonton police, then released once a vault of cash was said to be legal gambling proceeds. An AI likeness of musician Drake also appeared, encouraging viewers to play at the same site.
Clicking through led to Oxibet, a gambling platform based in Comoros that does not hold an Alberta iGaming licence. Davies' agent, Nedal Huoseh, said the family has no connection to gambling or alcohol advertising and intends to pursue those responsible.
Alberta's Rules On Athlete Endorsements
Alberta's gambling advertising standards prohibit celebrity athletes from promoting casino or sportsbook operators; athletes may only appear in campaigns that promote responsible gambling.
As of September 17, 31 operators hold Alberta iGaming licences since the market opened on July 13. Oxibet is not among them.
Dale Nally, Alberta's minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, has said the province cannot block unlicensed sites outright and has repeatedly asked residents to check for the Alberta iGaming Corporation logo before signing up with an operator.
Part Of A Wider Pattern
Provincial officials have estimated that roughly 70% of Alberta's online gambling activity ran through unregulated offshore operators before the regulated market launched, with the rest going through Play Alberta, previously the only legal option.
The Davies incident adds AI-generated celebrity likenesses to the tactics offshore sites use to reach Canadian players, alongside the fake endorsements and misleading claims regulators have flagged since the market opened.
