MGM China warns deepfake video of chairperson Pansy Ho is fraudulent

MGM China Holdings said a video featuring the likeness of Chairperson and Executive Director Pansy Ho was generated by artificial intelligence and falsely promotes a fictitious investment plan, calling the content “entirely fraudulent.”

“MGM China declares that such content is entirely fraudulent and has no connection whatsoever with the company or Ms. Ho,” the Macau casino operator said in a statement.

The video unlawfully impersonated Ho and claimed she was backing an investment scheme that promised outsized returns, according to the company, which operates the MGM Macau and MGM Cotai resorts.

“MGM China reiterates that neither the company nor Ms. Pansy Ho has at any time been involved in, authorized, or endorsed the purported investment plan featured in the deepfake video,” it said.

“The video was neither created nor released by the company or Ms. Pansy Ho. MGM China condemns these acts of acts of impersonation and misrepresentation in the strongest terms,” and said it “reserves all legal rights against the parties involved, to protect our rights and interests.”

Ho, one of Asia’s most prominent businesswomen and among the largest shareholders in MGM China, is also managing director and a 15% owner of MGM Grand Paradise, which holds the licence for the company’s Macau resorts.

MGM China urged the public and media to be cautious. “MGM China cautions the public and the media to exercise the utmost vigilance and verify information through official channels,” it said, warning of potential “legal and financial consequences” for spreading the video.

The company said all business updates are issued only through its official platforms and requested that dissemination of the fraudulent video cease immediately.

The incident comes as MGM China is gaining market share in the world’s largest casino hub, helping drive Macau’s rebound in gross gaming revenue this year.